Google
This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project
to make the world's books discoverable online.
It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject
to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books
are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.
Marks, notations and other maiginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the
publisher to a library and finally to you.
Usage guidelines
Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the
public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing tliis resource, we liave taken steps to
prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying.
We also ask that you:
+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for
personal, non-commercial purposes.
+ Refrain fivm automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine
translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the
use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help.
+ Maintain attributionTht GoogXt "watermark" you see on each file is essential for in forming people about this project and helping them find
additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it.
+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just
because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other
countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of
any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner
anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liabili^ can be quite severe.
About Google Book Search
Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers
discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web
at|http: //books .google .com/I
THE ST. CL^IR F^PERS.
THE
LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES
OF
ARTHUR ST. CLAIR
SOLDIER OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR; PRESIDENT OF
THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS; AND GOVERNOR
OF THE NORTH-WESTERN TERRITORY
WITH HIS
Correspondence and other Papers
ARRANGED AND ANNOTATED
BY
WILLIAM HENRY SMITH
Vol. I
CINCINNATI
ROBERT CLu^RKE Sc CO
1882
By ROBERT CLARKE dt <
PREFACE.
It is evident, from the popular interest manifested in the
centennial celebrations of the past six years, that the prin-
ciples involved in the Revolutionary War are no less dear
to the American he^rt to-day thaii when Lord Cornwallis
surrendered at Yorktown, October 19; 1781, and that what-
ever contributes to a more thorough understanding of that
remarkable contest ; whatever tends to bring into clearer
view the labors and the sacrifices of the principal charac-
ters— Washington and his faithful associates — will receive
a hearty welcome. The first of these volumes presents
new material covering the period of the war and the en-
suing years of political uncertainty down to the time when
Arthur St. Clair retired from the President's chair of the
Continental Congress. In some respects, it is cumulative
of the facts contained in the Writings of Washington as
to the privations and sufferings, the patriotism and cour-
age of the Continental soldiers; and on that account has a
certain value. But the reader will find new evidence bear-
ing on disputed points and a new presentation of facts
heretofore misrepresented, notably concerning the enter-
prises on the Delaware in December, 1776, and the evacua-
tion of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence in the fol-
lowing year, whereby it is hoped something more than the
shadow of justice is rendered at last to the memory of one
of Washington's most loyal friends. The correspondence
*betweeen St. Clair and President Reed, and between St.
Clair and Washington, is especially interesting, as it pre-
sents in bold and striking colors the difficulties that con-
(iii)
iv Preface.
stantly beset the commander-in-chief, arising from short
enlistments, want of a treasury, the jealousies of the States,
and inefficiency of the central authority.
That a people living in communities with distinct gov-
ernments, without experience in military affairs, without a
common treasury, without arms other than those provided
for the protection of their own homes, without organized
means of defense, should have the temerity to contest the
field with a powerful kingdom, having unlimited financial
resources and trained soldiery, was remarkable. But more
remarkable was the exhibition of self-control and wisdom,
after the demoralization of an eight years' war, which es-
tablished a national government, acceptable to the thirteen
distinct communities — founded a republican government
upon the rock of constitutional law. The same wisdom,
contemplating an extension of the blessings of free govern-
ment, even before the Union was sealed, formed and es-
tablished an Ordinance for the government of the vast
territory lying north-west of the river Ohio, containing
every principle and privilege essential to the happiness
and greatness of a people. From the presidency of the
body that created this famous Ordinance, Arthur St. Clair
passed to the control of the government under it.
Of the actual work done by Governor St. Clair in laying
the foundations of government under the Ordinance of
1787, little is known. The information that has come
down to us has been fragmentary and unofficial. The sec-
ond volume of this work is an attempt to supply this de-
fect. The large amount of wholly new material employed
in it has been obtained from various sources — from the
papers left by General St. Clair and preserved by his fam-
ily, from the archives of the State and War Departments,
and from private sources.
It will be expected that reference should be made here
Preface. v
to the noble part taken by the State of Ohio in scenring
and preserving from destruction the valuable papers left
by St. Clair. When, in 1869, the Western Reserve Histor-
ical Society announced that these papers were in the pos-
session of the heirs of Colonel Robert Graham, deceased,
residing in Kansas, an unsuccessful eftbrt was made in the
General Assembly to secure an appropriation for their
purchase. Subsequently, upon the recommendation of
that society. Governor Hayes appointed Mr. Joseph Per-
kins, of Cleveland, to represent the State in a negotiation
for the purchase. Mr. Perkins, unable to make a journey
to Kansas to examine the papers, appointed Mr. Alfred T.
Goodman, secretary of the society, his agent for that pur-
pose. Mr. Goodman made a careful examination. He
reported that the papers were in bad condition, " many of
the important manuscripts being mice eaten, and rendered
almost worthless from the ravages of time." He fixed the
value at two thousand dollars, whereas they were sched-
uled in the list of the personal property of Colonel Gra-
ham at five thousand. Judge R. St. Clair Graham, ad-
ministrator, subsequently produced the papers at Cincin-
nati for further examination by the members of the Ohio
Historical and Philosophical Society. While they were
lying here, other descendants of St. Clair were induced to
go before Judge Storer, of the Superior Court of Cincin-
nati, and apply for an injunction against Graham, to re-
strain the latter from selling the manuscripts. This was
done to set at rest the title. The court appointed the
sheriff receiver. The final decision was in favor of the
heirs-at-law represented by Mr. Graham. The question
of title having been settled, the Ohio Historical and Phi-
losophical Society sent a memorial to the General Assem-
bly, praying for the purchase and preservation of the pa-
pers. Governor Hayes recommended the measure in a
vi Preface.
special message, and with characteristic public spirit the
Legislature, during the session of 1870, made the necessary
appropriation. The papers were carefully arranged by
Miss Mary C. Ilarbaugh, assistant librarian. The task
was a difficult one, as many of the papers were mutilated,
many without beginning or end, and many more without
address or signature.
Since then, there has been great uncertainty as to the
preservation of the autograph letters. The Commissioners
of the Ohio State Library recommended their publication,
in order that " they be not left a prey to be carried off
piece-meal by seekers after literary curiosities," and, in his
last annual message. Governor Foster gave the recom-
mendation his approval. The General Assembly, wisely
and with commendable unanimity, directed the publica-
tion of the papers, in a joint resolution adopted on the
21st day of February last. The action of the pre<^ent
Commissioners, uriJer the authority above recited, is
shown by the following transcript from their records :
The Board of Library Commissioners, having considero<l tho rosolii-
lion of the General Assembly of February 21, 18SI, directing the pub-
lication of the St. Clair Papers, and the method for carrying out the
instructions of the said resolution, it is hereby
licsolvcii, That the Librarian be authorized to receive propositions from publishers
who are prepared to exe< ute the work w itliin the time prescribed, and in a credita-
ble manner, and to arrange with Home one familiar with the papers and the subjects
embraced therein, to prepare them for publication.
After consultation with various publishers, and careful consideration
of tlie whole subject, it was deemed advisable to employ the well known
house of Robert Clarke & Co. to publish the work, and to place the
pajiers in the hands of Hon. Wm. Henry Smith, formerly Secretary
of State of Ohio, who, it was known, had spent yeai's in studying the
career of Arthur St Clair, and in collecting material covering that in-
teresting j)eriod of American history.
Bnard of /.;-r CHARLES FOSTER. Covervnr,
brnry Com-\ T'HARLES TOWNSEND, Secretary of State,
viissioncrs. (.JOS. II. GEIGER, Librarian.
An examination of the papers showed that not only
Preface. vii
were they badly defaced and fragmentary, but that the
letters in the handwriting of St. Chiir were original drafts,
which frequently differed from the perfected letters as
transmitted to his correspondents. To correct these, it
became necessary to have recourse to my own private col-
lection, and to originals in possession of manuscript col-
lectors in different parts of the country. While occasion-
ally meeting with disappointments, I have succeeded be-
yond my most sanguine expectations, though only through
infinite labor.
To present to the reader a truthful picture of the theater
to which Arthur St. Clair was invited bv the last Conti-
nental Congress, and include in the work a comprehensive
history of the North-western Territory under him, it be-
came necessary to draw liberally from a collection of
Ilarmar papers, originally intended for use in another
work, and from a compilation of the official records of
the Executive of the North-western Territory from 1795
to the close of 1802, also designed for an independent
work. The records in possession of the State come down
no later than the year 1795.
I am indebted to General James T. AVorthington, of
Chillicothe, for the privilege of using the manuscripts of
his distinguished father. Governor AVorthi'ngton, to ex-
plain more fully than the papers of St. Clair do the politi-
cal contest from 1800 to 1803, which ended in the removal
of the Governor and the admission of the Eastern District
into the Union. Thus both sides are presented to the
reader. The political methods by winch the downfall of
the friend of AVashington and the leader of the Federalist
party in the AVest was accomplished, and a new Republi-
can State secured for the support of Mr. Jefferson in his
ambitious political schemes, arc here laid before the reader
for the first time.
viii Preface.
m
It only remains for me to acknowledge my indebtedness
to Colonel Charles Whittlesey, Mr. John T. Perry, Mr.
C. W. Butterfield, and Mr. Robert Clarke, for valuable
suggestions; and to Mr. Joseph G. Sicbeneck (of Pitts-
burgh), Mr. B. H. Hinds (of the Treasury Department),
Mr. E. T. Hall (of the State Executive Department), and
Colonel D. C. Cox (when a Government official at Wash-
ington), for aid in procuring copies of correspondence.
The importance of this service can only be fully appre-
ciated by those who have attempted to obtain access to
the treasures of a hundred years ago.
December 8, 1881.
CONTENTS.
LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES.
CHAPTER I.
1734-1775 — Birth axd Edi'catiok — Services in the Frekch War — Map-
RiAGE — Lord Bunmork's War akd the Boitxdart Troubles betweex
Pexnstltakia axd Yiroikia 1
CHAPTER II.
J 775-1 777 — Meeting at Haxxastown to Protest against Aggressions
OF Great Britain — Treaty with Indians at Pittsburgh — St. Clair
Suggests Expedition to Detroit — Appointed Colonel of Second
Pennsylvania — Covers Retreat fkom Canada — Sickness and De-
moralization OP Army on Border of Lake Champlain — St. Clair
Ordered to Reinforce Washington — Desperate Straits of the
Army — Suffering in the Winter — Battles of Trenton and Prince-
ton— St. Clair Sugg e.sts an Ingenious Movement by which the Army
Eludes THE British — Brilliant Results 12
CHAPTER III.
1777 — St. Clair, Promoted to be Major-General, Ordered to an Im-
portant Command in the Northern Department — Evacuation of
Forts Ticonderoga and Independence — It Results in the Sur-
render of Burgoyne and the Triumph of the American Cause 45
CHAPTER IV.
1777-1783 — St. Clair joins General Washington, and becomes a Mem-
ber OF his Military Family — Participates in the Battle of Bran-
DYWiNE — Important Services — Shares lv the Sufferings of Valley
Forge — St. Clair faithful to Washington in the Midst of Cabals
— Troubles in the Pennsylvania Line, and Labors of President Reed
AND St. Clair to adjust them — Assault on Stony Point — Post of
(ix)
X . Contents.
Honor held by St. Clair's Division, ix 1780 — A Commissioker to ar-
range A Cartel for Exchange of Prisoners — Treason of Arnold and
Death op Andr^ — St. Clair sent to command West Point — Offered
THE COMMAND OF CoRFS OF LiGHT InFAKTRY — ReTOLT OF THE PENNSYL-
VANIA Line — Recriiting for the Final Struggle — Marches to Sup-
port OF Greene in South Carolina — Close of the War — Mutiny of
Pennsylvania Recruits — Alarm in PHiijiDELPniA — St. Clair sent
FOR — Congress adjourns to Princeton 97
CHAPTER V.
1783-1787 — Return to Civil Life — Loss of Fortune — Engages in Busi-
ness— A Member of the Board of Censors — Elected a Delegate to
Congress from Philadelphia County — Chosen President of the
last Continental Congress — Great Gift to Freedom — History of
THE Ordinance of 1787 — St. Clair Elected Governor of the North-
western Territory 116
CHAPTER VL
The North-western Territouy-t- Arrival op Governor St. Clair at Fort
Harmar — Interesting Ceremonik.s — Address to the Settlers at Cam-
pus Martius — Auspicious Beginning of the Work of Establishing
Civil Government — Claim of the Indians to the Territory, and its
Importance to Them — Adopting Laws — Difference with the Judges
— Establishment of the First Court in the North-west — Social
Life on the Muskingum — Louisa St. Clair — Treaty at Fort Har-
mar— Influence of Joseph Brant and his British Allies — Confed-
EKACY OF Indian Nations — Arrival at Fort W^a.shington — Cincinnati
Named, and why — Organization of Counties and Local Governments
IN the Illinois and Wabash Countries — Temitation to Return to
Political Life in Pennsylvania — Proposition to Make St. Clair
Governor of that State 137
CHAPTER VII.
Ominous Si(;ns observed in the Indian Country — The Chieftain Brant
AND the BkITISH AgAIN AT WORK — DEPREDATIONS ON THE FRONTIERS —
Failure of Attempt.^ to Negotiate a Peace — The Indians Demand
THAT the Whites Shall Remove east of the Ohio — Vigorous Meas-
ruEs Kksolved on — St. Clair's Conferences with Secretary of War
— Successful Expkditions of Scott and Wilkinson — Expedition op
Contents. xi
Gbxeral Harmae and Severe Encounters with the Indians — St.
Clair appointed Major-Gbneral and Commander-in-Chief — IIis Dis-
AgTRous Campaign — Responsibiutt of the War Department —
Scandalous Conduct of the Quartermaster-Qeneral — Report of
Congressional Committee Vikdicatino St. Clair from Blame —
Massacres of the White Settlers — Reorganization of Armt
Under General Wayne — Failure of Negotiations Result in
Conquering a Peace — Murder of Messengers — Legend of Louisa
St. Clair 167
CHAPTER Vni.
1793-1798 — Interest in National Politics — Against the French Par-
ty— The Scheme to Return to Pennsylvania Abandoned — Second
Stage of Government in the North-western Territory — Meeting
OF THE Legislature — Important Work in the Revision of the
Code of Laws — Rapid Increase in Population — The Connecticut
Land Company — Commotion at Post Vincennes and Judge Tur-
ner— Political Excitement — Spanish and British Intrigues in
the North-western Territory and Kentucky — Influence and
Brilliant Talents of Wilkinson — Proclamation of St. Clair
Warning Against the French Agents — George Rogers Clarke a
French Major-Gbneral — Division of People of Territory into
Parties 186
CHAPTER IX.
1797-1802 — Advancement of Winthrop Sargent — Wiluam Henry Harri-
son appointed Secretary — New Stage in the Territorial Govern-
ment— Popular Election of Legislatuive — Ahsolute Veto of the
Governor — Right to Erect New Counties in Dispute — Popularity of
St. Clair — His Efforts to Preserve the Rights of the People —
The Common Law — Important Services of Jacob Buknet — Influ-
ence OF THE Great Land Holders — .Attempts to introduce Slav-
ery— Kentucky Claims Jurl^idiction over Ohio River — Addri-iss to
President Adams — Division ok the Territory — Harrison Governor
OF Indiana Territory — The Virginia Colony in the Scioto Valley
— Poutical Schemes — Antagonism to Governor St. Clair — His
Abiijty as a Leader and Strength with his Party — Intrigue to Se-
cure HIS Removal Defeated — Reappointed Governor by President
Adams — Movement for a State Government — Counter Movement —
xii Contents,
Bitterness of Political Divisions — Colokel Worthixgton in Wash-
ington— Triumph op the State Party — Attempt to Secure the
Remotal of St. Clair through Jefferson, and its Failure — Con-
vention TO Form a State Constitution — Address of Governor St.
Clair and its Consequences — True History of tub Intrigues against
Him and His Removal 207
CHAPTER X.
1803-1818 — Closing Days — Importance of the Work of St. Clair in the
North-western Territory — A Wilderness Civilized and a People
made Prosperous and Happy — Return of the Veteran to Ligonier
— Financial Affairs — The Government op the United States pleads
the Statute op Limitations, which Act, with the Aid op the Em-
bargo Law^ brings St. Clair's Estate to Forced Sale, and reduces
THE OLD Soldier and Family to Poverty — Depth op Party Prejudi-
ces— St. Clair removes to Chestnut Ridge — Visited by Distin-
guished Citizens — Interesting Relic of the Revolutionary Period
— Privations endured — Sympathy of New York Ladies — Ingrati-
tude— The Last of Earth 248
THE ST. CLAIR PAPERS.
CORRESPONDENCE, ADDRESSES, ETC.
1771-1775 — Boundary Troubles between Pennsylvania and Virginia —
Lord Dunmore's Indian War 257
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Correspondence between St. Clair and Washington, Schuyler, Reed,
Wilson, and others 363
LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES
OF
ARTHUR ST. CLAIR
CHAPTER I.
1734-1775 — Birth and Education' — Sekvices ix the French War— Mar-
RiAiiE— Lord Dunmore's War and the Bouxdart Troubles between
Pennsyltania and Virgixia.
The St. Clairs fi^re prominently in history, song, and
story.* In XormanJy, they controlled lands, castles, and
troops of men, and were closely allied to royal blood. In
the eleventh century, TVilliam de St. Clair, second son of
Valderne Compte de St. Clair, and Margaret, daughter to
Richard, Duke of Normandy, settled in Scotland, and
soon his name appeared on the roll of the followers of
^lalcom C^enmore, and, thenceforward, for generations, his
descendants are found in loyal support of the monarchs
of that country. The St. Clairs shared in the triumphs
and the humiliations of the House of Stuart, receiving
honors on the one hand, and accepting exile and poverty
on the other. Reconciled to the union of Scotland with
England and the Protestant succession, they continued
devotedly attached to royalty, without exception, until the
signal gun in the American war of Independence was
tired; but whether as Catholic or Protestant, monarchist
or republican, always displaying a martial spirit, and al-
»See Song of Harold ("bard of brave St. Clair"), and Note, in
*• The Lay of the Last Minstreiy Canto VI. And also Captain Wedder-
burn's Courtship, English and Scottish Ballads, Vol. Vil T.
2 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
ways true to the cause espoused. TVc have here to do with
the republican St. Clair, one of the best and noblest of the
race, whose good fortune it was to be the friend and asso-
ciate of Washington and La Fayette in the struggle for
Independence, and the first Chief Magistrate under the
Ordinance of 1787.
Arthur St. Clair was born in the town of Thurso, in
Caithness, Scotland, in the year 1734. The month or day
is not known. He was a descendant of a noble family,*
and inherited the fine personal appearance and manly
traits, remarked iu both French and English history, of the
St. Clairs. His father, being a younger son, possessed
neither lands nor title, and died at an early age, from the
effects of a life of idleness and pleasure. In his other
parent Arthur St. Clair was more fortunate, as she sup-
plied not only the affection and tender care of a devoted
mother, but also the aid and counsel which had been due
from the father. At an early age, St. Clair was entered at
the University of Edinburgh, and, it having been deter-
mined that he should follow a professional life, in due
course he was indentured to the celebrated Dr. William
Hunter, of London. But it is evident the life of a student
of medicine had no charms for him, since upon the death
^ The generally accepted opinion that Arthur St. Clair was a grandson
of the then Earl of Koslin, is erroneous. They were descendants of a
common ancestor. When Arthur St. Clair was Governor of the North-
western Territory, he was applied to by William St. Clair, youngest
son of the Earl of Roslin, and brother of Lieutenant-Colonel James
St. Clair, of the British Army, for assistance in getting into business in
the North-western Territory. He was then in Canada (as the Detroit
country was called), and had been unfortunate in some business enter-
prise. When Governor St. Clair organized the Illinois country, he
appointed William St. Clair Clerk of the Courts of St. Clair County.
William St. Clair invested largely in lands, and located at Cahokia.
Ilis family failing to get replies to letters addressed to him, finally ap-
plied to Governor St. Clair for information. William St. Clair died at
Cahokia while Arthur St Clair was yet Governor, and it was reported
left his landed property to Arthur St. Clair, Jr. General Arthur St.
Clair was related by marriage to General Thomas Gage, who was re-
called by his government after ihe ct)utiict with the Colonists tit Lex-
ington,
hift and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 8
of his mother in the winter of 1756-57, little more than a
year after he was indentured, he purchased his time with
a part of the money he inherited, and through the influ-
ence of friends obtained an ensign's commission in the
Sixtieth or Royal American regiment of Foot. * The com-
mission bears date May 13, 1757, so that St. Clair was
about twenty-three years of age when he entered the mili-
tary service of the King of Great Britain. The succeed-
ing year was passed in acquiring familiarity with the
duties of his position. On the 28th of May, 1758, St. Clair
arrived, with Amherst, before Louisburg. There were
gathered here men soon to become famous, and Ensign St.
Clair was offered an opportunity to study the art of war
on the most active field. With such men as Wolfe and
Moncton, Murray and Lawrence, there was little chance
for idleness, while the martial spirit ever displayed by
them was calculated to stir a youth to deeds of emulation.
So well had Ensign St. Clair borne his part in the affair
of Louisburg, he received the commendation of his su-
perior officers, and a recommendation for promotion. A
lieutenant's commission was issued to him, bearing date
April 17, 1759. It was his good fortune now to be assigned
to the command of General Wolfe, who had been selected
to reduce Quebec. Since the 13th of September of that
memorable year, which decided the fate of the French in
America, the story of the first battle on the Plains of
Abraham has continued to thrill the hearts of the youth
of two nations, and keep green the memory of the oppos-
ing heroes — Wolfe and Montcalm, equal in military genius,
in courage and patriotic devotion to country. That story
need not be repeated here. This only interests us, that
our St. Clair took a conspicuous part in that brilliant and
^The Royal American regiment was projected by the Duke of
Cumberland. It consisted of four battalions of 1,000 men each. The
First and Se<Jond battalions, which were the most noted, were com-
manded respectively by Moncton and Lawrence. In 1758, Major Gen-
eral Amherst was appointed Commnnder-in-Chief of all of the forces
in America, and Colonel of the Sixtieth regiment. St. Clair was a
Mibordinate in the second battalion.
4 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
fatal affair, and that he bore himself as a brave soldier
should in battle. His battalion had been joined with other
light troops under command of Colonel Ilowe, ^ who had
been elected to the post of honor in scaling the heights.
These, " who found themselves borne by the current
a little below the intrenched path, clambered up the steep
hill, staying themselves by the roots and boughs of the
maple and spruce and ash trees that covered the precipitous
declivity, and, after a little firing, dispersed the picket
which guarded the height. The rest ascended safely by
the pathway. A battery of four guns on the left was
abandoned to Colonel Howe."' Then came the fatal
struggle on the plains, during which Lieutenant St. Clair
seized the colors, which had fallen from the hand of a
dying soldier, and bore them until the field was won by
the British. ^
General Murray, with five thousand men, including
the Royal Americans, was left in the garrison. He pushed
his outposts as far as Lorette, and Sainte-Foye, two or
three leagues from Quebec; and a war of skirmishings
continued, despite the season's rigor. Through great
effort the defenses were completed so as to sustain a siege,
in time to check the French, who, under De Levis, were
moving in strong force to recapture the ancient capital of
Canada. The garrison was greatly reduced by death,
caused by lack of fresh provisions. St. Clair shared in all
of the labors and privations of the ^vinter, and in the
* Afterward. Sir William Howe, and Commander-in-Chief of the
British army in America.
^Bancroft, Vol. IV., p. 333. M. Garneau in his '' L! Histoire du
Canada," says the light infantry were headed by Wolfe, but the state-
ment made by Bancroft, that Colonel Howe was the leader, and by his
troops covered the ascent of the main body, is confirmed by Hildreth.
It is also confirmed by Alex. John.ston, friend and neighbor of St.
Clair, in his declining years, who has furnished the Western Reserve
Historical Society with " Recollections " of conversations with St. Clair.
'MS. See also Wi/kin.wns Memoirs, Chap. L>, p. 84: "He" [St.
Clair] " served at the taking of Louisburg under General Amherst,
and in the next campaign carried a pair of colors on the Plains of
Abraham."
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 5
severe battle of the Buttes-il-NeVcu, which was brought
on by the rash bravery of Murray. The French now
entered on a regular siege ; the position of the British be-
came desperate, and they were only saved from defeat and
the loss of Quebec by the opportune arrival of some ships,
which caused De Levis to raise the siege,* and retire to
Montreal. Thither he was followed by Murray, who was
joined by Amherst with a large force of fresh troops, and
the French were besieged in turn. It soon becoming evident
to M. de Vaudreuil that his cause was hopeless, he directed
De Levis to arrange with the enemy for terms, and articles
of capitulation were signed September 8, 1760. By this
act, Montreal, Presque Isle, Detroit, Mackinaw, and all of
the other posts in the Western country which had been
founded by the Jesuits, and had so long been the pride of
the French, passed under the control of the British. The
time was not distant when these became of deeper interest
and far greater importance to the American colonists;
when from their very gates issued a savage foe, the allies
of brethren here present, whose cruelties filled with terror
the borders stretching to the southward for a thousand
miles !
Doubtless, to none in the British army was the cessa-
tion of severe campaign work more welcome than to young
St. Clair. He had, since his arrival in America, formed a
tender attachment, and it is reasonable to suppose that his
ardent temperament would lead him to prefer the society
of his beloved to associations on the tented field, though
never so glorious. It appears that after the siege of Que-
bec was raised he obtained a furlough and repaired to
Boston, where he was married to Miss Phoebe Bayard,
daughter of Bel thazar Bayard and Mary Bowdoin, his wife,
who was a half-sister of Governor James Bowdoin. How
an acquaintance was brought about between these young
people is not known, but it is presumed that during St.
Clair's service and frequent visits to Boston, where he was
sent on military business to the governor, he made the
acquaintance of the Bowdoins and Bayards, and improved
^ Knox's Historical Journal.
6 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
the opportunity to fall in love with the young lady, who
was thoroughly educated, of amiable disposition and agree-
able manners. Ensign St. Clair, a favorite of popular
British commanders, a descendant of an ancient and dis'
tinguished Scotch family, tall, graceful, dignified, with
chestnut hair, handsome blue-gray eyes, and blonde com-
plexion, master of all of the accomplishments of the draw-
ing-room, including the art of entertaining conversation,
could not fail to be an acceptable visitor in the best fami-
lies of Boston, and suitor for the hand of such a young
lady as Miss Phoebe Bayard. It has been suggested by
Hon. Robert C. AVinthrop/ that there may be a clue to
St. Clair's marriage with a Bowdoin, in the fact that
Major William Erving (who endowed the Erving Profes-
sorship of Chemistry at Harvard College), was a brother
of Mrs. Governor Bowdoin, and served as an Aide-de-
Camp to Wolfe at Quebec. He and St. Clair were doubt-
less friends, and through him a proper introduction at
Boston would follow.
By this marriage, St. Clair received the sum of £14,000,
being a legacy to his wife from her grandfather, James
Bowdoin. This sum, added to what he had saved of his
own fortune, made St. Clair a man of wealth, and the
brilliant prospect before him influenced him to hasten the
time when he should retire from the armv. On the IGth
of April, 1762, he resigned his commission, and spent some
time in Boston. Mr. Alex. Johnston, and other friends of
St. Clair in Western Pennsylvania, were of the opinion
that he assisted in repelling the Indians from that section
in 1703, the year when the articles of peace were signed,
and that he commanded, for a time, at Fort Ligonier, in
which service he received the title of Captain. A writer
in the National Infrllff/Ofcrr, in a sketch of the services of
St. Clair, declared that General Gage appointed him to
take command of the forts in Western Pennsylvania. The
onlv doi-umentarv confirmation of this, in St. Clair's own
hand, is a letter^ written to the President of Pennsylv^ania
Mil a letter to Alfred T. Goodman, Esq.
^ Pennsylcanij, Archives^ Vol. X, p. 483: It is said by one writer,
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 7
in 1785, in which he says that a part, of the grounds at
Fort Pitt were granted to him by General Gage.* It is
certain that he resigned from the British army in 1762, as
before stated, and if he served in Western Pennsylvania,
it must have been under a different commission. Be this
as it may, there is reason to believe that in the year 1764,
St. Clair and his young wife removed first to Bedford, and
then to the Ligonier Valley, where he had acquired a
large tract of land, partly by purchase and partly by grant
by the King, for his services in the French war. The fine
stretch of valley land, where the village of Ligonier was
afterwards built, was a part of that located by St. Clair.
The fact that a number of Scotch families, ' all prominent
in the stirring times that followed, had settled here, was
an additional inducement for St. Clair to become a pioneer.
He entered actively on the improvement of his property,'
that when the French war was closed, St. Clair " had the command of
Fort Ligonier assigned him; and also received a grant of one thousand
acres of land in that vicinity, which he fancifully chose to lay out
in the form of a circle." — History of Western Pennsylvania, p. 281
Among the St. Clair papers are letters of Colonel Boquet, of that date,
and in a letter of Boquet to CTOVornor Penn, 1763, from camp in West-
ern Pennsylvania, there is a humorous allusion to St. Clair. When St.
Clair died, two towns, Ligonier and Greensburg, disputed for the honor
of having his body buried in their cemeteries. Colonel Ramsay, an
old citizen, who laid out the town of Ligonier on behalf of the former,
appealed to Mrs. Robb, a daughter of St. Clair, in the presence of Alex.
Johnston, and urged upon her the fact that her father had once been
the captain of C>ld Fort Ligonier. A correspondent of the Pittsburgh
Chronicle, in a letter recently published, claims that he has seen in the
Land Office at Harrisburg, a record stating that St. Clair commanded
at Fort Ligonier in 1769.
^ .'V letter after the war to Gov. Penn. This does not assert that he
was in command of the posts, but that, having a family connection
with General Gage, he was requested to confer with that officer for
military protection for the frontier.
' Here came the Wilsons, the Harbisons, the McFarlands, the Mc-
Dowells, the Campbells, and the Hannas. — Letter of Alex. Johnston.
•St. Clair must have owned in Pennsylvania more land than the
records of the Land Office show. In addition to the grants of the
King, a Greensburg correspondent of the Pittsburgh Chronicle, before
8 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
erected a fine residence, and built a grist-mill — the first,
and for many years, the only one in that section. The
situation here is one of the most romantic in all Pennsyl-
vania, and had attracted the attention of the Scotch Gen-
eral Forbes and companions, one of whom afterwards
furnished a description of it, which doubtless induced the
families before referred to, to settle there. When that
General, in 1758, marched over the Alleghany Mountains
for the purpose of taking Fort Du Quesne, after crossing
the main range, he passed for a dozen miles through forest
glades, until he reached another mountain range running
north and south, almost parallel to the Alleghanies. This
was called the Laurel Hill. At its western foot his army
entered a valley about six miles in width and thirty in
length, formed of the Laurel Hill on the eastern side, and
the Chestnut Ridge on the western. Midway in this val-
ley Forbes struck a stream called by the Indians Lyal-
henning, and now known as Loyalhanna. Near this
stream, on his return, he erected a fort, which he called
Ligonier, in honor of Lord Ligonier, commander of the
British armies. The fort was about half wav between
Fort Pitt and Fort Bedford, and it was calculated that it
would afford needed protection to frontier settlers. The
healthfulness and pieturesqueness of the situation, the
abundance of timber and game of every kind, insured an
early settlement.
Hither came St. Clair, and entered actively on civil life.
"We shall see that his own private affairs were not permitted
long to have his exclusive attention. On the 5th of April,
1770, he was appointed Surveyor for the District of Cum-
berland, which then embraced the western part of the
State. A month later, the offices of Justice of the Court
of Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas, and Member of the
quoted, makes tho following statement: "In 1783, ho was granted, by
warrant dated September 24, a tract of 6,219 acres along the Loyal-
hanna Creek. In all there were 10,881 acres of land, the property of
St. Clair, and of these, 8,270 acres lay within the confines of West-
moreland county." The Journals of the Old Continental Congress
s'.iow that in 1786, Congress granted St. Clair 5 000 acres in one body.
Liift and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 9
Proprietary, or Governor's Council for Cumberland county
were conferred upon him. When Bedford county was
erected, in 1771, the Governor made St. Clair a Justice of
the Court, Recorder of Deeds, Clerk of the Orphan's Court,
and Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for that
county.* The same year, St. Clair, in connection with
Moses McLean, ran a meridian line, nine and a half miles
west of the meridian of Pittsburgh. In 1773, Westmore-
land was erected from Bedford, when Governor Penn sent
St. Clair appointments, corresponding with those held by
him for Bedford.
The year 1774 was one of thrilling interest to the in-
habitants of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and it proved to be
the last in which, as British subjects, they participated in
Indian warfare. In that year Lord Dunmore moved
against the Ohio Indians, and the killing of Logan's fam-
ily, and other Indians, was committed by the white inhabi-
tants settled upon the Ohio, near Wheeling and Yellow
Creek. There was wide dissatisfaction amongst the tribes
that had shown a friendly disposition, and, with a view to
prevent a more serious outbreak, Sir William Johnston's
deputy Indian agent caused a meeting to be held at Pitts-
burgh, which St. Clair attended. The conference with
the Indians, who embraced deputies from the Six Nations,
the Delawares, Shawanese, Munsies, Mohickons, and
Twightwees, really extended over a good part of the
month of May, beginning on the first. The threatened
depredations were checked, but only for a brief season.
* "At a Council held at Philadelphia on the 23d of November, 1771, a
special commission for holding a Court of Oyer and Terminer at Bed-
ford. Pa., was appointed to try Lieut. Robert Hamilton, of II is Majesty's
18th Regiment of Foot, who stood charged with the murder of Lieut.
Tracy, of the same regiment, in the county of Bedford. The Governor
issued a special commission, appointing the three eldest justices of the
peace in Bedford county to hold said Court. The commission was di-
rected to John Frazer, Bernard Docherty, and Arthur St. Clair, Esquires.
The reason for the appointment of this commission was that it would
be inconvenient for the Judges of the Supreme Court to take a journey
at this season so far as Bedford." — From the Record of Proceedings of
Oovemor and Executive Council.
10 Lift and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
and twenty years were yet to pass before the red man was
conquered, and the settlers on the border could lie down
at night without dread of the stealthy tread and bloody
tomahawk of the savage.
During this year, the controversy which had broken out
in 1752, between the proprietors of Pennsylvania and the
Governor of Virginia, as to the right of jurisdiction in
that part of country bordering on the head- waters of
the Ohio, was renewed, and what with this and the Indian
depredations the unhappy inhabitants were driven to des-
perate straits. The lands in the neighborhood of Pitts-
burgh had been surveyed for the proprietors of Penn-
sylv^ania in 1769, and the year following Pennsylvania
magistrates were appointed, who continued in the exercise
of their duties without molestation from Virginia until
the beginning of 1774. At this time. Dr. John Connolly,
a native of Pennsylvania, and '' a man of much energy and
talent, but without i)rinciple," appeared on the ground,
and having authority from Lord Dunmore, Governor of
Virginia, took possession of Fort Pitt, which had been
abandoned by the British government, calling it Fort
Dunmore; and, as Captain Commandant of the Virginia
Militia, issued his proclamation, calling on the people to
meet him, as a militia, on the 25th of January, 1774. For
so doing, St. Clair, then a magistrate of Westmoreland
county, issued a warrant against him, and had him com-
mitted to jail, at Ilannastown, tlie seat of justice of West-
moreland, which embraced Pittsburgh ; from which, Iiow-
ever, he was soon released, by giving his word for his ap-
'pearance at court. Hereupon, a lengthy correspondence
took place between the Governors, which, on the part of
Lord Dunmore, was arrogant and unbecoming his position.
In rehearsing the claims of Virginia, his Lordship insisted
that Mr. St. Clair should be punished for his temerity in
arresting his agent by dismissal from office, unless he could
prevail upon Connolly to apply for his pardon. In his re-
ply, which was in admirable temper. Governor Penn de-
clined to remove St. Clair, who, he said, as a good magis-
trate, was bound to take legal notice of Mr. Connolly.
Ijife. and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair. 11
" Mr. St. Clair is a gentleman," continued the Governor,
" who for a long time had the honor of serving his maj-
esty in the regulars with reputation, and in every station
of life has preserved the character of a very honest, worthy
man ; and though, perhaps, I should not, without first ex-
postulating with you on the subject, have directed him to
take that step, yet you must excuse my not complying
with your Lordship's requisition of stripping him, on this
occasion, of his offices and livelihood, which you will allow
me to think not only unreasonable, but somewhat dic-
tatorial."
Counter arrests and much correspondence followed, but
the controversy was soon obscured somewhat by the stir-
ring events of Lord Dunmore's War. After this had
ended, disturbances were again renewed. Connolly was
again arrested ; but a counter arrest of three of the Penn-
sylvania justices caused his release. Now, however, the
Boundary Troubles were lost sight of for some years by
that storm of war which burst over the whole country.
It was to this new and more importantHtheater that St.
Clair was invited.
12 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
CHAPTER n.
1775-1777 — Meeting at Hanxastown to Protest against Aggressions
OF Great Britain — Treaty with Indians at Pittsburgh — St. Clair
Suggests Expedition To Detroit — Appointed Colonel of Second
Pennsyltania — Covers Retreat from Canada — Sickness and De-
moralization OF Army on Border of Lake ChamI»lain — St. Clair
Orderf.d to Rkinfokce Washington — Desperate Straits of the
Army — Suffering in the Winter—Battle.s of Trenton and Prince-
ton— St. Clair Suggests an Ingenious Movement by which the Army
Eludes the British — Brilliant Results.
When the difFercnees between the Colonies and the
mother-country finally cuhnimited in preparations for co-
ercion on the one side and resistance on the other, St.
Clair was in the prime of life. He is spoken of in the
correspondence of contemporaries as a man of imposing
appearance, graceful, cultivated, w^hose agreeable and in-
telligent convei^tion, captivating manners, and honorable
principles won all hearts. We shall see in what respect
and enduring friendship he was held by Washington,
La Fayette, Hamilton, Schuyler, Wilson, Reed, and others
of the most distinguished of the patriots of the Revolu-
tion. The brilliant and versatile Wilkinson referred to it
as a piece of great <rood fortune that he was pcMi'iitiod to
be associated with St. Clair, and wrote of him ns the
"great St. Clair." Later in life, when he had known
something of both the smiles and frowns of Fortune,
Judge Burnet spoke of him as " unquestionably a man of
superior talents, of extensive information, and of great up-
rightness of purpose, as well as suavity of manners. . . .
He had been accustomed from infancy, to mingle in the
circles of taste and refinement, and had acquired a polish
of manners, and a habitual respect for the feelings of others,
which might be cited as a specimen of genuine polite-
ness."* He was at this time (1775) in the enjoyment of
^ Notes on the North-western Territory^ p. 378.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 13
all that man need wish for to secure happiness. He pos-
sessed in a large degree the public confidence^ "In this
situation," says Wilkinson/ " the American Revolution
found him, surrounded by a rising family, in the enjoy-
ment of ease and independence, with the fairest prospects
of affluent fortune, the foundation of which had been al-
ready established by his intelligence, industry, and enter-
prise. From this peaceful abode ; these sweet domestic en-
joyments, and the flattering prospects which accompanied
them, he was drawn by the claims of a troubled country.
A man known to have been a military officer, and dis-
tinguished for knowledge and integrity, could not in those
times be concealed, even by his favorite mountains, and,
therefore, without application or expectation on his part,
he received the commission of a colonel, in the month of
December, 1775, together with a letter from President Han-
cock, pressing him to repair immediately to Philadelphia.
Ue obeyed the summons, and took leave not only of his
wife and children, but, in effect, of his fortune,^ to embark
* Memoirs of My Own Timcs^ p. 84.
James Wilkinson was a native of Maryland. lie entered the army
at an early age, and was first assigned to a position in connection with
^Jeneral Washington's headquarters. He served on the staff of Gen-
♦ ral St. Clair, and was his brigade major at the battles of Trenton and
Princeton, which he so graphically describes in his Memoirs. He ac-
companied General Gates to the Northern Department, and was ap-
pointed Adjutant General of that Department, and was at the battle of
Saratoga. It was about this time that Washington remarked that
Wilkinson possessed a more promising military genius than almo.st
any he knew. Wilkinson emigrated to Kentucky, at the close of the
war, and went into business there. When St. Clair became Governor
of the North-western Territory, their acquaintance was renewed, and
Wilkinson soon received an appointment in the army. lie eventually
became Commander-in-Chief, and, after a brilliant career, died in 1825.
Wilkinson was well educated, was a fine orator, and was one of the
most accomplished men of his day.
'"At the commencement of the Revolution, St. Clair owned seven
hundred acres of good land, on which the town of Ligonier now stands.
This was the only grant St. Clair obtained before the Revolution, but
it was a most beautiful property, and promised to become very valua-
ble. The losses of St. Clair in the war were such that he was forced
14 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair,
in the cause of liberty and the United Colonies." "I
hold," wrote St. Clair to his intimate friend James Wil-
son,^ " I hold that no man has a right to withhold his ser-
vices when his country needs them. Be the sacrifice ever
so great, it must be yielded upon the altar of patriotism."
The Scotch residents of Westmoreland were not indif-
ferent to the perils ot the times, and on the 16th of May
a meeting was held at Hannastown for the purpose of
protesting against the aggressions of the mother-country,
which was participated in by St. Clair. " My first connec-
tion with the United States," says he, in that pathetic let-
ter to the Congressional Committee, in his old age, " my
first connection with the United States began in the year
1775. Congress had appointed commissioners to repair to
Fort Pitt to treat with the Indians, and induce them to a
neutrality during our contest with Great Britain. These
were the late Judge Wilson, of Pennsylvania, General
Lewis Morris, of New York, and Dr. Walker, of Virginia.
The two first wore members of that body and my particu-
lar friends. On their way to the rendezvous they called
upon me, and requested that I would accompany them
and act as theirsecretaryduring the negotiations, to which
I consented ; and, in the course of time, formed the pro-
to give up his Ligonier estate. It passed from St. Clair to James
Qalbraith, from him to James Ramse}', and from him to his son, John
Ramsey, who founded upon it the town of Ligonier. He attempted to
have the town called Ramsey, but old Fort Ligonier gave its name not
only to the town, but to the whole valley, of which one township is
called St. Clair." — MS. letter of Alex. Johnston.
> James Wilson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and
one of the most distinguished men of the Revolutionary period, was,
like St. Clair, a native of Scotland. He came to Philadelphia in 1766,
when he was twenty-four years of age, and studied and practiced law
there. In the Convention which framed the Federal Constitution, he
ranked high as a debater, and was Chairman of the Committee which
reported the Constitution. In 1789, he was appointed a judge of the
United States Supreme Court, which position he held until his death,
in 1798. He was devotedly attached to St. Clair, and, after the latter
was appointed Governor of the North-western Territory, he tried to
prevail on him to return to Pennsylvania and enter political life there.
Lift and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 15
ject of a volunteer expedition to surprise Detroit, which I
thought very practicable in that way, provided the Indians
would engage not to oppose it. That project I communi-
cated to the commissioners, who entered into it warmly;
and, in consequence of their approbation, I engaged be-
tween four and five hundred young men, in a very short
time, who were to furnish their own horses, forage, and
provisions ; they required nothing from the public but
ammunition, which could not be procured in that part of
the country. The commissioners strongly recommended
the measure to Congress ; but, after a delay of many
weeks, it was disapproved, and the reason assigned was
that General Arnold was before Quebec, and the fall of
that place was counted on as certain, and Detroit, as a
dependency must fall with it, and would be included in
the capitulation. The true reason I suppose to have been
the scarcity of ammunition."
But Arnold's expedition ended in disaster.^ K the plan
suggested by St. Clair had been carried out, and Detroit
surprised and captured, would the possession of that im-
portant western post by the colonists have proved a check
upon the Indians ?
The letter from President Hancock called St. Clair to
Philadelphia. He resigned his civil offices, and repaired
to that city for orders. On the 22d of January following,
he received instructions to raise a regiment to serve in
Canada, and in six weeks (such was the popular confidence
in St. Clair) the regiment ^ was completed, " not a single
man wanting," and on the 12th of March it left Philadel-
phia, for the north, fully equipped. " I had six companies
of it," says St. Clair, " in the vicinity of Quebec, on the
* " Men of different opinions concerning the policy of nations will
judge differently with regard to this expedition ; but whether they de-
termine the ends of it good or evil, all must allow, that it was a great
undertaking, and conducted with much intrepidity." — Murrat/s **An
Impartial History of the Present War in America,'^ Vol. II. p. 669.
• This was the Second Pennsylvania, regarded as the crack regiment
of that province.
16 Ziife and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
11th of May, just in time to cover the retreat of the army
from that place, and the other four companies at Sorel,
on the St. Lawrence."
The situation of the American army when St. Clair
arrived in Canada was very critical. While Congress was
resolving to send reinforcements and hard money ^ to keep
the good-will of the Canadians, Arnold was contriving
how to escape from Montreal, and General Thomas was
attempting to remove his sick and cannon from before
Quebec to a place of safety, agreeably to the decision of
a council of war held on the 5th of May. The good-will
of the Canadians, which had been manifested to the noble
Montgomery the yearbefore, had lately been withdrawn,
on account of the lawless conduct of the American troops,
and supplies could no longer be obtained. Washington
had expressly instructed Arnold to see that the Canadians
were not despoiled of their goods, and were made to feel
that the colonists were their brethren ; but they were rob-
bed and cheated on every hand, and, to add to the dis-
grace, vast quantities of valuable goods were carried away
from Montreal by Arnold's express command.
Disaster quickly followed disaster. An important post
at the Cedars was surrendered in the most cowardly man-
ner to Captain Forster, of Detroit, whose force consisted of
only one hundred and forty men, besides Indians, while
reinforcements for the garrison were on the way from
Montreal, and General Arnold was prepared to follow with
several hundred more.
The departure from Quebec had been so long delayed
that General Carleton, greatly strengthened by recent ac-
cessions from without, was enabled to take the oftent^ive.
Thomas, with the few men he could collect, not exceeding
two hundred and fifty, retreated in great disorder to Point
Deschambault, forty-eight miles above Quebec. '^Many
of the sick, with all of the military stores, fell into the
hands of the enemy. Unfortunately, to their quantity
' The whole amount of hard money in the Continental Treasui y tit
this period was £1,G62 Is Ad.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 17
were added two tons of powder, just sent down by General
Schuyler, and five hundred stand of small arms."^ After
halting at Point Deschambault for a few days, General
Thomas retreated to the mouth of the SoreP "in a con-
dition not to be expressed by words ; but had the satis-
faction of being joined there by four regiments that were
waiting for them,"^ of which the Pennsylvania troops
brought by St. Clair constituted a part. Shortly after his
arrival, General Thomas was taken ill of the small-pox,
and removed to Chambly, where,-on the 2d of June, he died.
Colonel St. Clair had left Montreal, where he had been
to consult with the Committee of Congress, on the 15th
of May, for Sorel. A plan for fortifying Deschambault
had been agreed on.*
During the illness of General Thomas, and for several
days after his death, General Thompson * was in command
* Marshaits Life of Washington, Vol. II., p. 327, who also adds: " Much
to the honor of General Carleton, he pursued the wise and humane
policy of treating with gentleness the sick and other prisoners that
fell into his hands."
* M. Garneau says : ** They halted not till they arrived at Sorel."
Hildreth makes the same mistake. The authorities for the statement
made in the text, are manuscripts in the State Department Gordon
and Marshall, who, writing of events when they were fresh, must be
accepted as the highest authorities, Bancroft and Irving. The fact
of a second council being held at Deschambault, and that the place
was declared to be untenable, is distinctly stated.
* Gordon — Vol. II., p. 253. "The Americans have lost in him one of
their best generals." Ibid, General Thomas " had prohibited inocu-
lation among his troops, because it put too many of their scanty num-
ber on the sick list; he probably fell a victim to his own prohibition."
Irving' 8 Life of Washington, Vol. II., p. 251. GeneralJohn Thomas served
in the old French and Indian war and was appointed from Massachusetta
^Forces American Archives, Fourth Series, Vol. VI., p. 578. — The letter
of the Commissioners to General Schuyler is interesting, as showing
the delusion the Americans were under as to the number of British
troops in Canada.
•Carrington, in his *' Battles of the Revolution," p. 166, remarks that
" Chief Justice Marshall supplies a fact in this connection which rec-
onciles other historical accounts, and shows that during the four days
which intervened between the death of General Thomas and the ar^
2
18 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair,
of the forces at Sorel, and it was at this time that St. Clair
suggested to him the " practicability of retarding, at least,
if not preventing entirely, the British transports from
passing up the river by taking post at the village of Three
Rivers, from which place he had seen in the former war
a division of them very much injured and obliged to fall
back, and proposed to gain possession of it with six hun-
dred men."^
General Thompson agreed to it, and on the fifth day of
June St. Clair marched from the camp of Sorel to the vil-
lage of Nicolet, which is opposite to the lower end of
the lake St. Peter, on the south side, whence he intended
to cross the St. Lawrence, and the boats that were neces-
sary were ordered to join him there in the night. A few
hours after S.t. Clair's departure. General Sullivan arrived
at Sorel, and being informed of what had been done, de-
tached General Thompson, with two or three regiments,
including Colonel Irvine's and a detachment of Wayne's,
to join the forces at Nicolet. lie arrived there that
night and took the command. All the next day was spent
in working on the redoubts, and on the succeeding night
General Thompson crossed the lake without any accident,
landing about two hours before day, but at a point sev-
eral miles beyond the one designated.^ It was now that
General Thompson committed the blunder that lost the
day and defeated the object of the expedition.
St. Clair's plan had been to surprise the enemy at Three
Rivers, where, it was supposed, from information com-
municated bv the Canadians, there was but a small de-
tachment, from live to eight hundred men, fortify and
delay or prevent the British transports from passing up
rival of General Sullivan, General Thompson was in command, and
that he sent St. Clair to Xicolet for the purpose of surprising the Brit*
ish post at Three Rivers.'" It is singular that historical writers of a
later dav overlook this fact, and treat of the movement to Three Riven
as having been ma<le directly under orders of General Sullivan. Gen^
eral Sullivan's real responsibility, and an inaccuracy of Colonel Car.
rington's, are noticed in the text.
' St. Clair s Narrative. Appendix, pp. 236-38.
^ Joun^al of Colonel Irvine, Hist. Mag., Vol. VI IT.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 19
the river. General Sullivan had approved of the plan,
and having more reliable information than his subordi-
nates, had thought it advisable to increase the force to two
thousand men. Even then, out of abundant caution, he
instructed Thompson not to attack the encampment at
Three Rivers " unless there was great prospect of success,
as his defeat might prove the total loss of Canada." ^
But it is evident that Sullivan was not aware of the ex-
tent to which the British troops had been reinforced, and
that he had the most buoyant anticipations of the result
of his enterprises in Canada. To Washington he wrote :
" I venture to assure you, and the Congress, that I can in
a few days reduce the army to order, and, with the assist-
ance of a kind Providence, put a new face to our affairs
here, which a few days since seemed almost impossible."
If success was had at Three Rivers, he would fortify at
Point Deschambault, and make that the base of operations
against Quebec. The confidence of the Canadians had
been restored to the Colonists, and all would go well.
The Canadians were deceiving him, perhaps, with a view
of regaining the friendship of the British, who, since their
friendly greeting to Montgomery, had been suspicious of
them. The American forces had scarcely effected a land-
ing on the hither side of St. Peter, when a Canadian^ has-
tened to General Eraser's encampment, at Three Rivers,
and apprised him of the movements of the Americans.
Meanwhile, the rumor had been adroitly spread among
the American troops that the British had a post, distant
about three miles, at a white house on the main road to
the village, and it soon reached General Thompson. We
will let St. Clair finish the story :
" It had been the intention not to pursue the main road,
but to strike off from it into another that lay nearly par-
allel, but at some distance from the river, and the point of
separation was between us and the white house. General
Thomp&on, on hearing that the British were in his neigh-
^ Irving* s Washington, Vol. II., p. 252.
' Gordon. Garneau says by a Captain of Militia. P. 152.
20 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
borhood, instantly put the detachment in motion to sur-
prise them; but, when we reached the house, there were
no troops there, nor had any been there ; the place, how-
ever, where the roads separated had been passed, and we
were full two miles advanced of it ; the guide, a very in-
telligent man, thought we might gain the intended road
by marching across the forest, in less time than must nec-
essarily be spent in going back to the place first proposed,
but without any path; it was accordingly attempted, but
a considerable time was spent without reaching it, and the
General became suspicious that the guide was misleading
him, and impatient of the delay, and the sun being near
the rising, he ordered the troops back on their track to
the main road they had quitted, where they were soon dis-
covered and fired upon from an advanced guard-boat. The
colors were then displayed and the drums ordered to beat,
and he resolved attempting that by open force which had in-
tended to be done by surprise. The detachment marched
but a short distance, before an armed vessel, posted lower
down the river, opened her fire and annoyed it a good deal,
which induced the officer, who led the front division, to
strike off into a road that presented itself, leading obliquely
from the river, and that seemed as if it would fall into the
same road after crossing what appeared to be a small
wood, which would, in the mean time, cover the men from
the fire of the vessel. It led us, indeed, into the wood,
which was far from being a small one, as had been sup-
posed, and was crossed with the utmost labor and difficulty,
being a morass the whole way through it, full three miles
over, knee deep nearly at every step, and intersected by a
small rivulet, which had to be crossed many times, and
took the men to their breasts.* It opened at last upon a
cultivated plain at no great distance from the village, but
beyond it. Here we saw the transports were arrived, and
the troops- busily debarking, and a considerable body, with
* "A worse march, for about a mile and a half, did not offer in all
Arnold's Expedition. The men were almost mired." — Gordon, Vol. Ill,
p. 257.
* The forces of General Nesbit.
Life and Fublic Services of Arthur St. Clair. 21
some pieces of artillery, coming to meet us. The advance
of the two corps were soon engaged, but they were not
equal, and ours were obliged to give way, and we were
forced to trace back our steps through the same dismal
swamp by which we had advanced."
The Americans lost in killed, wounded, and prisoners,
about two hundred;^ among the latter were General
Thompson, Colonel Irvine, and several other officers. The
British loss was trifling.^
The command of the Americans now fell to St. Clair,
who led them to the landing place. Here they found the
^nemy formed in good order on a rising ground above the
* Gordon, Vol. Ill, p. 258.
'Charles Henry Jones, in his *' History of the Campaign for the Conquest
of Canada," gives the American loss as twenty-five killed and two hundred
prisoners, and the British loss as eight killed and nine wounded. The ac-
counts of the hattle of Three Kivers differ as to details, and as to the part
taken by prominent officers. The author of " Campaign for the Conquest
of Canada" says the Americans, after emerging from the swamp, con-
tinued their march for three-quarters of a mile, within fifty yards of the
river, "under a galling fire from the shipping, when they were driven off
from the shore by the effect which the fire began to produce upon their
ranks, and soon became entangled in the swamp again. At this point the
divisions of St. Clair and Irvine separated from the divisions of Maxwell,
Wayne, and Hartley, the two former with General Thompson, marching in
a north-easterly direction back from the river; the three latter divisions
continuing their march near the shore. . . . Wayne at once attacked the
advance-guard of the enemy and drove them in upon the main body,
two thousand or three thousand strong, under Brigadier-General Fraser,
strongly intrenched before tlie town. The Americans . . . displayed
great courage and gallantry, but the enemy opened such a murderous fire
upon them from behind their works that they were forced to give way."
Meanwhile, St. Clair's and Irvine's divisions, with General Thompson, were
advancing to support Wayne and Maxwell, but the enemy had, by landing
troops in the rear of the Americans, thrown them into confusion, and
General Thompson ordered the whole force to fall back to the cover of the
woods. " Lieutenant-Colonel Hartley, perceiving the confusion, led up the
reserves, and endeavored to cover the retreat," but was obliged, by the force
of the enemy, to fall back. (See pp. 74, 75.)
M. Garneau, in his "History of Canada" (Vol. II., p. 163), says the en-
counter took place near a wood one and a half miles distant from the town,
and does not mention intrcnchments. St. Clair says that as the Americans
appeared they saw the enemy landing from their vessels, and soon after they
came into collision. Gordon, Marshall, and St. Clair say that Thompson
directed the attack, which is probably correct.
22 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
point of the lake, and their boats removed. There seemed
nothing left but to lay down their arms, but St. Clair, de-
termining to make an eftbrt to escape, hastily formed his
men as with the design to attack, and making a move-
ment to the right, which threw a point of woods between
them and the enemy, gave the order to continue in the road
until a road should be reached which led to an Acadian
village and crossed the Riviere de Loups, beyond which
St. Clair thought it improbable they would be pursued.
This proved a wise movement. The enemy amused them-
selves by firing a harmless volley, but did not attempt to
follow. In two or three days they again reached Sorel
torn,, and demoralized, to the astonishment and chagrin
of poor Sullivan, who had gone so far while Thompson's
forces w^ere encountering the enemy at Three Rivers, as to
write Washington of his supposed success. Alas! the
painful and humiliating task now fell to him of relating
the details of the unexpected disaster, and of preparing to
save his broken army from capture by the victorious
enemy, now numbering near thirteen thousand, and led
by Carleton, Burgoyno, and Fraser.
But Sullivan did not immediately come to the conclu-
sion to abandon the impossible enterprise of regaining
Canada. After the defeat at Three Rivers, he wrote to
Washington that he was employed day and night in forti-
fying and securing his camp, and that he was determined
to hold it as long as a person would stick to him.^
The camp at Sorel, says St. Clair, with a view to de-
fense, had been ill chosen. " It was placed in low ground
lying along the St. Lawrence, from the mouth of the Sorel
downwards, and no otherwise fortified than by a four-gun
battery in front, on the edge of an extensive beach of mov-
able sand, of which every high wind took up great quan-
tities, and so filled the embrasures of the battery that the
cannon had to be dug out very frequently. The left flank
was perfectly secured by the Sorel, but on the right flank
there was nothing but a sort of abattis formed of very
^ Force s American Archives. ^ Gordon.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair. 28
tall pine saplings, which effectually hid every thing below
it, and would have covered completely the approach of an
enemy, and nothing more would have been requisite to
drive every man out of camp, than to set fire to the abattis
with a favorable wind.'' St. Clair had often remarked to
General Sullivan the danger of the situation,^ and pressed
him to change it and occupy the high ground. He did
not think it necessary, but after he had seen a strong
column of the enemy pass on the other side of the St.
Lawrence, called a council of his officers. There was a
unanimous expression of opinion in favor of an immedi-
ate abandonment of the position. Thereupon, the General
directed that the boats be got above the rapids — a difficult
task, which could not have been accomplished but for the
Generals's own exertions- — dismounted his batteries and
retreated with his artillery and stores to the Isle-aux-Noix
in Lake Champlain, " and so critical was the movement,
that before the last of the boats were out of the reach of
musketry, the enemy entered the fort." '
The retreat was conducted with consummate ability,
and the praise which it called forth was some compensation
for poor Sullivan. His field officers, numbering twenty-
seven, including St. Clair, De Haas, Wayne, and Maxwell,
addressed him a letter on the occasion of his withdrawal
from the Northern Department, expressing their confidence
in him and appreciation of his labors.*
Thus ended " an eight months' campaign of checkered
fortunes, varying according to the dispositions, favoring or
unfavoring of the Canadians," ^ the Americans having been
driven from every post, and having lost in the field, and by
sickness and desertion about five thousand men. Besides
this, their prestige as soldiers was gone, and their treasury
* '* After the unlucky affair at Three Rivers, by his counsel to Gen-
eral Sullivan at Sorel, he saved the army we had in Canada. — Wilkin-
son! s Memoirs, Vol. I., p. 85.
■ St. Clair's account. • Ibid.
* Forceps American Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. I., p. 127.
* Gameau, Vol. II., p. 153.
I
i
l.i
1
I
I.
I ■
24 />>//: and Public Serriees of Arthur St. Clair.
«;xhaijhU;d of "hard money." The outlook was gloomy
Vrhui Ii*lo.aiix-Xoix the Americans passed to Crown
iV/int, and thenr<; to Ti<ronderoga.
'Viikii a look at the army at Crown Point:
"Atthirt place I ibund not an army, but a mob, the
^haftenrd remjiinn of twelve or fifteen very fine battalions,
riiified by HiiikneHs/ fatigue, and desertion, and void of
o.wi'.ry 'uU'ii of diHcijjiiiie or Hubordination. . . . We
have now tliHT tliourtaiid sick, and about the same num-
ber well; lITiH Iravcrt near live thousand men to be ac-
eonnted \\)\\ Of these the enemy has cost us perhaps one,
hirkncHH an(»ther thousand, and the others, God alone
knows in what nninner they are disposed of. Among the
fi'W \V(^ have renuiining, there is neither order, subordina-*
lion, nor harnionv: the ofiieers as well as men of one
eol(»ny insulting and (piarreling with those of another."'
And this sanu* condition of demoralization was to be
eontinutul for another year, and transferred to Tieonderoga
to wn^ek the fortunes of brave and patriotic oflicers, be-
cause the master-spirits in Congress, who were conducting
tlu» war, feared lest liberty might suiter something if men
Were permitted with muskets in their hands for over one
liundreil and eiij^htv davs!
A council of idlicci-s with General Schuyler at the head,
decided that (^*own Point was untenable, and thereupon
Congress called in question the decision. General Gates,
NY ho had meanwhile been placed in command by the same
intaUiblc authority, dcteuilcd the decision with some spirit
\u a letter to Washiuirton.^ lie said that the mo.*t im-
*riu» siokiios^s was prinoijKillv frv>m small-jK^x. "I left them [the
»iok I yiiKi walkvNl ArvHUid tho isUuvl. and fv>uiul the sick of the whole
AnuY in iho <huio situaiiv^i. amountini: iv> thousands, some dead, others
vl> inj: Vir\Mt turubors could not <tiind. oaUin^ on us ^^the physicians)
tor holp. auvl wo lud noihiiij: to iiive thoni It brv>ke my heart, and I
w^i>c u II til I h^vl no moro row or to w^vp/' — Dr. Sx-muii J. ^fyrick, of
* y^.'^^j An.^c2* A •'■:'» -f. K::th >t*rtes. Vol. I. p f^ •'> ^
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 25
portant of the field-officers — '' Colonel St. Clair and Col-
onel De Haas, in particular, men whose long service and
distinguished characters deservedly give their opinions a
preference " — acquiesced in the opinion of the general offi-
cers. He added : " The ramparts are tumbled down, the
casements are fallen in, the barracks burnt, and the whole so
perfect a ruin that it would take five times the number of
our army, for several summers, to put it in defensible re-
pair." Accordingly, the army was moved to Ticonderoga.
Here St. Clair remained during the summer, being kept
busy as presiding officer of a court-martial and in routine
camp duty. He was a favorite with the entire camp.
Colonel Hartley suggested to General Gates that the Penn-
sylvania tl^oops be brigaded together, and that Colonel
St. Clair, " an old and experienced officer, would be ex-
ceedingly acceptable, and every one would act with confi-
dence under him," as brigade commander. Colonel Ogden
declared that there was no better man, and that Congress
ought to appoint him a Brigadier.*
On the 28th of July, which fell on Sunday, St. Clair had
the honor of reading to the assembled troops the Declara-
tion of Independence, a copy of which had been received
from Philadelphia.^
On the 9th of August, St. Clair was elected a Brigadier-
General by Congress, and, subsequently, by order of the
same authority,^ left the Northern Department and joined
General Washington in New Jersey. Here, during that
memorable winter of 1776-77, in which the cause of the
' Force s American Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. I., pp. 176 and 604.
* " Immediately after divine worship this day, the Declaration of In-
dependence was read by Colonel St Clair; and having said, 'God save
the free independent States of America r the army manifested their
joy with three cheers ! " — Ibid^ p. 630.
•Official Order to Major-General Schuyler, from Headquarters, New-
ark, November 26, signed by Harrison. It is proper to remark, how-
ever, in this connection, that St. Clair was at Albany when the order
of Congress was made known to him. He had taken to that place at
request of General Schuyler, his brigade consisting then of the fine
regiment of BeHaas, and the First and Second Jersey regiments.
26 Life and Public Servicer of Arthur St. Clair.
Americans was brought to extremest peril, and through
the genius, inspiring courage, and remarkable tact of
Washington, under Providence, was rescued, and com-
manded the respectful attention of Europe, he shared in
the labors and privations, in the misfortunes, and in the
glorious triumphs of the army. Amid all the gloom he
never despaired. Other officers high in public esteeni
might fall away, but St. Clair remained true to the cause
of freedom, and to the Chief who had been chosen to
represent it.
A brief retrospect of the expiring autumn and early
winter-days of 1770 will give us a clear view of the con-
dition of Washington's army when St. Clair joined it with
his brigade. The British commander suddenly ended tlie
uncertainty of his plan of campaign by sending Lord
Cornwallis across the Hudson with an overwhelming force
to invest and capture Fort Washington. This accom-
plished, and Fort Lee in possession of the enemy, the way
was open through the Jerseys to the American capital.
Washington had anticipated the movement and conse-
quent danger, and wrote to Greece, in whose department
it was, to dismantle Fort Washington, withdraw the gar-
rison, and remove the stores to a more secure i)lace. And
now we behold the fatal eftects of divided counsel. Con-
gress had thought it desirable and practicable to defend
the Highlands. Greene believed it possible to defend the
Fort against the British, and, unfortunately, Washington
yielded his better judgment to the importunities of this
favorite general. The investment in force took place ; the
troops were driven from height after height back on to
the garrison until it was no longer possible for Magaw to
get his troops to man the lines. The sight of the Ameri-
can flag hauled down and the British flag waving in its
place, told Washington, who stood a spectator on the
opposite side of the river, of the surrender.' The loss in
well-tried soldiers was two thousand eight hundred and
eighteen prisoners, besides the killed and wounded, and
^ Ircings Life of Washington, Vol. II., p. 454.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 27
in Btores of all kinds, including artillery and arms of the
best quality, very great. Fatal blunder ! which Greene
afterwards sought to retrieve on many a field of battle.^
Fort Lee was abandoned, but so closely were the Ameri-
cans pressed by the enemy that all of the artillery, except
two twelve-pounders, the tents, baggfige and provisions,
were lost. The flight continued to the Hackensack River,
the passage of which, however, the enemy did not dispute.
From this point Washington caused General Lee to be
apprised of the situation and ordered him to remove his
troops to the west side of the Hudson, and there await
further commands. To maintain his position on the Hack-
ensack was impossible, and, leaving three- regiments to
guard the passes, Washington crossed the Passaic and es-
tablished his headquarters at Newark. His army was
rapidly melting away by the expiration of enlistments. In
a few days he would have scarcely two thousand troops, and
the enemy, with a well-appointed force, was approaching.
Almost in despair, Washington sent off messengers to
the peripatetic Legislature of New Jersey, to the Gover-
nor of Pennsylvania, and to Congress, calling earnestly for
help. To Lee, on whom he relied for prompt assistance,
he sent a peremptory order to march his troops at once to
join him. This order was disregarded. Week after week
passed, and Lee did not appear. It is now known that
that officer thought Washington's star was setting, and
that by striking an independent blow he might be ap-
pointed Commander-in-Chief. Lee esteemed himself a
better soldier than Washington ; he was in correspondence
with Gates and Colonel Reed, of Washington's staff, and
confidently counted on the support of the people and
^This fatal policy of permitting troops to be surrounded in untena-
ble fortifications and captured by the enemy, never received any cen-
sure from Congress. It was at a time when not a man could be spared.
The loss came near wrecking the fortunes of the colonists. The reader
will have opportunity to contrast this silence by Congress and the
people with the vituperative and shameful course pursued toward
another officer, who refused to be glorified by being captured at the
expense of his country.
28 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
Congress.^ He followed slowly in the rear of the enemy,
and had planned an attack on the British at Princeton,*
when, unluckily for himself, but luckily for the United
States, he was surprised at a country house and captured.
The capture of Lee placed General Sullivan in com-
mand, and that officer now hastened the march of the
troops southward, in obedience to the orders of Washing-
ton. These troops had been joined en route by the brigade
of St. Clair,' who had come from the Northern Depart-
ment. Washini^ton and his little force retreated from
Newark to Brunswick, on the Raritan, where he hoped to
make a stand ; thence to Princeton, and thence to Tren-
ton, which place ho reached on the 2d of December, in a
condition that beggars description. The militia of New
Jersey had refused to turn out ; the disposition of the Penn-
sylvanians w^as so unreliable that soldiers had to be posted
at the fords to prevent the militia from returning home.
Those that remained faithful were witiiout tents, shoes,
or blankets. The total loss to the Americans during this
campaign had been four thousand four hundred and thirty
in soldiers, including officers, and munitions of war and
* Lee was a great favorite with the populace, and his experience as a
soldier in Europe gave him strong backing in Congress.
• Wilkinsons Memoirs, which contain a graphic description of the
capture of Lee. Greene evidently saw through the purpose of Lee,
for in a letter to Washington written during the suspense, he says
that he heard a report that Lee was at the heels of the enemy. "I
should think," ho adds, ** he had better keep on the flanks than the
rear, unless it were possible to concert an attack at the same instant
of time in front and rear. ... I think General Lee must bo confined
within the lines of some general plan, or else his operations will be in-
dependent of yours. His own troops, General St. Clair's, and the
militia, must form a respectable army "
'Letter from Baltimore announcing arrival of St. Clair at Headquar-
ters. Forces Af/nrican Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. Ill, p. 1419.
The soldiers of St. Clair were the only ones in the service during
this gloomy period, whose terms were about to expire, who could be
induced to re-enlist, and " they were permitted to visit their friends
and homes, as part of the terms on which they would re-engage." —
Letter of Washington to (^onjrcss, Dec. 24.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 29
stores of every kind, to such an extent that it was doubtful
if the loss could ever be repaired.
To his brother, Augustine, Washington wrote : " If
every nerve is not strained to recruit the army with all
possible expedition, I think the game is nearly up." And
he contemplated retreating beyond the Alleghanies. To
the President of Congress he wrote, on the 24th of Decem-
ber : " That I should dwell on the subject of our distresses,
can not be more disagreeable to Congress than it is pain-
ful to myself The alarming situation to which our affairs
are reduced, impels me to the measure." And to Robert
Morris he said : " Bad as our prospects are, I should not
have the least doubt of success in the end, did not the late
treachery and defection of those who stood foremost in the
opposition, while fortune smiled ui)on us, make me fear
that many more would follow their example ; who, by
using their influence with some, and working upon the
fears of others, may extend the circle so as to take in
whole towns, counties ; nay, provinces. Of this we have
a recent instance in Jersey ; and I wish many parts of
Pennsylvania may not be ready to receive the yoke,"
" Should it be true, as reported, that the American Gen-
eral once wept, while he fled through the Jerseys, that will
not prove the want of personal fortitude. He is neither
less, nor more than a man." ^
Having been strengthened by the troops brought by St.
Clair from the N'orth, those of Lee's command, and some
militia from Pennsylvania, Washington thought to strike
a blow at the enemy, who had gone into winter quarters,
by surprising different posts, and in this way re\dve the
drooping spirits of the Americans. He formed the bold
plan of crossing the Delaware on the night of Christmas
and attacking Colonel Rahl's command at Trenton. The
account of this adventure, given by Wilkinson, who was a
participant, is the best over written, and we shall follow it
in our brief memoir.
When Wilkinson joined the troops under General Wasli-
^ Gordon, Vol. II, p. 359.
30 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
ington, he found General St. Clair near headquarters, and
resumed the station of Brigade- Major in his family, but,
at General Gates's particular request, he obtained permis-
sion to accompany him to Newtown, and finally as far as
Philadelphia. When he applied to General St. Clair for
leave, that officer observed that he should "have no objec-
tion, if he did not think it interested his honor, at that
time, to remain with the brigade." Not understanding
the import of the remark, Wilkinson laid less stress upon
it than he ought to have done, and departed with Gates.
On the way to Philadelphia, Gates was much depressed,
censorious of Washington, and said he should propose a
new plan of campaign to Congress. That night he wrote
a letter to Washington before retiring, and handed it to
Wilkinson to be delivered. Early the next morning the
latter started to return to* headquarters, which he reached
about two o'clock. To his surprise, he discovered that the
troops and General Washington had moved. From Colo-
nel Ilarrison, the General's secretary, who had been left
in charge of his papers, he received the necessary direc-
tions, and proceeded in quest of the troops, whose route ivas
ea.sibj traced, as there was a little snoiv on the (/round, which
was tinfjcd here and there vrtth blood from the feet of the men
ir/io wore broken shoes. lie got up with his brigade near
McConky's Ferry about dusk, and, inquiring for the Com-
mander-in-Chief, was directed to his quarters, where he
found him alone, with his whip in his hand, prepared to
mount his horse.
"When I presented the letter of General Gates to him,"
says Wilkinson, "before receiving it, he exclaimed with
solemnitv, 'What a time is this to hand me letters ! ' *I an-
swered that I had been charged with it by General Gates.
'By General Gates! Where is he?' 'I left him this
morning in Philadelphia.' 'What was he doing there?'
'I understood him that he was on his way to Congress.'
He earnestly repeated, ' On his way to C^ongress ! ' then
broke the seal, and 1 made my bow and joined General
St. Clair on the bank of the river.
"Boats were in readiness, and the troojjs began to cross
hift and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 81
about sunset, but the force of the current, the sharpness
of the frost, the darkness of the night, the ice which made
during the operation, and a high wind, rendered the pas-
sage of the river extremely difficult ; and but for the sten-
torian lungs and extraordinary exertions of Colonel Knox,
it could not have been eftectod in season for the enter-
prise." It was four o'clock before the troops were formed
and put in motion, at which time it began to hail and snow.
The troops moved in two divisions. The first, or right,'
led by Sullivan, which included the brigade of St. Clair,
was directed to follow the river road and enter the town
by Water street. The second, or left, led by Washington,
who was accompanied by Stirling, Greene, Mercer, and
Stephen, moved circuitously by the upper road to the
north of Trenton, for the purpose of making an attack
from the point of King's (now Greene) street. As this
column moved on the longer line, Sullivan's was to halt
for a few minutes at a cross-road leading to Howell's
Ferry, where he arrived about twilight. The attack of
the two columns was to be simultaneoii.s.
While at the cross-road, it was discovered by Captain
John Glover, of the Marblehead regiment, that many of
the muskets were wet, and not in firing condition. The
communication was made to General Sullivan in presence
of General St. Clair and the officers of their suites. Sul-
livan cast a look at St. Clair and observed, *'What is to be
done?" who instantly replied, "You have nothing for it,
but to push on and charge." The march was commenced,
Colonel Stark in command of the advanced guard, the
troops attempting to clear their muskets as they mov^ed on,
which occasioned a good deal of squibbing. Meanwhile,
an officer was dispatched to apprise the General of the
state of the army, who returned for answer by his aid-de-
camp. Colonel Webb, to " advance and charge."
It was now broad day, and the storm beat violently in
the faces of the men. Washington, who rode by the side
of Captain Forest, near to the front of his column, as he
approached the village, inquired of an inlialntant, who was
* Order of march given in Memoir of General Knox. Appendix.
32 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
chopping wood by the roadside, "Which way is the Hes-
sian picket?" " I do n't know," replied the citizen, waiv-
ing an answer. '*You may speak," said Captain Forest,
" for that is General Washington." The astonished man
raised his hands to heaven, and exclaimed, " God bless and
prosper you, sir ; the picket is in that house, and the sen-
try stands near the tree."* Captain Washington received
an order to dislodge the picket, and Captain Forest to un-
limber the artillery, when the attack was made. Gen. St.
Clair responded on the front of Sullivan's column, forced
the enemj^'s pickets and pressed into the town, the oth-
ers pressing close behind. The enemy made a wild
and undirected fire from the windows of their quarters
and then attempted to form in the main street, but were
prevented by a discharge from the battery of Captain For-
est, under the immediate orders of General Washington,
at the head of King's street. Pressed in front and on the
left, a troop of dragoons, Avith about five hundred infantry,
took to flight across the Assanpink, in the direction of
Bordentown, where Count Donop lay. The main body,
seeing their Commander, Colonel Rahl, fall, retired by their
right up the Assanpink, but were intercepted by Colonel
Hand's rifle corps and some Virginia troops, who had been
sent by Washington for that purpose, and compelled to
lay down their arms.
The loss of the Americans was one man frozen to death,
two killed, and four wounded ; that of the enemy, Colonel
Rahl, six other oflicers, and about forty privates killed;
twenty-three officers and almost one thousand non-com-
missioned officers and privates prisoners ; a thousand stand
of arms, six brass field-pieces, and four stands of colors. This
enterprise, so happily executed, reflected high honor on
General Washington, electrified the country, and inspired
friends in Europe with hope. If Washington's entire plan,
which included the crossing of a column, under General
Ewing, at Trenton Ferry, and another, under General Cad-
wallader, from Bristol, had been executed, the troops that
Wilkinsons Memoirs, Vol. I, p. 129.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair, 33
escaped would have been captured before they could reach
Count Donop. But, as it was, the victory was a very im-
portant one, as it stopped the stampede to the enemy, and
insured final success to the Revolution.
There was a sequel to this affair, which we shall now
proceed to relate. Washington, who had recrossed the
Delaware after his success, thinking it possible to capture
other posts of the enemy, again braved the perils of the icy
river, and stationed his troops at Trenton. But the enemy
had been driven into activity, and now approached him
with a superior force, under Lord Cornwallis. Washing-
ton was caught in a cul-de-sac, with half-clad militia, only>
to oppose veteran troops. To make a safe retreat was im-
practicable, and to give battle with his present force was
to invite certain defeat and the loss of the cause. In this
emergency, he ordered Generals Mifflin and Cadwallader
to join him with their forces, amounting to about three
thousand six hundred men. "He did it with reluct-
ance, for it seemed like involving them in the common
danger ; but the exigency of the case admitted of no al-
ternative." * They joined him on the 1st of January.
The main body of the Americans took position on the
east side of the Assanpink. There was a narrow stone
bridge across it, where the water was very deep^ — the
same bridge over which part of Rahl's brigade had es-
caped in the recent aftair. He planted his artillery so as
to command the bridge and the fords. His advance-guard
was stationed at Five Mile run,* under Colonel Hand, of
thc^ famous rifle corps, and with him was our friend Cap-
tain Forest, with his light battery, where the advance of
the enemy received its first check on the 2d of January,
on the road from Princeton. Colonel Hand retired leis-
urely before the enemy, until Shabbakong creek was
reached, on the south side of which he made a stand in
the wood on both sides of the road. " In this position,
lie waited for the flank and advance-guard of the
1 Trvinj's Life of Washington, Vol- II.. p. 539. * Ibid.
3
84 hlfc and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
cnorny until they came within point-blank shot, and then
opened a deadly fire from ambush, which broke and
forced them back, in great confusion, on the main body,
closely pursued by the riflemen. The boldness of this
maneuver, menacing a general attack, induced the enemy
to form in order of battle, to bring up his artillery, and
open a battery, with which he scoured the wood for half
an hour before he entered it. This operation consumed
two hours, during which time the rifle corps took breath,
and were ready to renew the skirmish. The brigade of
CSeneral St. Clair, with two i)ieces of artillery, under Cap-
tain Sargent,^ were assigned to the defense of the fords of
the Assanpink, on the right of the line."^ The enemy
re'connoitered these fords, but, finding them guarded, did
not attempt them. Time had been gained, as Washington
desired, so that the day was far spent when the enemy
entered Trenton.
The Americans opened on the columns of the enemy
with a well directed fire from the batterv stationed above
the bridge, and was presently answered by a counter bat-
terv. The cannonade continued nearlv half an hour,
during which the roar of musketry was mingled with that
of the artillery. The enemy kept his front well deployed
and supported, and finally succeeded in forcing the oppos-
ing corps to retire by the bridge across the Assanpink.
After this, the enemy took post in front of the Americans,
at ahout one thousand vards distant, with the village of
Tri'iiton and the Assanpink lying between. A cannonade
ensued between the two armies, with little eflect,'* during
• which Lord Cornwallis dei)love<l his columns and ex-
ti'uded his lin(\< to the westward, on the heiirhts above the
tt>\viK and there formed his camp for the night, against the
advice of Sir William Erskine, but to the irreat relief of
* AliiTwanl :isT.«H*iatr<l with St. (.'lair in the government of Xorth-
wc^lorn Tt^rritoiv. as >ooretarv.
' Washington lo the rro>idont of Congress. — Sparks, Vol. IV., p.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair, 85
the Americans. " Our situation," wroteAVashiuirton to Con-
gress, " was most critical/' * '' If there ever was a crisis
in the affairs of the Revolution," savs Wilkinson, *' this
was the moment; thirty minutes would have sutHced to
bring the two armies into contact, and thirty more would
have decided tlie combat " * in favor of the enemv. Wash-
ington had been praying for nightfall and a cessation of
arms.
Immediately after dark,' a council of war was con-
vened at General St. Clair's quarters, south of the creek,
for General Washington had been driven out of his own
quarters by the enemy .^ The anxious Commander-in-Chief
made a brief statement to the council of the dangers he-
fore them. If they kept their ground a battle was certain
in the morning, and defeat might result; a retreat down
the river road, the only route apparently open, would be
difficult and precarious, and would, by dispiriting the
Americans, lose all that had been gained by the victory
of Christmas; the destruction of the army might be fatal
to the country. What was best to be done?
Hereupon, one of the council made a suggestion so
happily solving the problem as to add in its brilliant exe-
cution, to the well-deserved renown of Washington. It
was to turn the left of the enemy and nuirch to the north.
" I have before observed," says Wilkinson, *' that (jcneral
St. Clair had been charged with the guard of the fords of
the Assanpink, and in the course of the day, while ex-
amining the ground to his right, he had fallen on the road
which led to the Quaker bridge. Whether from this cir-
cumstance, or what other infornnition, I will not [)resume
to say, it was this officer who, in council, suggested the
idea of marching by our right and turning the left of the
enemy. The practicability of the route was well under-
stood by Colonel Reed, Adjutant-General, and the Com-
mander-in-Chief, as soon as satisfied on this i>oint, ad(;[)ted
^Sparh£s Writings of Washington^ Vol. IV., p. 2.VS,
» McmoirM, Vol. I., p. 138. > Ibid, p. 140.
36 Life and PabUc Services of Arthur St. Clair.
the proposition."* It was the inspiration of true gen-
ius.
In his own brief narrative, St. Clair says: "The Gen-
eral summoned a council of the general officers at my
quarters, and, after stating the difficulties in his way, the
probability of defeat, and the consequence that would
necessarily result if it happened, desired advice. I had
the good fortune to suggest the idea of turning the left of
the enemy in the night, gaining a march upon him, and
proceeding with all possible expedition to Brunswick.
General Mercer immediately fell in with it, and very
forcibly pointed out its practicability and the advantages
that would necessarily result from it, and General AVash-
ington highly approved it, nor was there one dissenting
voice in the council."
General Washington saw more in this move than the
mere escape from the enemy. He might, by a fortunate
stroke withdraw General Ilowe from Trenton, and give
* Wilkinson s Memoirs, Vol. II., p. 140: Bancroft has called in ques-
tion tlio fact that, at the council referred to 8t. (lair suggested the
movement which turned the left of the enemy, and enabled the
American army to escape to Princeton by the round-about Quaker'
road. He says: '* vSt. Clair likerl it [the movement] so well, that in
the failing memory of old age ho took it to have been his own." But
St. Clair, whose truthfulness and modesty were prominent traits of
character, claimed it at the time it occurred, and he is confirmed by a
member of his staff, who was a participant in the events narrated.
Both were devoted friends and admirers of Washington, and Ban-
croft can suggest no motive wliich would invalidate their testimony.
In this case, as in the case of Greene and others, he simply re-
fuses to recognize that there was any genius or merit in any mind save
that of Washington. To e.xalt liis character beyond the bounds and
capabilities of Innnan nature, he subjects himself to criticism, and de-
fer.ts the end lie had in view. lie says that Washington claimed the
measure as his own in the letter to the Presidt^nt of (-ongress, written
at Pluckemin, '> Jan'y, 1777, from which we have quoted. This asser-
tion is nr)t warranted by the language of that letter, which is merely
a general statement of the events, in which official acts only are re-
ferred to. There is no mention of a council in it, and vot Bancroft
concedes there was a council held. For what j)urpose if not for con-
sultation and adviiM»? Hamilton was far wiser as well as more just
tlian Bancroft. In his eulogium on Greene he referred to a similar
Ijifc and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 37
some reputation to the American arms.* St. Clair directed
the details of preparation.* The more eiFectually to mask
the movement, the baggage had been sent at an earlier
hour to BurUngton, the guards were ordered to be doubled,
and the fires to be kept up all night. Soon after midnight
the troops quietly withdrew by detachments, and, march-
ing by the right, moved upon Princeton. St. Clair's bri-
gade of New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts
troops, with two six pounders, marched at the head of the
column, with which General Washington rode.^ Captain
Isaac Sherman, son of Roger Sherman, of Connecticut,
commanded St. Clair's advance guard. In the silence of
the night the thinly-clad troops moved along the rough
and devious way with uncertain steps* but determined
claim to that we are considering, in the following language: " To at-
tribute to him [Greene] a i)ortion of the praise which is due as well to
the formation as to the execution of the plans that effected these important
ends, can be no derof/ntion from that wisdom and magnanimity which knew
how to select and embrace counsels worthy of being pursued.*' — [See Hamil-
ton s Works, \o\, II.
•* Meanwhile, Washington summoned his officers to council, at the
headquarters of St. Clair, his own being now in the hands of the enemy.
• What shall we do? Shall we retreat down the Delaware, on the
Jersey side, an<l cross it over against Philadeli)hia, or shall we remiiin
i>rhere we are, and try the chances of a battle?' Each course had its
advocates, when a voice was heard, saying, 'Better than either of these,
let us take the new road through the woods, and get in the enemy's
rear by a march upon Princeton, and, if possible, on Brunswick even.'
From whom did this bold suggestion come? St. Clair claimed it as
his; and why should the positive assertion of an honorable man be
lightly called in question ? But whose ever it was, it was the inspira-
tion of true genius, and was promptly accepted by all. — George Wash-
ington Greenes Life of General Xathanici Greene, Vol. I., p. 532.
'Washington to the President of Congress, Sparks, Vol. IV., p. 250.
* Bryant's Popular History United States, Chap. 21, p. 532.
■ Wilkinson, as before quoted, p. 144.
*'*The road was newly cut and rough with stubs too low to be .«5een
by starlight, but high enough to catch and bruise the men's feet as
they marched — half shod feet, we must remember — and whose track,
a few days before, Wilkinson tells us, he had traced for miles by their
blood on the snow. The slow pace of the artillery compelled the
ranks to move slowly, and fre«iuently to halt; and as they halted, ' two
38 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
courage, regarding such hardaliip lightly when incurred
for the cause of independence.
It was broad day before the British discovered that
their enemy had eluded them, and gone they knew not
whither. The morning was bright, sereiie, and extremelj
cold, with a hoar frost that bespangled every object, when
the Americans reached the junction )f the Quaker and
main roads, about two miles from Princeton. Washing-
ton had ordered General Mercer, with a detachment of
three hundred and fifty men, to continue f» )ng Stony
Brook with his brigade until he should reach the main
road, where he was to destroy a bridge over which it
passed, and take post for the double purpose of intercept-
ing fugitives from Princeton and covering the American
rear against Cornwallis from the direction of Trenton.
Meanwhile, the three regiments of the enemy, the Seven-
teentli. Fortieth, and Fifty-fifth, which had spent the
niglit at Princeton, were preparing to join Cornwallis at
Trenton. The Seventeenth, under Colonel Mawhood, was
already on the march, and had crossed the bridge which
Mercer was approaching to destroy, when discovering the
head of the American column, and supposing it a light
detachment, he recrossed the bridge, purposing to cut
itotf.
At this moment Mercer's corps emerged into view not
five hundred yards from the British line. The discovery
was mutual, and the respective corps then endeavored to
get possession of the high ground on their right. The
Americans reached the house and orchard of William
Clark, " but perceiving the British on the opposite side of
the height, and a worm fence between them, they pushed
through the orchard, and anticipated their antagonists by
or tlirco men in each platoon would he poen standing, with their arin«*
supp >rted. last asleep.^' Then the onler to move on wouhl come; and
as ilie sh'epei's, rousing themselves, and pressed by the j)latoon9 from
behind, attenijUed to move, they would often strike against u stub and
f:dl.' — /y'V> />/* (r. nrral Na(hanid Greene.
(1) iStones Ilo\rl<iud.
Life and Public Servicer of Arthur St. Clair. 89
about forty paces." * The first fire was delivered by Mer-
cer, which the enemy returned, and instantly charged with
the bayonet. The Americans, who were armed chiefly
with rifles, were thrown into confusion and fled in disor-
der. Major Wilkinson, seeing that the Americans were
retiring in confusion by the house of Clark, spoke of it to
General St. Clair, who charged liim not to mention the
circumstance, lest it should aftect his own troops. " The
time from the discharge of the first musket," says Wilkin-
son, " until I perceived our troops retreating, did not ex-
ceed five minutes, and I well recollect that the smoke from
the discharge of the two lines mingled as it rose, and went
up in one beautiful cloud." Tlie enemy pursued the re-
treating Americans as far as the brow of the declivity,
when, discovering the whole army instead of a dctacli-
mient as was supposed, they halted and brought up tlieir
artillery. On hearing the first fire, General AVashingtou
directed the Pennsylvania militia to support General Mer-
cer, and, in person, led them on with two pieces of artillery.
Perceiving the militia in confusion, he galloped past them,
waving his hat and encouraging them to reform before the
enemy. Nothing daunted by the presence of a superior
force, Colonel Mawhood directed a company of infantry
to attempt Captain Moulder's battery,^ which had formed
to the right of Clark's house under direction of General
Washington, but they were repulsed with considerable
loss. The British displayed great intrepidity, but perceiv-
ing the inspiring effects of the gallantry of the American
Commander-in-Chief, and realizing the hopelessness of the
contest, they retreated precipitately up the north side of
Stony Brook, leaving their artillery on the ground. Be-
fore the fire had ceased at the first onset. Colonel Maw-
hood, mounted on a brown pony, with a dozen infantry,
and a pair of beautiful spaniels playing before him, crossed
* Wilkinsons Memoirs of My Own Times. Vol. I., p. 142.
*This company of artillery, from Philadelphia, was almost as much
distinguishetl in its line as the troops of dra>roons, and, on this day,
attracted the particular attention of General Washington. Wilkin-
sons Memoirs. Vol. I., p. 143.
40 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair,
the line of direction of the other division so near that had
not the Americans been stationary, he must have been
captured. On observing the halt of his guard General St.
Chiir directed Major Wilkinson to gallop forward and
order a charge, but it was too late, as Mawhood had
passed, yet the fire ot the guard knocked down two of the
infantry. *
The Fifty-fifth British regiment did not reacli the vicinity
of Clark's in time to participate in the action, and perceiving
Mawhood and his Seventeenth in retreat followed closely by
Washington, they returned to Princeton, and joined the
Fortieth in quarters at the College. The two regiments af-
terward drew out and formed in line on the brow of a rav-
ine. In this position they were attacked by General St.
Clair, and after a sharp resistance were driven back to
the College again. They took possession of the buildings
and knocked out the windows, apparently for the purpose
of defending themselves at all hazards ; but being saluted
in their quarters with artillery, thought better of it, rushed
out in a disorderly manner and made good their escape to
Brunswick. St. Clair had no cavalry to send in pursuit;
indeed, the entire cavalry in the American army consisted
of twenty-two gentlemen of Philadelphia, who had vol-
unteered, and were then with Washington in another di-
rection.
In killed, wounded, and prisoners, the British lost five
hundred men; upwards ot one hundred were left dead on
the field.^ The loss of the Americans was about thirty,
but, alas! it included the bravo and able General Mercer,'
* Wasbiugtoirs account. S/hirls, Vol. IV., p. 2o9.
'fiercer, like St. Clair, was a Scotchman by birth, and educated as a
physician. Tie 8(»rved in tho French war under Braddock, became ac-
quainted with Washington, and by him was persuaded to settle in Vir-
ginia. He was tlioroughly educated, and was a man ot brilliant j)art8.
The Revolution did not produce a more unselfish patriot, ami his loss
was deeply felt. Cnniiross voted a monument to his memory.*
(l)"Oii thoiiifrht(»f the l<^t of January, Gonornl Morror, Colonel C. Bid'Hc, nnd Doc-
tor Cochran, spent tho cveninj? with (ionoral .St. Clair. Fati>;uod with tho duties of
tho day, I had lain down In tho same apartment, and my attention was altnicted by
tho turn of tlieir conversation, on tho recent promotion of Captain William Wash-
ington, from a reiLrimout of infantry to a majority of cavalry. General Mercer ex-
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 41
who fell mortally wounded iu the first attack at Clark's,
. Colonels Haslet and Porter, Major Morris, and Captain
William Shippen.
After St. Clair had dispersed the enemy from Princeton
'College, and most of the other troops had come up, a new
difficulty arose ; the enemy were coming on rapidly, their
advance being already warmly engaged with the American
rear-guard, under Brigadier-General Potter, at Stony
Brook, and General AVashington was missing. There was
great consternation at the moment, which was dispelled
by his sudden reappearance. It seems that when he joined
in pursuit of Mawhood, his impetuosity carried him fur-
ther than was prudent. Having returned from his fine
fox chase, he was confronted with the necessity of again
baffling the superior army under Cornwallis, now in hot
pursuit. What was to be done ?^ The design of proceed-
* " Thus far, Washington's bold strategy had succeeded. The road
to Brunswick was open. Lee was there; other prisoners w»*.ro there;
abundant stores and supplies were there; and there, too, was the mili-
tary chest, with seventy thousand pounds in hard money. To seize these
had formed a part of Washington's original plan ; and as he halted with
prcsspd his disapprobation of the measure; at which the gentlemen appeared 55nr-
prised, as it was the reward of acknowledged gallantry; and Mercer, in explanation,
observed: *We arc not engaged in a war of ambition; if it had been 8o, 1 siionld
never have accepted a commission under a man who had not seen a day's service
(alluding to Patrick Henry); we serve, not for ourselves, but for our country, aud
every man should be content to fill the place in which he can be most useful. I
know Washington to be a good captain of infantry, but I know not what sort of a
major of horse he may make; and I have r.een good ('ai)tains make indifTerent Ma-
jors. For my own part, my views in this contest are confined to a single object, that
is, the success of the cause, and God can witness how cheerfully I would lay down
my life to secure it.' The compact was sealed, and within thirty-six hours he re-
ceived his mortal wounds from the bayonets of the enemy.
•' I have heard the following interesting incid/.Mit of Ills life: ITe served in the cam-
paign of I'oo, with General Braddock, and was wounde<l tlirongli thusliouldtT in the
unfortunate action near Fort du Quesne; unable to retreat, he lay down under cover
of a large fallen tree, and in tiie pursuit an Indian Ieape<l upon his covert immedi-
ately over him, and, after looking about a few seconds for the direction of the fugi-
tives, he sprang off without observing tlie wounded man who lay at his icvt. So
soon as the Indians had kille<l the wounded, scalped the dead, rifled the bajjgage,
and cleared the field, the unfortunate Mercer, finding himself excee<lingly faint and
thirhty from loss of blood, crawle«l to an adjacent brook, ami, nfter drinking i»l<?iiti-
fully, found himself so much refreshed that he was able to walk, and comnu-nced
his return by the road the array had advanced; but, being without subsistence, and
more than an hundred miles from any Chrirstian settlement, he expecte<l to die of
famine, when he observed a rattle-snake on his i>ath, wnieh he kille<l and <'ontrive<l
to skin, and, throwing it over lils sound shoulder, he subsisted on it, as the claims
of uature urged, until he reached Fort Cumberlaud."— li'<(^(utiuu.
42 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
ing to Brunswick was necessarily abandoned ; it was eight-
een miles distant, and the troops were very much fatigued,
and, as the principal deposit of the enemy's military stores
was at that place, they had certainly not been left un-
guarded; resistance was, therefore, to be expected, which
would require some time to overcome, and here was Corn-
Wallis pushing at the rear. Again St. Clair's quick per-
ception and information i)roved useful to Washington. In
passing to the northward, in the beginning of the cam-
paign, St. Clair's route lay through Morristown, at the
time when a large party of the enemy were foraging the
lower country, and had advanced as far up as Springfield,
at the foot of the range of mountains, known by the name
of the Short Hills, where General Williamson was oppos-
ing them with the militia. St. Clair set off on the instant
to join him, but before he reached him the enemy had re-
tired ; but he had thereby an opportunity to see some part
of those hills which were afterwards of so great use to
General Washington, and from which Sir William Howe
never could decoy him, and dared not to attempt to drive
him. St. Clair described Morristown and its vicinity to
General Washington as a place where the army could be
cantoned. He quickly decided, and the army had orders to
take the route towards that place, and St. Clair was left
with a rear-guard to destroy the bridges, the last of which
was barely effected when the enemy appeared and fired
upon the Americans.^
govoral of his general officers at the forks iii the Kingston road, while
.liis victorious hut weary troops were filin*^ off toward Rocky Hill, there
was a general cry, '0 that wo had five hundred fresh men to beat up
their quarters at Brunswick.' ' It would put an end to the war,* said
Washington, sadly, in a hotter to tlio President of Congress. But the
five hundre<l fresh men were not tliere, and in tljcir stead was an army
worn down by hunger and fatigue." — Life of Greene.
* It is stated in the Lifeof Ore<»ne, tliat that officer h^d already moved
with the advance towards ^forristown, befort^ this decision. Williinson
says the movement was made on the advice of General St. Clair (see
Mnnoirst^ Vol. I., p. 140). btit, whether by advice of (Jreene or St. Clair,
the establishment of winter quarters at Morristown proved very for-
tunate.
Lift and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 48
This final Btroke was an important one, as it compelled
the witlidrawal of the British troops to Nu^v Brunswick
and Amboy, where, in the words of Hamilton, they pre-
sented*'the extraordinary spectacle of a powerful army,
straitened within narrow limits hy the i)hantom of a mil-
itary force, and never permitted to transgress those limits
with impunity."^
If those recruits had been for the war, instead of six
months, how different would have been the results of the
next campaign.
The genius of Washington never shone so resplendent
as during this critical period. Cabals were checked ; Con-
gress at last risked something of their powers in the hands
of this General, in order that Liberty might not i)erish
from the earth ; the militia flocked once more to his stand-
ard, and ail Europe styled him the American Fabius.
And one of his most trusted counselors and able lieu-
tenants throughout this period was Arthur St. Clair.* In
recognition of his distinguished services, he was, on the 10th
***The bold, judicious, and unexpected attacks made at Trenton and
Princeton by an enemy believed to bo vanquished, had an influence
on the fate of the war much more extensive in its consequences than*
from a mere estimate of the killed and taken, would bo supposed.
They Rav€*d Philadelphia for the present winter; they recovered the
State of Jersey; and, which was of still more importance, they re-
Tiv«.*d the drooping spirits of America, and gave a sensible impulso to
the recruiting service throughout the United Stales." — Marshall, Vol. II.,
p. 512.
*The Surprise ef Trenton was for America what Thermopyhn was
for Greece. This surprise is one of the best planned and boldo-'^t exe-
cute.l niilitarv movements of our centurv. It was, however, excelled
by the Attempt upon Princeton, and both events are suflficiiMit to ele-
Tate a General to the temple of immortality, esf>eciAlly when, as in this
cm^^e, he fightjS for the good of his country." — MiUtdrische uwi Vermise'iU
Sef-T'f'Un von Ileinrlch, Dufrick von Bu/ow, p. 52.
*ni:* right to share in the glory of Trenton was generally recog-
niz-d at the time. On the 30th December, .lames Wilson, th«'ii at
Baliimore, where Congress was sitting, wrote to liim in tlie foll(»\ving
words: •• With peculiar pleasure I congratulate y<»u on the victory at
Trenton. 1 hope the ti le is now turning, and will run high in our
favor.*' — Sea letter p. :j79.
44 Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair.
of February, commissioned as a Major-General.* During
the arduous mnd hazardous days of tliis winter, Washing-
ton formed that attachment for St. Clair which endured,
despite misrepresentations and eahmmy, as long as he
lived. Nothing could ever impair his strong* faith in the
Scotch republican. When Colonel Reed resigned as Ad-
jutant-General in March, Washington detailed St. Clair
to fill that important position until it shonld be determined
whether Colonel Timothy Pickering, to whom the place
had been offered, would accept. St. Clair discharged the
duties of that office until ordered by Congress to proceed
to the Northern Department.
* There were five Major-Generals appointed at this time, in the order
named: Stirling, ^fifflin, St. Clair, Stephen, and Lincoln. These had
been faithful lieutenants of Washington during the dark days when
panic had seized ui)on many minds, and cabals were formed to de-
stroy the Commander-in-Chief. Arnold was senior Brigadier, and in
line of promotion. He threatened retirement from the army. Wash-
ington, who admired his rash bravery, attempted to soothe his irritated
feelings, espoused his cause in Congress, and shortly succeeded in ob-
taining for him a Major-General's commission. It was proposed to
cure the seeming injustice by committing another, viz: by adopting. a
resolution placing Arnold superior to the four Major-Generals pro-
moted from the Continental line. St. Clair protested airainst this, and
pointed out to Congress the absurdity of placing Stirling, Mifflin, him-
self, and Stephen under Arnold, and leaving Arnold to be commanded
by Lincoln, the junior of the five, who was promoted from the militial
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 45
CEAPTER in.
1777 — St. Clair, Promoted to bk Major General, ORDEREn to an Im-
portant Command in tub Northern Department — Evacuation op
Forts Ticonderoga and Independence— It Results in the Sur-
render of Burgoyne and the Triumph op the American Cause.
An imprudent letter from Schuyler to Congress, in n\id-
winter, eclipsed for a season the lortunes of that able and
patriotic officer, and advanced correspondingly those of
Gates. On the 25th of March, the latter was directed by
President Hancock to repair to Ticonderoga immediately
and take command of the army stationed in that depart-
ment. Gates proceeded at once to Albany, where ho
halted, and began to call for reinforcements. He was
courteously invited to make his home at the Schuyler
mansion, but pleading the pressure of business, requiring
his constant presence in the village, he declined. Mean-
ijvhile Wilkinson, whom he- had pei'suaded to leave Wash-
ington's headquarters and join him, was at Ticonderoga,
making reports on the situation there and suggestions as
to the requirements of the garrison. As this deeply con-
cerns our story, we shall go over the ground thoroughly.
We have seen how, after the retreat from Canada. Crown
Point had been abandoned as untenable because of its
ruinous state, and the army located at Ticonderoga, which
then became the frontier fortress. There was a conflict
of opinion as to the wisdom of this change, but after it
was done, attention was turned exclusively to the task of
making Ticonderoga an efTective barrier against the enemy.
It was expected that Carleton would follow up the advan-
tages already secured, and push on southward. To pre-
vent this, work was begun on the old French lines at
Ticonderoga, and a fleet was formed, over which Arnold
was placed in command. In a long letter of the 24tb
July, 1776, to General Washington, General Schuyler ar-
gues the strength of Ticonderoga, and the impossibility of
46 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
the enemy to pass the strong camp proposed for the east
side of Lake Champlain, and penetrate to Skeneaborough.
" Can they drive us out of the strong camp on the east
side ?'' he asks. "I think not. I think it impossible for
ttcrntj/ thousand men to do it, ever so well provided ^ if the camp
con,sists of less than even a quarter of that number y indifferently
furnished^ such is the natural strength of the ground.^^^ The
sequel will show the value of this opinion, and that when
Sehuyler was i>ut to the test he abandoned it, but it had
the effect, with others of similar import, to mislead Wash-
ington and the general public as to the real strength of the
American position. Schuyler, however, did not contem-
plate a less force than ten thousand men, besides the fleet,
to resist any invasion from Canada.
In September, 177(3, there were stationed at Ticonderoga
and the encampment on the east side, over twelve thou-
sand effective men,^ and considerable of a navy rode on
the waters, manned by five hundred hardy sailors. Within
a month, the navy was either captured or destroyed,^ and
Arnokl then, in a letter to General Schuyler, urged that
eiixht or ten thouvsand militia be sent immediatelv to their
assistance.* Thus, in October, 1776, it was the opinion of
* Tlie Italics aro. ours, l;ut the weight to be accorded to this opinion
will be deterniiiiod when the fact is Btatod that the fort which was
erected would accommodate scarcely twelve hundred men, and that
there was an inadequate supply of water ior a beleagured force.
'Letter from Mount Independence, Sept. 7. — Forces American Ar-
chicrs, Fifth Series, Vol. I., p. 215.
'"You must have heard that a few days ago we had a fine fleet
and tolerable good army, but General Arnold, our evil genius of
the North, has, with a good deal of industry, got us clear of all our
fine fleet, only five of the mo-^t inditferent of them, one row galley, ojt-
ce[»ted; and he has munnged his point so w«'ll with the old man, the
General [Gates] thai he has got his thanks for his good service . . .
TTad we our fleet here, we wouM give ourselves but little concern about
th«* enemy." — Grnrral ]Vm. Miixw>-U t^ Go^rnnr L'>v'n>q^(nn, Oct. 20.
* " It is the opinion of Generals Gates and St. riair that eight or ten
thousand militia sliould be immediately sent to our a*<sistance. if they
can be spared from below." — Forces American ArchUes^ P^ifth Series, Vol
II., p. 1080.
lAft and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 47
the leading officers, that a force of twenty thousand men
was requisite to effectually resist the British.
It is interesting to note, in this connection, the view
Washington lield, derived from the uncertain light shed
by the correspondence of officers,^ and the reports of com-
mittees. On the 22d of Octoher, he wrote to Schuyler:
" I have been informed that Ticondcroga, properly garri-
soned and supplied with provisions and ammunition, is al-
most impregnable, even at a season of the year when an
army can lay before it with the greatest convenience ; if
8^, instead of calling up a number of useless hands and
mouths (for such I deem militia in general), I would ad-
vise a collection of as much provision as could possibly be
got together, which, if sufficient for nine thousand eftectivQ
men, of which vour armv consisted by General Arnold's let-
ter, I should imagine you could keep Burgoyne and Carle-
ton at bay till the rigor of the season would oblige them
to raise the siege, not only for want of conveniences to lay
in field, but for the fear the freezing lake should make
their return impracticable in case of accident. I would
recommend the removal of carriages and draft cattle of all
kinds from the counjtry adjacent, that if they should at-
tem[)t to slip by Ticondcroga by any other route and come
down upon the settlements, that plan should be rendered
abortive for want of means of conveyance for their bati:-
gage and stores. I am uhacquaivted with the cxtettt if ijinir
icorks, andj consequently, of the v umber of invn nerasary to
vian them. If your present numbers [stated by Arnold to
* It may be remarked, with certainty, that the exaggerated view held
by Washington was not derivable from any thing communicated by
Geneni) St. Clair. The sources of information have been indicat^^d in
the text and notes above. Tliev were accessible also to the Conmiitti^e
of Secret Correspondence, who wrote to Silas Deane, on the 1st instant,
in these cheerful words; **(Jur Northern army i** strong, well in-
trenched in an advantageous post, at Ticondcroga, which can only bo
taken from them by storm, as it can not be approached in a re^'ular
manner, on account of the situation. We are also formidable (»n the
lakes, in galleys, boats, etc., under command of your friend. Arnold.
and that army is better provided than the other, so that we do not
seem to apprehend any danger in that quarter at present."
48 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
be nine thousanrl] should be insufficient for that purpose, I
would, then, by all means, advise your making up the de-
ficiency out of the best-regulated militia that could be got.
Some might, likewise, be useful in bringing up supplies
and fill the places of men who would render more service
with arms in their hands. You will always be kind enough
to bear in mind that I am giving my opinion, not issuing
mv orders."
On the 26th October, upon receipt of Washington's let-
ter, Schuyler was less confident than in the preceding July,
when he de^ed twenty thousand men to carry tlie posts on
the lake. He wrote to Washington, from Saratoga: "I
am in great hopes General Carleton will not be able to
dislodge our army from Ticonderoga; but, should such an
event unfortunately take place, such measures will be
taken as I think will certainly prevent them from pene-
trating into the country on this side of the lake." ^ The
militia were called in, and by the 17th of November the
troops guarding Ticonderoga and Mount Independence
numbered about twelve thousand. This was the force
thought to be necessary then, by all of the leading officers,
to man the works. Within nine months we shall behold
Schuyler and others expressing surprise that these same
works could not be successfully defended by twenty-five
hundred Continental soldiers !
The enemy, fortunately, retired into winter-quarters. A
large part of the American troops were dismissed, twenty-
five hundred only being left at Ticonderoga, under com-
mand of Colonel Anthony Wayne. These were soon
reduced, by sickness, to seventeen hundred.'^ On the
20th of Xovcmber, 1776, agreeal)ly to the report of
the Military Committee,^ Congress directed that a fort be
^ Foin's American Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. II., p. 1257.
^ Docember 11th. Letter of General Schuyler to Pierre Van Cort-
laiidt.
^ Resolve*!, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that a fort be
construototl on Mount Independence that the navigation of the lake
near that place should be obstructed by caissons, to be sunk in the
water at small distances from one another, and joined together by
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 49
constructed on Mount Independence, and the navigation
of the lake obstructed. In December, following, we find
President Hancock writing to the States of Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, and Connecticut for four thousand five
hundred troops, to take the places of those whose terms
were about to expire.^ They were informed that advices
from General Schuyler indicated that there was extreme
danger the enemy w^ould attempt to take Ticonderoga
when the lake should be frozen so as to be capable of bear-
ing horses. It was already Christmas Eve when the ex-
press w^as dispatched, and as weeks must elapse before the
Governors could act, or the obstructions be completed, an
extraordinary share of responsibility must have been put
upon Providence.
Meanwhile, the condition of the handful of troops who
kept watch during the winter months, and who were ex-
pected to perfect the fortifications, was most deplorable.
They were "scarcely able to bear the fatigue of being a
few minutes on parade." ^ " The wretched condition they
are now in, for want of almost every necessary conveni-
ence of life, except flour and bad beef, is shocking to hu-
manity, and beggars all description. AVo have neither
beds nor bedding for our sick to lay on or under,
other than their own clothing ; no medicine or regimen
string pieces, bo as, at the same time, to serve for a bridge between the
fortifications on the east and west sides ; that, to prevent the enemy
from drawing their small craft overland beyond Three-Mile Point into
Lake George, the passage of that lake be also obstructed, in like man-
ner, by caissons from island to island in the Narrows, if practicable, or
by floating batteries; that Fort Stanw^ix be strengthened, and other
fortifications be made at proper places near the Mohawk River-, and
that the commanding officer of the Northern army execute these
works this winter; and that the Commanding Officers of Artillery,
Chief Engineer, Quartermaster-General, and Commissary-General pro-
vide and perform whatever things in their respective departments are
necessary, or may contribute to the accomplishment thereof. — Jouv
nals of Congress.
*Ibid, December 24th.
* Richard Varick, to the President of Congress.
4
50 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
suitable for them ; the dead and dying laying mingled
together in our hospital, or rather house of carnage, is
no uncommon sight.'' ^
And even when the spring days had come, and the buds
of the maple and the birch were swelling, the misery of
the poor garrison engaged the attention of the brave
AVayne. He sought to move the people of Massachusetts
Bay to send relief, by pointing out danger ahead. " The
enemy," wrote he to the Council of that State, "will be
but too soon informed of the del)ilitated state of this gar-
rison, which at present does not consist of more than
twelve hundred men, sick and well, officers included, four
hundred of which are militia from Berkshire and Hamp-
shire in your State, whose time expires in ten days."' ^ Two
weeks later his vigilance had discovered the enemy in
strong force near Gillihinds, where he had sent for prov-
ender, and in communicating this to General Schuyler, he
adds in homely but efloctive language : " I can't accouiit
for the happiness of the Eastern Slates with respect to
this post on any other principle but the generally received
notion that no attack will be made hero."'
In this emergency Schuyler did every thing possible for
an officer in his position to do. He appealed to the Kew
England States, to the Albany Council, and to Congress.
It was in the mid?^t of all this misery that he wrote the
imprudent letter before referred to. He followed it to
Congress, and Gates succeeded him in ccmniand. By the
time Wilkinson arrived [May 13, 1777], Wayne had gone,
and another officer was in charge. Every thing was found
to be in an unsatisfactorv condition. On the l(>th, he re-
MVavne, to the ronnsylvania Council of Saf«tv.
Colonc?! Joso])h Wood, wriiing, on the same day [Decenibor 4th], to
the Council, said that, althoujLdi ro<|uisition had been ma<le for tliirteen
thousan<l men, oidy nine hundiuMl pairs of shoos had been sui>plied,
and that one-third, at '^ast, of the jjoor wretches were bare-footed, and in
this condition obliged to do duty. "This is shocking to humanity,"
he added; "nay, it can not be viewed in any m Idcr light than black
murder."
^ MassachuS' t(.^ Archives^ Vol. CXCV^I., p. 324.
•April Uih.— Massachusetts Archives, Vol. CXCVI., p. 419.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair, 51
ported to General Qates that the presence of a disciplining
General was greatly needed; that several of the regiments
were in detachments and needed to be incorporated ; that
Major Stevens was praying for reinforcements of artiller-
ists; that there was a general cry for clothing; that the
shirts in store were too mean to be worn, and had been
refused by the soldiery ; that there was a total want of
iron proper for mounting artillery, and a great demand
for arms and accouterments; that the muskets which had
lately arrived from Albany were so flimsily repaired as
not to bear the transportation, and were in worse condi-
tion than when they were sent away ; that the poor re-
mains of the American fleet were in a most contemptible
situation — without order, without regularity, almost void
of naval stores, badly manned and miserably officered ; and
that if paper were supplied, fixed ammunition might be
prepared soon.
On the 22d he wrote in similar strain : " I wish to
Heaven, either yourself or General St. Clair was here for
a few days. Colonel Kosciusko* is timidly modest; Bald-
win is inclosing the lines on a plan of his own;' General
has arrived. He is a very inefficient officer, though
somewhat more determined than . We are now about
three thousand strong." His next communication is so
important as to justify reproducing almost entire:
"TicoNDEROGA, Mav 20, 1777.
"My Dear General: — I now inclose you a general return of this
garrison, but can not tell whether it corresponds with the last, as I
fc^ent that off in such a hurry as not to reserve a copy. . . . Since
General *s arrival on Tuesday last, we have brought all the Conti-
nental troops, except Long's re^imonf, to this side of the Lake, and
* The gallant Pole, Thaddeus Kosciusko, whose romantic history is
familiar to every American. He served with distinction as Colonel of
engineers.
' Lieutenant-Colonel J. Baldwin, First Engineer, had charge of the
works in the west, or Ticonderoga side, and Lieutenant-Colonel M.
Christopher Pelissier on the east, or Mount Independence side. This
last site had been selected on the recommendation of Colonel John
Trumbull, Deputy Adjutant General of the Northern Department, by
appointment of General Gates.
52 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
have posted the militia on the mount, brigaded under Colonel Long, a
genteel, amiable man. The troops on this side are formed under
Brigadiers and P . The stay of the militia is quite discre-
tionary with the general, as they are turned out in this emergency
without any limited term of duration, though they begin already to
complain. You will find in these returns a very treacherous jjroportion
of officers, and that several are furloughed in the original return;
frauds which your or General St. Clair's presence is necessary to correct.
".Colonel Hay is an active officer, of more judgment than any one
I know in this garrison. About one hundred and twenty of the men
returntMl on command are under his direction, and are, I believe, ad-
vantjigoously employed; the residue are under Colonel Baldwin, and
on board the fleet, where I think economy is much needed; one
whole company of " carpenters are constantly employed in forming a
kind of friezed aljatis, on the exterior of the glacis of the French lines.
The works are constructed on the plan laid down by Colonel Baldwin ;
the redoubt at those lines goes on finely ; it is formed by certain lines
beginning at the east end of the curtain on which the three north
embrasures are opened, and closing at the south sally-port. I believe
my details have made more invalids than real disease, the complaints
of many being very trivial ; however, as I have no authority to obviate
this subterfuge, they will continue to avail themselves of it. The
muster-master is much wanted; he can not arrive too soon. The
artificers, and a number of workmen, are at present without arms, and
as there is in use and in store a great proportion of bad ones, 1 think
there appears an evident necessity of moving the armory to this
place immediately.
" My General is acquainted with the various precautions preparatory
to successful defense ; he knows the subject to be too complex for the
comprehension of men of mean abilities, no education, and little ex-
perience ; what then must bo the fate of this garrison under its present
command? I give you my honor, at this moment there is no disposi-
tion of defense made in case of an attiick, or even alarm posts assigned ;
1 shall endeavor to have the latter consideration settled this day.
Providence yesterday exjjosed one point of our weakness, by ordering
a gale of wind, which carried away and broke to pieces the boom,
bridge, and every appendage thereof. . . .
•' A scout has this moment arrived, who was yesterday chased near
the Four Brothers, by four of the enemy's boats. lie observed lying
at that place a schooner, a pettiauger, and six or seven bateaux. I
suppose they are taking off the wheat and stock which we have
neglected to secure. . . .
** I have the honor to be, etc.,
"Ja. Wilkinson.
"IIox. Major-Gkxkual Gates."
Before the date of this letter the dignity of Congress
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 53
had been vindicated, and its wrath appeased, in re General
Schuyler's alleged disrespectful letter, and that officer,
without a word of explanation to General Gates, was
restored to the command of the Iforthern Department.
He arrived at Albany on the 3d of June, and on the fol-
lowing day received from General Gates a statement of
the condition of affairs at Ticonderoga. That statement
was discouraging in the last degree. The garrison was
inadequate, and no prospect of speedy reinforcement; in-
stead of six companies of artillerists as required, there
were only two; the roads had been so bad as to prevent
the transportation of stores; the enemy were approaching,
and if a seige were entered on, the garrisons would be
poorly provided. lie had sent this information by ex-
presses to the committees of the New England States, and
also to General Washington. The good i>cople of those
States seemed to rest supine, and apparently nothing but
a disaster could rouse them. The Committee of Safety
of Xew Hampshire by the 10th May had furnished one-
half of the quota of that State, and these were very ill-
clothed. There was neither cloth nor arms in the State. ^
And on the 30th of May, Gates notified the Massachusetts
Council^ that the one thousand five hundred militia
ordered from Hampshire county were not j^et one-third
arrived; and a scout to Split Kock showed the enemy in
considerable force.
On the 5th, General Schuyler ordered General St. Clair
to repair to Ticonderoga and take the command. The
latter reached that post on the 12th June^ where he found
a small garrison, badly armed, worse clad, and without
magazines. *
' Historical Records of New Hampshire,
' Massachusetts Archives.
»"0n the 12th, St. Clair, the best of the Brigadiers in the North,
reachcni Ticonderoga." Bnnrroft, Vol. IX., p. 361. Of course "Briga-
diers" is a misprint for Major-denorals, as Bancroft had already noted
the promotion.
* We shall give hero a description of the situation, in St. Clair's own
words, but after quoting this apt and just remark by Bancroft : " Gates,
54 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
It will be well for the reader to bear in mind the dato3
and all of the facts above set forth as to the condition of
Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, at this stage, as
we shall have occasion hereafter to recur to them, and to
pass judgment on able statesmen, and wise and impartial
historians with the aid of the light they afford. We shall
see to whom the word '' unfortunate" (a favorite with those
who clothe the products of the imagination rather than
truth, in rhetorical phrase), is justly applicable.
When St. Clair received his instructions from Congress,
he was informed that it was believed the movement of the
enemy toward Ticonderoga was merely a feint, and that
their undoubted plan of campaign was for General Bur-
goyne to join Lord Howe at New York. General Gates
wrote to General Poor, "that he had the strongest assur-
ances from Congress that the King's troops were all or-
dered round to New York," and that the intelligence he
had from a spy " corroborated the sentiment of Congress."
Washington was greatly perplexed, but inclined to the
belief that the movement of the British in force would be
by Xew York. The doubt created by the very recent
movements of the enemy was sufficient to put St. Clair on
the alert, and he set to work with characteristic energy to
complete the defenses on the plan of Congress. The task
was an almost hopeless one. Without men and without
means, what was it possible for one man to do ? lie knew
that the peojJe were misinformed as to the strength of the
who bad the good luck to be relieved just before inevitable mishaps,
charged St. (lair to 'call lustily for aid of all kinds, for no General
ever lust by surplus numbers, or over preparation; ' and he then re-
paired to Philadelphia to secure his re instatenient.'' " Had every
man I ha<l," said St. Clair, "been disposed of in single file on the dif-
ferent works and along the lines of defense, tliey would have been
scarcely within the reach of each other's voices; but Congress had
been 2)ersuaded that the enemy would make no attempt in that quar-
ter, an<l such a number of men only as were. judged to be sufficient for
completing the works that liad been j)rojected, were assigned to me.
Tho.se two thousand half armed an<l ill etpiippcd every way. I found
arranged into many regiments, with their full complement of officers,
and three brig.nliers," Aj>pcndtx to St. Clair 3 I^urrativc.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 55
fortress of Ticonderoga, and that they expected it to suc-
cessfully resist any attack of the enemy. lie also knew
that he was there as a sacrifice. Bravest and best of sol-
diers, who, conscious of adverse fate in store for him, goes
manfully forward in the discharge of his duty ! It was on
account of a clear recognition of the virtues — more felt
than seen — of this man, that I consented to write this me-
moir:
" — ■ : where desert does live,
There will 1 plant my wonder, and there give
My best endeavors to build up his glory,
That truly merits ! "
On the 18th of June, to his friend, James Wilson,^ who
was then a member of the Continental Congress, St. Clair
described the dangers surrounding him and the inadequate
means for successful defense. He said that, instead of the
works having been improved and strengthened in the win-
ter, as promised, they were in worse condition than when
he had last seen them ; they required ten thousand men to
defend them, and he had not more than tivo thousand tico
hundred;^ that if the militia were called in, their provis-
ions would be exhausted in two weeks ; that it was a dis-
agreeable position for a man to be placed in, that of being
called on to defend works with a force greatly inadequate,
and a retreat apparently impossible ; that it was hard, with
the little information they had, to form an opinion of the
enemy's designs, but it was certain General Burgoyne had
returned from England for an active campaign, and if he
did not take his troops around to General Howe, as sup-
posed, he would move on Ticonderoga; and that it was
his purpose, after a resistance on the west side, to move
his men to Mount Independence, and there make a stand.
"^ St. Clair MS, On the 25th he wrote, in pretty much the same
fitrain, to John Hancock, President of Congress.
'The preceding fall, Gates, who then had thirteen thousand effertive
men, called for eight or ten thousand additional troops. General lUir-
goyne afterward, on occasion of the inquiry into his conduct by the
House of Commons, said that the works at Ticonderoga were so exten-
sive as to require twelve thousand men to defend them.
56 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
He closed his letter in these words : " My dear friend, if
you should not hear from me again, which may probably
be the case, remember that I have given you this account
of our situation, and do not suffer my reputation to be
murdered, after having been sacrificed myself."
St. Clair, nevertheless, pushed the work with all possi-
ble dispatch, and in a few days aflTuirs assumed a more for-
midable, if not more encouraging aspect. The repairs on
the old French lines were put into as good shape as prac-
tir'able ; the boom reconstructed, and the abatis and fort
on Mount Independence completed. The American de-
fensive works, on the 1st of July, were the following:
On a rough angle of land, covered with rocks and sur-
rounded on three sides by water, on the western shore, a
few miles northward from the conmiencement of the gut
by which the waters of Lake George are conveyed to Lake
Champlain, was situated the fortress of Ticonderoga. A
part of the fourth side was covered by a deep morass, and
a part, that to the north-west, by intrenchments known as
the old French lines. The Americans had strengthened
these lines with additional works, and a block-house. Be-
tween the lines and the fort, were also two block-houses,
and on the point of the promontory was a strong redoubt
of earth and stone — ''Grenadiers' Battery" — which com-
manded the narrow part of the lake, and covered the
bridge that communicated with Afount Independence, on
the east side. This bridge of communication, was sup-
ported by twenty-two sunken piers of large timber, at
nc^arly equal distances, between which were separate iloats
fifty feet long and twelve feet wide, strongly fastened to-
gether by chains and rivets, and also fastened to the sunken
l)iers. Before this bridge was a boom — the boom on the
strength and importance of which so much stress was laid
by (^ongress and General Schuyler — made of very large
pieces of timber, fastened together by riveted bolts and
doubled chains, made of iron one inch and a half square.*
Upon the fiat summit of the high and circular hill on the
^ Burgoy lie's report to the House of Commons. Appendix XXX,
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 57
east side of the narrows, where East Creek enters, called
Mount Independence, was a star fort, made of pickets, and
well supplied with artillery, within which were extensive
barracks. The foot of the hill, on the side that projects
into the lake, was intrenched, and had a strong abatis
close to the water. This intrenchment was lined with
heavy artillery, pointed down the lake, flanking the water
battery above described, and sustained by another battery
about half way up the hill. It was to the completion of
these works St. Clair's labors were chiefly directed in the
brief time he had. " The lake here is quite narrow, and,
sweeping in serpentine curves around the two points, it
flows northward on the left, and expands gradually into a
sheet of water several miles wide."^ At the entrance of
Lake George was situated the hospital, protected by a
block-house. At the carrying place, where saw-mills were
situated, was a military post, guarded by a block-house
upon the eminence above the mills. From this post to the
old French lines the distance was about a mile and a half.
A post had been established on an eminence, called Mount
Hope, north of the main works, and about a half mile in
advance of the old French lines.
The fortifications were formidable, and if the Americans
had had twelve thousand men instead of two thousand to
man them, or if the enterprising Burgoyne had followed
the precedents set by both French and British, in other
days, and made a direct attack on the lines, the result
might have been all that the most ardent patriot hoped
for. The sequel will show the points of weakness in the
American plan of defense, and the responsibility therefor.
Soon after reaching Ticonderoga, St. Clair was visited
by General Schuyler, and, together, they concerted means
for rousing the Xew England States to a just appreciation
of the dangers surrounding that post. But it is evident
that Schuyler shared with others to the southward the
view that the Canadian troops would sail down the St.
Lawrence for Xew York to co-operate with Lord Howe,
Lossing'a Pictorial Field- Book of the Revolution, p. 131.
58 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
and that the movement toward the Hudson was only a
diversion. Or, it might be, that the main body of the
British would march from St. John's towards the Con-
necticut river and make an attempt on the Eastern States,
a maneuver which, he said, if successful, would be attended
with much honor to General Burgoyne. " I am the more
confirmed in this conjecture, as the enemy can not be ig-
norant how very difficult, if not impossible, it will be for
them to penetrate to Albany, unless, in losing Ticondcroga,
we should lose not onlv all our cannon, but most of the
army designed for this department.''
For the most part, Schuyler's letters to Washington were
of an assuring character, as his views of the situation con-
tinued to l)e hopeful. It is true, he did, at a late day, in
transmitting a letter of St. Clair's, in which was an ac-
count of the enemy being discovered in considerable force
on both sides of Gilliland's Creek, venture to ask Wash-
ington for reinforcements. " If the enemy's object is not
to attack Ticondcroga," said he, " I suspect their move-
ment is intended to cover an attem[)t on New Hampshire,
or the Mohawk river, or to cut off the communications
between Fort Edward and Fort George, or, perhaps, all
three, the more to distract us and divide our force." Later,
when it became apparent the enemy were moving to at-
tack Fort Stanwix, as well as Ticondcroga, ho wrote in
this cheerful strain to St. Clair: '* I shall have great hopes
if General Burgoyne continues in the vicinity of your
post until we get up, and dares risk an engagement, we
shall give a good account of him." ^ So little did he un-
derstand the situation. Nevertheless, he was urgent in
his appeals to those from whom help might be expected.
Congress was not left in doubt. Nothing was done towards
relief, and the abandonment of the i)ost, the only measure
dictated by prudence, was not thought of by the control-
*.S/. C/iiir MS. 'rh<^ tone of iSchnylt^r's corrospoiulenco during the
last days of June and the werk following the evacuation of Ticon-
d«Moga, is inexplioahlo, in the face of the conclusions of a council of
war over wliich he presided, hehl at Ticondcroga, on the 20th of June.
This action will be treated of in the text further on.
Lip and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 59
ling powers. If Schuyler thought of it, he had not the
moral courage to recommend it in the face of public ex-
pectation.^ As late as the closing days of June, he was
looking to Massachusetts, to the President of which he
wrote: "Our garrison at Ticonderoga is greatly inade-
quate to the defense of the extensive works on both sides
of the lake, and I have, unhappily, no troops to reinforce
them."^ It was the second of July, before the militia of
Hampshire and Berkshire counties were ordered to march
for Ticonderoga.^
Meanwhile, St. Clair was unable to get any certain news
of the enemy. Scouts were constantly sent out, the best
of Whitcomb's men, but of these, alas ! few ever returned.*
Such as did, reported the forests every-where filled with
Indians. There was a fateful mystery in this that boded
ill, but the stout-hearted St. Clair toiled on until — just as
the defensive works were nearly completed, and his ragged
men and boys began to put on something of the air of sol-
* Schuyler visited Ticonderoga on the 17th June,* and remained sev-
eral days. While there, he asked Wilkinson his opinion of the jjlan
that t^hould be adopted. The reply was that the heavy cannon and
the army, except fifteen hundred select men, should he moved at once
to Fort George, as, by this plan, they would be enabled to defend the
place against a feint, and, in case of a serious attack, the light troops
could scamper over the hills and join the main body. General Schuy-
ler "oiA«n'«<^//u/< ^Aw t/;aj/)rt'm^/y A/'* own opihion, fjut that withottt orders
Jroin Congress he Jure not take on himself the rc^ponsibditi/ ff a measure which
tcnuhl excite a great outcry^ — Memoirs^ p. 174. The statement is con-
firmed by Schuyler's testimony before the court on the occasion of the
trial of St. Clair. See. p 450, post.
* St. Cair MS. Archives of Massachusetts.
•Letter of Arteraas Ward, to Josiah Bartlett. — Archives of Massa-
chusetts.
* " Every stratagem and enterprise was employed by General St. Clair
to ascertain the force and objects of the enemy, but without effect ;
hi:* movements were covered by his fleet, and his Indian scouts were
spread throughout the wilderness which surrounded us. Our recon-
noitering parties were either cut up and captured, or routed and driven
in." — Wilkinsons Memoirs, p. 178. See also testimony, p. 447.
0) The author of tho Life of Schuyler says 20th of Tune, but then that writor Is not
Tcry accurate. He cither lacked the ludustry te eousi*!' original sourt* es. or the facts
did not harmonize \tiih big theory.
69 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
diers — there were unmistakable signs of a powerful force in
front of him. If the enemy would only attack his lines,
there would be hot work ; and he hoped his men, who were
in good spirits, would act creditably. But, would Burgoyne
attack the fortifications ? Would his vessels come within
reach of the floating batteries, or the boom? Let us take
a look at the enemy, which was more than the American
scouts had succeeded in doing, so that both sides in the
game may be made clear before us.
General Burgoyne had returned to Canada from England,
bringing with him a plan of campaign for "quelling the
rebellion as soon as possible." To accomplish this, Sir
Guy Carleton was informed that it was highly necessary
to efi:cct a speedy junction of the two armies. He was in-
structed to retain a force of three thousand men in Can-
ada, and to employ the remainder of liis army upon two
expeditions, the one under command of Lieutenant General
Burgoyne, who was to force his way to Albany, and the
other under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel St. Leger,
who was to make a diversion on the Mohawk Kivcr.^ Au-
thority was given to employ " good and sufficient bodies"
of Canadians and Indians to aid in the execution of this
jjlan.
General Bnrgoyne's army numbered seven thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three men, including two hundred Ca-
nadians and four liundred Indians.^ He had under him
such experienced officers as Major-General Fraser, who
conmiandcd the British infantry ; Major-General Riedesel,
who connnanded the German troops, and Major-General
Phillips, in command of the artillery. Perhaps no army
Avas over better ecpiipped for an offi'usive campaign
than Burgoyne's on this occasion. The artillery num-
bered one hundred and forty-two guns, and included six-
teen heavy twenty- four-pounders and ten lieavy twelve-
pounders.* To op[)Ose this formidal)le array the American
* Account of tlie Expedition from Canada laid before tho House of
Commons. Appendix XIII.
'Uid, pp. 12-17.
^BarjOjfi's ya.atlve^ p. 13.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 61
works were provided with one hundred cannon, of indif-
ferent caliber, and a small force of inexperienced artiller-
ists to serve them.
The British assembled between the 17th and 20tli of
June at Cumberland Point, on Lake Champlain, and after
a day spent in feasting and haranguing their Indian allies,
they moved forward to Crown Point, where a hospital and
magazines were erected. On the 30th, General Burgoyne
ordered the advance corps, '' consisting of the British light
infantry and grenadiers, the Twenty-fourth regiment, some
Canadians and savages, and ten pieces of light artillery,
under command of Brigadier-General Fraser, to move up
the west shore of the lake to Four-Mile Point, so called
from being within that distance of Ticonderoga." The
German reserve, under Lieutenant-Colonel Breyman, were
moved at the same time to Richardson's farm, on the east
shore, opposite to Putnam Creek.^ The next day the whole
army made a movement forward and encamped in two
lines, the right wing at the Four-Mile Point, the left wing
nearly opposite, on the east shore. At the same time the
fleet anchored just without the reach of the American
batteries.
On the approach of the right wing of the British army,
the Americans set fire to the saw-mills and abandoned
their works toward Lake George, and left General Phil-
lips to possess the advantageous post of Mount Hope,
"without making any resistance, which must have been in-
effectual, and could have answered no good purpose.* Pre-
ceding this movement, the Indians, under Captain Frazer,
supported by his company of marksmen, were directed by
the British commander to make a circuit to the left of
the line of the advanced corps, and endeavor to cut off
the retreat of the Americans to their lines, but this design
was defeated by the impetuosity of the Indians, who, de-
* Burgoynes Narrative. Appendix XXVI.
' Gordon, Vol. II., p. 480. Irving, who generally speaks of St. Clair
in terms of praise, censures him for abandoning Mount Hope. But
possession of that hill without troops to support the force there, as
Gordon says, could have answered no good purpose.
62 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
ceivcd by the nature of the ground, which was covered
by brushwood, w^ere unaware of the close iiroximity of the
defenses, attacked the Americans in front, forced them
to retire, with a loss of one officer and a few men killed
and one officer wounded,^ but were checked bv a fire from
the workj, which were less than two hundreds yards dis-
tant. Suspecting this movement for an assault. General
St. Clair directed the troops to sit down on the banquette
with their backs to the parapet, as well to cover them
from the shot of the enemy as to prevent their throwing
away their own fire, and himself kept watch of the enemy,
who continued to crawl toward their works, under cover
of the brushwood. Seeing a light infantry man of the
enemy's force industriously loading and firing, under cover
of the bushes, within forty paces of the ditch, Colonel
Wilkinson ordered a sergeant to rise and shoot him. The
order was obeyed, and a curious result followed : not only
was the man knocked over on the side of the eneniv, but
every American soldier straightway mounted tho banquette j
and without command fired a volley; "the artillery fol-
lowed the example, as did many of the officers, from the
colonel down to subalterns, and, notwithstanditig the ex-
ertions of the general and his staff, three rounds were dis-
charged before they could stop the firing, and when the
smoke dispersed, the enemy were observed at three hun-
dred yards' distance, retreating helter-skelter."- Wilkin-
son discovered his man lying prostrate on liis back, and
mentioned the circumstance to General St. Clair, who,
though exceedingly heated by the conduct of the troops,
replied, '^ with that mild philanthro{)y which distinguished
his character, ' Scnr/ out a corporal and a fie of men, and
Irf the poor fdlou: be brouq/tf 'ni and buriedJ But as the
corporal approached the sui)posed dead man, he jumped
up, clubbed his musket, and exclaimed, 'By Jasus, I killed
the man at the sally-port; a fair shot I"^ The Irisliman
* lUifijntfncs Xarrative. Appendix XXVIII.
^ Wilk nsou's Memoirs, Vol. I., p. 182.
• Wilhlnsoiis Mctnoirs, Vol. I., p. 183.
Life and Public Scrctces of Arthur St. Clair. G3
was brought in, and thougli at first stuhborn enough, the
companionship of a fellow-countryman, supplied with
creature-comforts, at night, was sufficient to draw out from
him important information as to the strength of the enemy.
On the 3d, Mount Hope was occupied in force by Gen-
eral Friuser's whole corps, Bujiported by artillery, thus
cuttiuir off the Americans from all communication with
Lake George. On tlie east side, G;.Mieral Riedesel was en-
camped in a parallel line with Three-Mile Point, having
pushed the reserve forward, near the rivulet which encir-
cles Mount Independence.^ The Americans kej»t up a
vigorous fire during the day, to which no response was
made. S:. Clair, knowing the desperate nature of his
situation, still lingered, hoping that General Burgoyne
might be provoked to make an assault. If that were only
done, no matter what the result, an opportunity would be
afforded a soldier to give an account of the enemy, and
t^op public clamor. Tv'ithin forty-eight hours that hope
vfTu^ disj Killed.
Tlje tongue of land swept by the waters of South Hiver
and t]ie inlet from Lake George as tlioy unite and form a
Iniy at the southern extremity of Lake Champlain, is a
]^>itv and rugged eminence overlooking all other points,
and f:u]»j*osed hitherto by French, English and American
en^riuecrs to be inaccessible for artillerv. It was known
a^ JT'ugar-Loaf Hill, or Mount De-fiance. Its importance
iu the inveitment did not escape such experienced soldiers
u^ I>argorne and Phillips, and Lieutenant Twiss, the com-
iimnding engineer, was ordered to reconnoiter. He " re-
]K>rte»d this hill to have the entire command of the works
uud buildings, both of Ticonderoga and Mount Independ-
ence* at the distance of about one thousand four hundred
vurds from the former, and one thousand five hundred
irom the latter; that the ground might be leveled so as to
rt'ce'iTe cannon, and that the road to convev them, thoui^h
difficult- might be made practicable in twenty-four hours."*
^l.w-vmihii jV? Tjli c — Appoiulix XXVI 1 1.
^2jurputf%Ai -Vj tA.cc. a ppoiulix XXIV.,
64 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
This hill also commanded, in reverse, the bridge of com-
munication, exposed to view the exact situation of the
vessels, and the Americans could not during the day make
any material movement or preparation without being dis-
covered, and even having their numbers counted.* Gen-
eral Phillips proceeded at once to the execution of this
arduous task.
AVhen General St. Clair discovered that the enemy were
m possession of Mount Defiance, he knew that resistance
was hopeless. Two courses were open to him, viz : To
defend the works until his men were either killed or cap-
tured; or to abandon his plan of concentrating on Mount
Independence, and attempt an escape with a view of plac-
ing himself between the invaders and the inhabitants be-
vond Fort Edward. The moment of doubt as to the
course to be chosen was one of supreme importance to the
country, and to St. Clair — of that critical nature most
trying to a soldier, when great souls are proved. To re-
main would be to lose his armv, to evacuate would be to
sacrifice himself. The struggle was soon over. He chose
wisely the general good rather than the " bloody honors
which were within his reach." "Well do I remember his
reply to me," said Wilkinson, in describing the scene in
other days, " when deploring the necessity of our retreat:
'It must be so, my boy. 'Tis not in mortals to command
success, but we'll do more, we will deserve it. I know 1
could snre my character by sacr/ficiny the army; but were 1 to
do so I should forfeit that which the \corld could not restore^
and which it can not take away, the approbation of my own
conscience,^ "
A council of general ofllicers was convened, and it v/as
unanimously decided to withdraw from the fortifications.*
Measures were immediately taken for effectitig the evacua-
tion. The officers were instructed to proceed to carry out
the orders as soon as the shades of evening would permit
the men to move without risk of revealing to the enemy
* Burgnynes Narrative. Appendix XXIV.
2 St. Clair Papers, p. 420.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 65
their purpose. The sick, and as much of the cannon, pro-
visions and stores as possible were embarked on the boats,
and ordered to Skenesborough, where St. Clair directed
Colonel Long, " an active, diligent, good officer/' to take
command with his regiment and the invalids, until he should
join him with the army, which was to march to that place
by the way of Castleton/ As many of the cannon were
spiked as possible, and just after midnight the garrison
of Ticonderoga crossed the bridge to Mount Independence,
where it was found little had been done. The rascally
French general, De Fermoy, to whom had been intrusted
the preparations for removal at Mount Independence, was
discovered to be sound asleep. The movements here were
necessarily hurried, but all went well until the evil genius
of Fermoy moved him to disobey the express orders of the
commanding general, and set fire to his quarters on Mount
Independence, as he was leaving them about two o'clock
on the morning of the 6th.^ This exposed to the enemy
the rear of the American army, and word was at once con-
veyed to Brigadier-General Fraser, who took possession
of the deserted posts, and pursued with his brigade after
the retreating Americans. There was much confusion
amongst the latter, which, however, was corrected through
the personal exertions of St. Clair.
Soon after daylight. General Burgoyne was apprised of
the flight. lie directed Major-General Riedesel to move
to the support of Brigadier Fraser, while he turned his
attention to the pursuit by water. It was now to be seen
whether the hopes which General Schuyler and (congress
* St. Clair's letter to President Hancock from Ft. Edward, p. 420.
* Fermoy was placed at Ticonderoga by express orders of Congress.
Washington had protested against placing foreign adventurers over
American troops, but the policy of Congress was to se(»k foreign aid,
and it was hoped good reports would be sent across the water by the
officers they honored. Unfortunately, Congress did not discriminate
wisely between merit and impudent incapacity. One of the worst of
the adventurers was this very General Fermoy, who brouglit disaster
apon the rear of St. Clair's army after the successful retreat from Ticon-
deroga.
5
66 Jjift and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
had placed on the boom stretched between Ticonderoga
and Mount Independence, would be realized. If im-
pregnable as confidently believed by Schuyler, it would
delay the enemy until Colonel Long could get safely away
with the stores, and a junction formed either with the
main army or the forces that were approaching from the
south. General Burgoyne tells the result of the attack on
the boom in a few words : The gun-boats were instantly
moved forward, and "the boom and one of the inter-
mediate floats were cut with great dexterity and dispatch,
and Commodore Lutwidge, with the officers and seamen
in his department, partaking the general animation, a
passage was formed in half an hour for the frigates also,"
" through impediments," adds the ardent General, " which
the enemy had been laboring to construct since last
autumn."
An impregnable boom cut with such dispatch as to ad-
mit of the passage of frigates in half an hour!
Colonel Long moved from Ticonderoga up South Kiver.
" Its beautiful waters wound among the mountains, cov-
ered with primeval forests. The bateaux, deeply laden,
made their way slowly in a lengthened line; sometimes
under the shadows of mountains, sometinies in the gleam
of moonlight. The rear-guard of armed galleys followed
at wary distance. No immediate pursuit, however, was
apprehended Tj'he floating bridge [boom] was considered
an eftectual impediment to the enemy's fleet." ^ Scarcely
had the disembarkation at Skenesborough commenced,
when the guard of armed vessels was attacked by the
British gun-boats, which had pushed on with all possible
rapidity. Two of the American vessels soon struck, and
the other three wore blown up. Colonel Long set fire to
the fort, mills^ storehouses and bateaux, and retired up
Wood Creek to Fort Anne, where he arrived about day-
light. The loss of property at Skenesborough was very
large, and included all of the officers' baggage.
The British pursued to Fort Anne, but there met with
^ Irving s Washington. Vol. III., p. 120.
hift and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair. 67
a vigorous resistance and lost some troops, the Americans
capturing a number of prisoners, including Captain Mont-
gomery and a surgeon. Supposing this to be the advance
of General Burgoyne's army, Colonel Long set fire to Fort
Anne, and retreated to Fort Edward.
The body of St. Clair's army reached Castleton the
next evening, thirty miles from Ticonderoga and twelve
from Skenesborough, and there halted. The rear-guard,
under Colonel Seth Warner,^ which, with the stragglers
and infirm, amounted to near twelve hundred, stopped at
Hubbardton, six miles from the main body. Besides his
own regiment, Warner had the regiments of Colonels
Francis and Hale, and, if he had been as active as the
enemy, he would have joined the main body before Gen-
eral Fraser could have come up.* The latter, after giving
his men a rest, until three o'clock in the morning, pushed
on until he overtook the Americans, who were yet in
camp, at five o'clock. He attacked with great spirit.
Hale and his regiment immediately fled, but Warner and
Francis were of diflbrcnt metal, and the brave Green
Mountain boys under them had heard the whistle of bul-
lets before. They met the attack with great coolness, and,
being prevented from getting possession of the command-
ing ground to their right, posted themselves behind logs
and. trees, whence they kept up the fight in true American
style. But for the opportune arrival of General Riedesel,
with his Brunswickers, General Fraser would have been
badly beaten. But it was not until after the noble Francis
had been killed, and the strength of the enemy had been
* General Warner, who had been sent to Otter creek on an expedi-
tion, had only returned to Ticonderoga on the fifth, bringing with him
a reinforcement of Vermont militia.
'General St. Clair instructed Colonel Warner in the most positive
manner to encamp with the main body at Castleton, and not to stop
short of that place. Colonel Warner chose to disregard the order.
This sort of license, or independence, was common in the American
Armies, and there was no way to correct it. The Continental soldiers,
as well as militia, would leave without a permit, return home for a
breathing spell, and then again resume their places. This was coun-
tenanced by many officers. Were they not all " peers ? "
68 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
greatly increased by the German reinforcements, that Seth
Warner gave the order to retreat. His men took to the
woods, and were several days in finding the main body.
Upon hearing the firing, St. Clair sent an order by an aid
to two militia regiments, posted within four miles of Hub-
bard ton, to hasten to Warner's assistance, but they refused
to obey orders, and marched directly to Castleton. By
the time the disobedience was reported to headquarters
the result of the action was known, and St. Clair, being
advised of the fate of Skcnesborough, changed his route^
and sent word to Warner to join him at Rutland. Gen-
eral Burgoyne reported the loss of the Americans at two hun-
dred killed, including Col. Francis, six hundred wounded^
and two hundred and ten taken prisoners. But, as he also
reported the Americans engaged as two thousand, when
there were in fact only about seven hundred and fifty, we
may safely set down his statement as a gross exaggeration.
Gordon places the American loss, on authority of a Brit-
ish officer, as three hundred and twenty-four, killed,
wounded, and prisoners,^ and the loss of the enemy at not
less than one hundred and eighty-three killed and wounded.
They had three officers killed and twelve wounded.^ The
action was desperately fought on both sides, and, in the
words of General Burgoyne, its bare relation is suflScient
for its praise.
General St. Clair continued his circuitous march, and,^
at Manchester, was joined by brave Seth Warner and the
remainder of his regiment. Here it was found necessary to
dismiss the two Massachusetts regiments that had refused
to go to Warner's relief at Hubbardton, as their conduct
was so licentious and disorderly there was danger their ex-
ample might affect the Continental troops.^ The command-
ing general did not forget the interests of the inhabitants to
* But this number includes Colonel Hale and a part of the men
under him, captured after the engagement by a detachment of British.
"Colonel Hale, on account of illness, had not brouglit his regiment
into action. " See Stone's Campaign of deneraf John Buig)i,ne, p -2.
« Gordon, Vol. II , p. 484.
'St. Clair's letter to President Hancock, July I4th, p. 426.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair, 69
the eastward, or the importance of his reaching Fort Ed-
ward with as hxrge a force as possible. On the 6th, he di-
rected the Vermont militia that were with him to remain
at Rutland for the protection of the people until the State
Convention should direct otherwise. The following day,
he wrote to Joseph Bowker, President of that Convention,
a letter explaining the evacuation of Ticonderoga, and
calculated, from its cheerful tone, to give encouragement.
He asked that the reinforcements coming on by Xumber
Four be directed to meet him at Bennington, whither he
was marching for provisions. It was his purpose to march
thence for the North River, and endeavor to prevent the
enemy from penetrating into the country.^ From Dorset,
on the 9th, he announced that Colonel Warner's regiment
would be left in the Grants, and requested that all cattle
fit to be killed should be sent on to Fort Edward. lie
concluded as follows : " Your Convention have given such
proofs of their readiness to concur in any measure for the
public safety that it would be impertinent to press them
now. I will only repeat the request I made before, that
the militia from the eastward marching by Number Four
may be directed to take the shortest route to join the
armv. '
General St. Clair reached Fort Edward on the 12th,
after an arduous march of nearly seven days, and brought
to the support of the Continental cause two thousand
troops that could be relied on. This force served as a
basis for a new army. The militia collected speedily, so
that on the 14th he could say to Congress confidently,
truthfully, and with justifiable self-gratulation : " I have
tho most sanguine hopes that the progress of the enemy
will be checked ; and I may yet hare the satisfaction to ex-
perience that, BY ABANDONING A POST, I UAVE EVENTUALLY
SAVED A State."
Time has justified this, and proved that the soldier who,
in the face of popular clamor and obloquy, elected to do his
^Stevens' Papers, Vol. III.
' Ibid. SL Clair Papers, p. 424.
70 Jjift and Public Services of Arthur St Clair.
duty, deserved the wreath of victory. His memory shall
endure with the Republic he helped to establish.
The Adamses did not mean it to be so. Both John and
Samuel denounced the evacuation of Ticonderoga as a
crime. " We shall never be able to defend a post," wrote
the former, who was President of the Board of War, " till
we shoot a General." Fort Washington had been defended,
and three thousand men killed or captured, by which the
Americans had been brought to great distress. That was
a military blunder, and did not receive a word of censure
from the Board of War. The evacuation of Ticonderoga,
which saved troops to the Americans at a critical period,
was a wise military stroke, and the same board became
censorious. Was it because of their own neglect ? We
shall see. Samuel Adams saw in the event an opportunity
for the triumph of faction,^ and he industriously labored,
in his correspondence, to create a feeling against the
Northern generals, so deep, that even the Commander-
in-Chief, whose confidence in them was known, could
not stem it. In this the information as to the real condi-
tion of affairs at Ticonderoga, which had been placed be-
fore Congress by St. Clair, and was in possession of the
Board of War, was carefully suppressed, and the state-
ments in correspondence of the officers, after the evacua-
tion, were grossly misrepresented.^ The same spirit of
faction, prevalent in Massachusetts and Connecticut, not
only influenced the militia to refuse to obey orders and to
serve under any except such officers as they might select,
but moved the stay-at-home patriots to denounce the offi-
cers in the Boston papers. A private letter from St. Clair
to Governor Bowdoin, hurriedly written after the evacu-
ation, and containing meager particulars, was inadvisedly
given to the Boston Gazette, aiul served as a pretext for
the most unfair and abusive articles. St. Clair and his
* Only six months before, in writing to John Adams, he had asked,
referring to General Gates, " llow shall we make him the head of that
[the Northern] army "
*See letter of S. Adams to R. II. Lee, July 12th. Life of Samuel
Adams, Vol. II., pp. 484, 486.
liijt and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 71
friend Wilkinson replied with spirit, but not always in
the best temper. To Governor Bowdoin, General St. Clair
wrote at length, giving cogent reasons for the evacuation.*
The wicked character of the calumnies invented and in-
dustriously circulated against St. Clair and Schuyler, was
only equaled by their absurdity. They were accused of
cowardice ; and it was alleged that they had held communi-
cations with the enemy, and had received their reward in-
closed in silver balls fired into St. Clair's camp. " The
characters of our Generals who were at Ticonderoga,"
wrote Colonel John Trumbull, at that day, " particularly
St. Clair's, are suffering perhaps irretrievably. The minds
of the people are much inflamed."
It is undoubtedly true that, outside of faction, which
waxed strong on the apparently successful movements of
Burgoyne, among those who had confided in the supposed
impregnability of the Northern fortresses, there was a panic
and deep anxiety. " The evacuation of Ticonderoga,"
says Sparks, " spread the greater panic and surprise, as it
was unexpected. The actual force and condition of St.
Clair's army had been overrated by the public. Hopes
were raised high ; the eyes of the nation were turned upon
Ticonderoga ; and when the news of the retreat went
abroad, the disappointment was extreme, and the loud
voice of complaint and censure against the unfortunate
general was reiterated from one end of the continent to
the other. 7\me proved that he had acted the part of a judi-
cious and skillful officer; but the excitement of the moment
was 80 great, caused by chagrin on the one hand and
alarm on the other, that all eyes were blind, and all ears
deaf, to the true reasons of the case, and even to the pal-
liating circumstances.^"
*The correspondence will be found in full in this work, pp. 426-6.
^lAfe of Gouvemeur Morris^ p. 1 29.
•• The dread with which this unexpected blow filled the whole coun-
try, was as extravagant as their rage against the commanding officer,
who, in the language of the day, had sold, or given away, the most im-
portant fortress on the continent." Letter of Governor Trumbull to
Baron Vander Capellan, August 31, 1779. Mass. His. Soc. Collections^
Vol. VI., p. 170.
72 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
Contemporary publications do not justify bo broad a
Btatement as to the extent of the feeling of alarm. It was
pretty much confined to the East, the section immediately
interested. But the factionists in Congress attempted to
extend the flames to the entire country.
Fortunately for the cause, there was a saving conserva-
tism that intervened and prevented disaster, and, for a
time, checked the hand of injustice. Jay, G. Morris, Wil-
son, and, above all, Washington, counseled patience and
forbearance. Morris, on behalf of the If ew York Council
of safety, visited the Northern army, and made himself
familiar with the situation. lie saw, with St. Clair, the
strategic importance of the movement withdrawingfrom un-
tenable posts, and the success which must now attend the
Americans if they rallied to place obstacles in the way of
Burgoyne as he moved his army farther from his base.^
Washington was greatly perplexed, as he had not been sup-
plied with copies of St. Clair's letters to Congress, and had
been misled by the correspondence of Schuyler.' The real
* Letter to the Presi<lent of the Council of Safety. Life of G, Mor-
ris, p. 135.
' How General Schuyler had misled General Washington as to the
strength of the garrisons under St. Clair is shown by the following ex-
tract from a letter he received from the Commander-in-Chief just after
the event: '* The evacuation of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence
is an event of ch.urin and surprise not apprehended nor within the
compass of my reasoning. 1 know not upon what principle it was
founded, and I should suppose it would be still more difficult to be ac-
counted for if the garrison amounted to five tlwumnd men^ in high spirits,
health*/, well supplied with provisions and ammunition, and Eastern militia
were marching to their succor, as you mentioned in your letter of the
9th [June] to the Council of Safety of New York.'* — How different
was the actual condition from this rosy picture, we iiave seen. General
Schuyler had sent also to Washington the youthful effusions of ITenry
Brockholst Livingston,* one of his aids, for the time on the staff of
St. Clair, in which the most glowing description is given of the spirit
of the troops, and promise of victory is held out on the very eve of
the evacuation. " I can not but esteem myself fortunate," wrote he,
on the 30th of June, " that indisposition prevented my returning with
you, as it has given me an opportunity of being present at a battle, in
(1) Afterward a judge of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 73
object of the British campaign had not been made clear un-
til this movement of Burgoyne's in force. lie saw, with
his usual quickness, how the enemy might be thwarted,
and, with characteristic courage and rapidity, formed a new
plan of campaign. lie reinforced Schuyler on the Hudson,
while keeping in view the importance of preventing Lord
Howe from getting possession of the Highlands by a coup
tie main, imparted to the public something of his own hope-
fulness, and yielded to the clamor of the factionists only
so far as to suggest that St. Clair should make a public ex-
planation. " People at a distance," said he, " are apt to
form wrong conjectures, and if General St. Clair has good
reasons for the step he has taken, I think the sooner he
justifies himself the better.^"
He saw clearly the great possibilities of the situation.
" Though our aftairs," said he, " have, for some days past,
worn a dark and gloomy aspect, I yet look forward to a
fortunate and happy change. I trust General Burgoyne's
army will meet, sooner or later, an effectual check ; and,
as I suggested before, that the success he has had will
precipitate his ruin."
Before recording the triumphant result of the campaign
in New York, we have to consider where the responsibility
properly belongs for the temporary loss of the Northern
posts, and for the misunderstanding prevalent among the
people as to the real situation at Ticonderoga.
We have seen how, after the retreat from Canada, Gates,
deeming his army of nearly thirteen thousand insufficient
to cope with the British, called for a reinforcement of
eight to ten thousand men; how, when the enemy had
gone into winter quarters, and there were yet nearly five
thousand troops under Schuyler, Samuel Adams, as chair-
wbich I promise myself the pleasure of seeing our army flushed with
victory.*" The bright anticipations of this boy-soldier were set down
in the general indictment against St. Clair, as promises of successful
resistance of the enemy made by that officer.
* Letter to General Schuyler, 18th July, 1777.
CL) SiAuyler PaperM,
74 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
man of the Committee on the State of the Northern
army, sent out an urgent appeal to the New England
States to strengthen Ticonderoga; how meager was the
response; how the brave Wayne wept at the sufferings of
the garrisons ; how, even when summer followed spring the
works were incomplete, the garrisons scarcely twenty-five
hundred strong, not sufficient to man the works if placed
at intervals barely within sound of each other's voices,
poorly clothed and imperfectly armed, and how these were
called on to do what Gates did not believe could be done
nine months before with thirteen thousand men. All of
these facts were in possession of Congress when the evac-
uajiion took place, and there could be no justification for
affecting surprise at the event. It was said that the corre-
spondence of St. Clair gave rise to hopes of a different
result. Detached sentences were quoted, and the text
misrepresented. The letter of the 20th, to James Wilson,
has already been referred to. We shall now call attention
to his letter of the 25th of June, a fortnight after he as-
sumed the command, and ten days before the evacuation,
addressed to President Hancock. He said:
"I inclose you a return of our troops at this post, by
which you will perceive our effective numbers are little
more than two thousand, a force greatly inadequate to its
defense ; which, should the enemy attack it in force, would
require at least four times that number. In that two
thousand are included a number of artificers who are un-
armed, and many of the soldiers are in the same condition^
and the whole in very great want of clothing, accouter*
ments and bayonets.
"If the militia were called in, they might possibly en-
able us to keep possession, but I have not yet ventured on
that step on account of our low state of provisions, there
not being more than thirty-five days' meat for the troops
now here, and because of the uncertainty with regard to
the enoniv's dosiflrns.
" No army was ever in a more critical situation than we
now are; and supposing that this move is only a feint to
favor the operations of Sir William Howe, which I still
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 75
suspect it to be, we may, and probably will be, reduced to
the greatest distress, the supplies being derived from such
a distance, and the communication so difficult, that it is
next to impossible to support it."
Did Congress come to the relief of the Northern army
after this plain statement of the weakness of the garrison
and the dangers of the situation ? No. Faction paralized
some, others held to the theory that the British designs
were to the southward, and others believed in the im-
pregnability of the works, which had been constructed
under the direction of the Board of War.
The works had been constructed upon a plan devised
after a committee had inspected the grounds. If they
were deficient, to Congress belonged the responsibil-
ity. That they were utterly worthless as a defense
against an enterprising and experienced enemy was shown
when Mount Defiance was occupied, and St. Clair found
all of his lines under the guns of the enemy. Whose
fault was it that this commanding eminence was left un-
provided with fortifications ? The relation of a singular
circumstance will answer that question.
Adjutant John Trumbull, of Gates's staff', was stationed
at Ticonderoga in 1776, when Gates and Arnold and
Wayne were there. He came to the conclusion that
Mount Defiance completely commanded the American
position, and that its distance from the old fort and Mount
Independence was by no means so great as generally sup-
posed. He expressed his opinion at the table of General
Gates, when the principal officers were present, and was
laughed at for his pains. He, however, obtained the Gen-
eral's permission to test his theory by experiment. He
selected at the north point of Mount Independence, a
twelve-pounder, a long French brass gun, which was
loaded with the proof-charge of the best powder and
double-shotted. He then desired Major Stevens to elevate
the gun so that it should point at Mount Defiance. The
gun was fired, and the shot were plainly seen to strike at
more than half the height of the hill. A similar experi
ment was made from the old French fort with a common
76 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
six-pound gun, and the shot struck near the summit. Still
it was insisted upon that the summit of Sugar-Loaf was
inaccessible to an enemy. This Colonel Trumbull dis-
proved. Accompanied by General Arnold, Colonel Wayne
and several other active officers, he landed from a barge at
the foot of the hill, where it was most precipitous and
rocky, and clambered to the summit in a short time.
" The ascent teas difficult and laborious, but not imprac-
ticable, and when they looked down upon the outlet of
Lake George, it was obvious to all there could be no dif-
ficulty in driving up a loaded carriage."*
To maintain the several posts then held by the Ameri-
x;ans. Colonel Trumbull calculated, would require ten thou-
sand men, which would be found impossible in future
campaigns for Government to supply; and, as there was
no road on either side of the lake by which an enemy
could penetrate into the country south, he must necessarily
make use of this water-route, which could be completely
commanded bv fortifications on Mount Defiance. It was,
therefore, as ten thousand men and one hundred pieces of
cannon against five hundred men and twenty-five heavy
guns. Success in fortification and economy were clearly
in favor of erecting works on Mount Defiance, and with-
drawing from Ticonderoga and Mount Independence.
Colonel Trumbull drew up three copies of the plans and
memoir, one to be submitted to General Gates, one to
General Schuyler, and one to Congress. A copy of the
drawing of the post, as prepared by Colonel Trumbull,
.uccompanies this work.
Neither the Committee on War, under whose directions
the works were constructed at Ticonderoga and the de-
fense conducted in the fall and winter of 1776-77, nor either 4
of the Generals in command of the Northern Department,
took the only steps which could have saved the posts.
Therefore, the responsibility for whatever results followed
this neglect is easily placed.^ St. Clair, who reached Ti-
* Autohiographj of John Trumbnll, p. 32.
*'• The events of the succeeding campaign," concludes Colonel Trum-
bull's recital of events around the posts in 1776, "demonstrated the
li
I i
l!
I .
■i '
J, I I
I t
Liife and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 77
conderoga only about twenty days before the evacuation,
was directly confronted with the problem : How best to
save for the country the small force the Board of War had
provided for the Northern Department.
One of the ablest leaders and most generous patriots of
the Revolutionary period was Philip Schuyler, and it is
with great reluctance we refer to the humiliating position
in which he placed himself immediately after the evacua-
tion of Ticonderoga, but it is necessary to a complete his-
tory of that event. General Schuyler had, at a council
of war over which he presided on the 20th of June, ex-
pressed the opinion that the force and the works were in-
adequate to a defense, and that preparations should be
made for a retreat in case the enemy invested in force.^
In a letter to Colonel Yarick, on the first of July, he said:
" The insufficiency of the garrison at Ticonderoga, the
imperfect state of the fortifications, and the want of dis-
cipline in the troops, give me great cause to apprehend
that we shall lose that fortress, but as a reinforcement is
coming up from Peekskill,^ with which I shall move up, I
correctness of my views, for General St. Clair was left to defend Ti-
conderoga without any essential addition to the garrison, which had
been placed there by command of General Gates in the preceding
November, because the Congress could not spare more men or means ; so that,
when General Burgoyne presented himself at Three-Mile Point, no
opposition could be hazarded to his movements, and instead of assault-
ing the works (as had been formerly done by General Abercrombie in
1757), he silently turned the left of the position, crossed the outlet of
Lake George, and established a battery of heavy guns on the summit
of Mount Defiance, the shot from which plunged into the old French
fort and lines, and reached all points of Mount Independence; so
that, as I had predicted, the whole position became untenable, and
was immediately abandoned. General St. Clair became the object of
furious denunciations, whereas, he merited thanks for having saved a
part of the devoted garrison, who subsequently formed the nucleus of
that force by which, in the course of the campaign, General Burgoyne
was ultimately baffled, and compelled to surrender his victorious army
by the convention of Saratoga."
^The full text of the proceedings in council will be found in another
place in this work, p. 404.
' General Washington had directed General Putnam to send three
OP four regiments to reinforce the Northern army.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 77
conderoga only about twenty days before the evacuation,
was directly confronted with the problem : IIow best to
save for the country the small force the Board of War had
provided for the Northern Department.
One of the ablest leaders and most generous patriots of
the Revolutionary period was Philip Schuyler, and it is
with great reluctance we refer to the humiliating position
in which he placed himself immediately after the evacua-
tion of Ticonderoga, but it is necessary to a complete his-
tory of that event. General Schuyler had, at a council
of war over which he presided on the 20th of June, ex-
pressed the opinion that the force and the works were in-
adequate to a defense, and that preparations should be
made for a retreat in case the enemy invested in force.^
In a letter to Colonel Varick, on the first of July^ he said:
" The insufficiency of the garrison at Ticonderoga, the
inmperfect state of the fortifications, and the want of dis-
cipline in the troops, give me great cause to apprehend
that we shall lose that fortress, but as a reinforcement is
coming up from Peekskill,^ with which I shall move up, I
correctness of my views, for General St. Clair was left to defend Ti-
conderoga without any essential addition to the garrison, which had
been placed there by command of General Gates in the preceding
November, because the Congress could not spare more men or means ; so that,
when General Burgoyne presented himself at Three-Mile Point, no
opposition could be hazarded to his movements, and instead of assault-
ing the works (as had been formerly done by General Abercrombie in
1757), he silently turned the left of the position, crossed the outlet of
Lake George, and established a battery of heavy guns on the summit
of Mount Defiance, the shot from which plunged into the old French
fort and lines, and reached all points of Mount Independence; so
that, as I had predicted, the whole position became untenable, and
was immediately abandoned. General iSt. Clair became the object of
furious denunciations, whereas, he merited thanks for having saved a
part of the devoted garrison, who subsequently formed the nucleus of
that force by which, in the course of the campaign, General Burgoyne
was ultimately baffled, and compelled to surrender his victorious army
by the convention of Saratoga."
^ The full text of the proceedings in council will be found in another
place in this work, p. 404.
' General Washington had directed General Putnam to send three
OP four regiments to reinforce the Northern army.
Life and Public Services of Arthur i7. Clair. 81
signed to put General Schuyler in possession of all that
his enemies were saying to his prejudice, as well as the
tone of current comment. The paragraphs to which St.
Clair's letter particularly refers are the following:
" It is said, but I know not with what truth, that St.
Clair, on being asked by some of his officers why the fort
was evacuated, replied, generally, that he knew what he
did ; that, on his own account, he was very easy about the
matter, and that he had it in his power to justify him-
self. From hence some inferred that he must have alluded
to orders from you.
"Another report prevails, that some short time before
the fort was left, a number of heavy cannon were, by your
order, dismounted and laid aside, and small ones placed in
their room. This is urged as circumstantial proof against
you."
Subsequently, on the 26th July, Mr. Jay acknowledged
the receipt of the letter of St. Clair, and said : " This at-
tack on your reputation will, I hope, do you only a tem-
porary injury. The honest though credulous multitude,
when undeceived, will regret their giving way to suspicions
which have led them to do injustice.
" I have reason to suspect that the Council of Safety be-
lieved that Ticonderoga was left by your direction or ad-
vice, or with your knowledge. They appear fully satisfied
of the contrary, and, in my opinion, St. Clair's letter will
remove all doubts on that head."
While Burgoyne remained at Skenesborough, General
Schuyler employed the time in placing obstructions in the
route which the enemy must follow on his way to the
Hudson. Bridges were broken down, and Wood Creek
rendered unnavigable. The time gained was of great im-
ceived them of great importance, and very strong, I did not think myself at liberty
to give any orders for an evacuation of themj *'
If the reader is not satisfied that General Schuyler's own words con-
firm the charge that he stood in fear of public opinion — that he was
guilty of moral cowardice — what will satisfy?
In this connection, I refer to General Wilkinson's letter to St. Clair,
to what Schuyler said to him, printed elsewhere in this volume.
82 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
portance. A council of officers having decided that Fort
Edward* was untenable, a position for a fortified camp
was selected by the chief engineer, who, at that time, was
Thaddeus Kosciusko. It was about four miles below, at
Moses's Creek, where the waters of the Hudson River are
separated by an island. During the transfer of the stores
and troops, an attack was made on the picket-guard upon
the Fort Anne road by a detachment of British troops and
Indians. The Americans drove off the enemy, and, in
so doing, had thirteen killed and twelve w^ounded, five of
them mortally. Xo further attempts were immediately
made by the enemy, and General Schuyler improved the
opportunity to strengthen his position and brigade his
troops. The army was organized into two divisions, and
occupied the opposite sides of the river; the right under
Major-General 8t. Clair, the left under Major-General
Arnold, who had recently been sent North by General
Washington. The position was a strong one, and, but
for the bad conduct of the Eastern militia, the outlook for
the Americans was most promising. The whole force was
about forty-four hundred, but it was uncertain, on account
of the dissatisfaction of the militia, how long the number
would be kept at that figure. General Schuyler made
very earnest appeals for reinforcomentB. Under the cir-
cumstances, it was deemed expedient to retire from Moses's
Creek and establish a new camp nearer to the base of sup-
plies. Accordingly, on the 30th of July, the army with-
drew to Saratoga, and on the 2d of August continued its
march to Stillwater. But this proving unsatisfactory, on
examination, the army took up a now position on the
islands at the confluence of the Mohawk and the Hudson,
a more defensible station.
It had been the purpose of General Biirgoyne to send
his corps of Indians to the Connecticut to force a supply
of provisions, to intercept reinforcements, and to alarm
the people of New England. But the removal of the
* * Washington expressed surprise at this, — further evidence that he
had never been correctly advised of the condition of the Northern
posts.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair. 83
American forces to the southward led him to change his
plan, and to employ the Indians to prevent, if possible,
by their terror, the Americans from continuing the opera-
tions referred to.* To the credit of Burgoyne, be it said,
he was carrying out, in the employment of the Indians,
the policy of the home government, and that he had no
heart in the business. He attempted to restrain them, by
placing over them priests, and other Canadians of char-
acter, but the result was disappointing to him. lie
breathed more freely when, further on, his prospects being
less promising, his Indian allies deserted him.
Just as Schuyler was located in his new camp, word was
brought to him that St. Leger, who had been dis[>atehed
by Burgoyne for that purpose, accompanied by Sir John
Johnson's Royal Greens, and a body of Indians, under
Brant, had laid seige to Fort Stanwix, on the Upper Mo-
hawk. The post was held by Colonels Gansevoort and
Willett, with two New York regiments. He was informed
that General Herkimer, with a bodv of the militia of
Tryon county, had advanced to the relief of the garrison.
When within six miles of the fort, Herkimer fell into an
ambnsh. Though mortally wounded, he supported him-
self against a stump, and encouraged his men to the fight.
The resistance was one of the most gallant on record, and
the militia, by the aid of a sally by Willett, succeeded in
repulsing the assailants and in reaching the fort, where they
were warmly welcomed. Four hundred of the militia, in-
cluding General Herkimer and many of the leading patri-
ots of Trvon countv, lost their lives. The result filled the
country with terror. Schuyler saw the necessity of im-
mediately relieving the beleagured post, and dispatched
thither Arnold, who volunteered for that service, with
three regiments. The Indians, who had suffln-ed a severe
loss in the fight with the Tryon militia, on hearing of the
approach of the relieving force, deserted in large numbers,
an example followed by St. Leger two days before Arnold
reached the fort, who left his tents standing, and a greater
^Burqmfnts Xarrative.
84 Life and Public Services of Arthur St Clair.
part of his stores, which fell into the hands of the Amer-
icans. After this, very few Indians remained with Bur-
goyne.
Another piece of good fortune about this time came to
cheer the hearts of the Americans, and brighten the pros-
pects of the generals of the Northern army. The golden
opportunity for Burgoyne was gone forever. Embar-
rassed with heavy artillery and baggage, small progress
had been made from Fort George; and, expected supplies
from Canada failing him, he listened to the seductive wiles
of the Tories, and thought to capture American supplies
at Bennington, and bring back the inhabitants of the
Hampshire Grants to their allegiance to his royal master.*
About the middle of August, Lieutenant-Colonel Baum,
with five hundred men and two pieces of artillery, was
dispatched on a secret expedition to the Connecticut.
Lieutenant-Colonel Brcyman's corps, posted near Batten-
Kill, was held in reserve to reinforce Baum if the Ameri-
cans should be found in force. General Schuyler, hearing
of this expedition, appealed to Colonel Stark, who was in
retirement,* to rally the militia and intercept the British.
The noble patriot complied. lie sent for Warner's regi-
ment, encamped at Manchester since the battle of Hub-
bardton, and marched to meet the enemy. Six miles from
Bennington, Baum began to intrench, and sent back to
hasten Colonel Breyman's movements. The next day was
rainy, and both parties contented themselves with skirm-
ishing, and awaited reinforcements. The morning of the
16th opened bright and promising. Colonel Stark's men
were impatient for an opportunity to face the enemy. It
is related that he was approached, while yet the rain was
* " Tho object of your expedition is to try the affections of the
country, to disconcert the councils of the enemy, to mount the Riede-
sel's dragoons, to complete Peters's corps [Tories], and to obtain large
supplies of cattle, horses, and carriages." — From Burgoyne s Instructions
to I Aru(enant-Coloncl Baunu
^Colonel Stark had not been promoted, as he deserved, and he re-
signed his Coniinental commission. He accepted the command of the
militia, and served on this occasion on condition that he should be in-
dependent.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 85
•
falling, by a Rev. Mr. Allen, of Colonel Symond's reg:i-
ment, and addressed in these words: "General, the peo-
ple of Berkshire have often been summoned to the field
without being allowed to fight, and if you do not now
give them a chance, they have resolved never to turn out
again." "Well," said Stark, " do you want to march now
while it is dark and raining?" "Xo, not just now," re-
plied the parson. " Well," said Stark, " if the Lord shall
once more give us sunshine, and I do not give you fight-
ing enough, I'll never ask you to turn out again." And
fighting enough the men of Berkshire had before the day
was ended.*
Stark's disposition of his forces was admirable. De-
tachments were sent in the rear of the enemy, to the
right and the left, to engage the attention and begin tlie
attack. At the first fire. Stark sprang uponliis horse and
gave the word " Forward !"^ With great impetuosity the
Americans rushed upon the intrenchments, and, after a
conflict, remarkable for the courage displayed on both
sides, succeeded in driving the Hessians out, and captur-
ing nearl}" the whole of them. " It lasted," says Stark in
his letter from Bennington, August 22, " two hours, the
hottest I ever saw in my life — it represented one con-
tinued clap of thunder; however, the enemy were obliged
to give way, and leave the field pieces and all their bag-
gage behind them. They were all environed within two
breast-works with their artillery, but our martial courage
* It is related of this Rev. Mr. Allon, in the New York Journal of"'
September 22, 1777, and other contemporary papers, that just before
the attack was made on the intrenchments, in the character of a true
ministpf of peace, he threw himself between the two armies, assured
the enemy, that they were outnumbered and could not escap'e, and
pathetically exhorted them from a regard to justice to their country
and to their own safety, to surrender, and prevent the effusion of
blood. While he was speaking, with his hat in his hand, a number of
balls were fired at him, some of which passed through his hat; on
which he retired, joined in the attack, and was among the foremost to
enter the enemy's entrenchments.
* This characteristic speech is put into the Colonel's mouth : "There,
my men, there are the red coats. Before night they are ours, or Molly
Stark will be a widow\"
86 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
proved too hard for them." After the first fire, the In-
dians who accompanied Baiim fled howlingto the woods.
While tlie Americans were plundering the camp of the
enemy, Colonel Breyman appeared, but they were saved
by the opportune arrival of Colonel Seth Warner's corps
from Bennington. The latter attacked the British rein-
forcements, and drove them through the woods for several
miles, capturing two field pieces and all the baggage. The
victory was complete, and, at this stage, of great import-
ance to the American cause.^ The loss of the enemy in
killed and wounded was large, and in prisoners about
seven hundred, including thirty-two officers.^ Among the
latter was the brave Colonel Baum, who was mortally
w-oundcd. Four brass field i)ieces, nine hundred dragoon
swords, and a thousand stand of arms, with ammunition,
were also captured. One hundred of the sons of New
England fell on that August afternoon, but in the moment
of triumph, these were thought of tenderly as blessed
sacrifices in the sacred cause of libertv.
The predictions of Washington and St. Clair that the
enemy could not penetrate far into the interior without
being ruined, were fiist being verified. The industry dis-
played by the Northern generals was being rewarded, and
it only wanted the hearty co-operation of New England
to eftect the destruction of the enemy. Alas! that co-
operation was refused, except upon terms dictated by fac-
tion. The Southern members of Congress became alarmed
at the threatening attitude of the East, and thought it
prudent not to stem the torrent.^ Samuel Adams im-
*Tbe victories of Bennington and Fort Stanwix are accorded so
miu'li space in American history, because of the inspiriting effect they
lia<lon the Americans. It was seen that the Germans and the Indians
could be defeated, and the terror they had inspired soon disappeared.
For m.iny anecdotes of the ri<lioulou3 fear prevailing in the minds of
the Americans before these event?, see Wilkin^^n, Vol. I.
* Stark's own report. lie ^ives the ntimber of dead found on the
fioM lis two hundred and seven; the number of wounded at that tinio
unknown.
^ (r. Morris's letter to General Sehm/Ur. Hamilton, Vol. T., p. fSS. In
July, Schuyler had been under the necessity of dismissing half of the
Ijife and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 87
proved the opportunity, and succeeded in carrying out
his long-cherished plan of placing Gates at the head of
the Northern army. Schuyler and St. Clair were ordei*ed
to report at headquarters. The latter complied imme-
diately, while the former remained, hoping to be useful
to his successor.
General Gates, who had been clothed by Congress with
extraordinary powers,* relieved General Schuyler on the
evening of the 19th of August. He was soon joined by
Major-General Lincoln, with a large body of New England
militia, and General Morgan, with a choice corps of ex-
pert riflemen.* On the 8th of September, the American
army, about six thousand strong, marched for Stillwater,
and on the 12th took possession of a narrow defile formed
by a spur of the hills jutting out close to the river. This
is the ground known as Bemis's Heights, soon tp be the
scene of severe contests with the enemy. General Gates's
right occupied the brow of the hill, near the river, with
which it was connected by a deep intrenchment ; his camp,
in the form of a segment of a great circle, the convex to-
wards the enemy, extended obliquely to his rear about
three-fourths of a mile, to a knoll occupied by his left; his
front wap covered, from the right to the left of the cente^,
by a sharp ravine running parallel with his line and closely
wooded.' To the left the ground had been partially cleared,
but the f'"lled trees made it very difficult. The extremi-
ties were defended by strong batteries, and the interval
militia of Massncliusetts, lest the whole should go. Wilkinson says
the desertions were so numerous as to tlirenten the destruction of the
army. See correspondcMioe of Scliuylor with the Council of Ssvfety of
New York and \V{lkln<o>is Memoir.^. Also consult Oovernor Truinbidl's
letter to Baron Vandor Capellan, Vol. VI., p. 170, Mass. His. Society s
Colledion, as *.o the disaffection of the militia.
*See Journals of Congress and letter of President Hancock to Gates
August 14th.
'Among the officers connected with this corps were Lieutenant-
Colonel Richard liutler and Major H. Dearborn, of whom more here-
after.
' Descrii)tion V)y Wilkin.son, whose account of the events of the cam-
paign is the moat complete.
88 Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair,
by a breastwork of logs. General Biirgoync, who had
crossed the Hudson on the 15th, advanced on the 17th,
and encamped within two miles of the Americans, on
strong ground. On the 19th, he moved towards the-Ameri-
can left, whereupon. Gates ordered Morgan to advance
with his corps and hang on the front and flanks of the
enemy. Having driven in the British skinnishers, the
riflemen advanced too rashly and soon became engaged
with a strong column, and were thrown into confusion.
Cilley's and ScammeFs regiments were now ordered out
to march to the left of Morgan and support him. The ac-
tion was renewed, and it was found necessary to further
strengthen the American troops. About three o'clock the
action became general, and lasted until night-fall, with
constantly changing fortunes.- Late in the afternoon, the
British left being reinforced and pressing the Americans
sharply. General Larned, with his whole brigade, was or-
dered out by Gates, and the Americans were thus enabled
to maintain their position. Xight put an end to the con-
flict, which had been characterized by great spirit on both
sides. The Americans captured the British artillery a
dozen times, but wore unable to carry off the guns. Out of
forty-eight artillerists, thirty-six were killed or wounded.
The American loss was less than three hundred, while that
of the enemy was over five hundred. As the British slept
on the ground, and the Americans withdrew, Burgoyne
claimed a victory, but the advantage was really with Gates.
There is a conflict of authoritv as to General Arnold's
action on this day. The- Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, in his
entertaining book, " The Life of Benedict Arnold," claims
that General Arnold, unrestrained and unrestrainable,
dashed into the thickest of the fight, encouraging the
troops to the conflict by voice and example. He refers to
a letter of Arnold to Gates, and correspondence of young
Livingston, as his chief authorities. On the other hand,
Wilkinson not onlv denies this in his Memoirs, but in a
letter to General St. Clair, written from Bemis's Heisrhts
two days after the battle, he says: ^' General Arnold was
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 89
not out of camp during the ichole action.^' ^ The strength of
this testimony lies in its being contemporary, and from
the most active member of General Gates's staff. The
statement does not lessen the credit due to Arnold for his
conspicuous services during this important campaign.
While this was in progress, Colonel Brown, of General
Lincoln's command, surprised the British posts at the out-
let of Lake George, capturing three hundred prisoners
and several armed vessels and bateaux ; and thence, having
been reinforced by Colonel Johnson, invested Ticonderoga
for four days. Burgoyne's situation was now extremely
critical, as his communications were cut and his provisions
were rapidly diminishing. The armies were so near that
not a night passed without firing, and sometimes concerted
attacks upon the British advanced i)ickets.^
On the 3d of October, General Burgoyne thought it ad-
visable to diminish the soldiers' rations, in order to lengthen
out the provisions.
On the 7th, hearing nothing^ further from Sir Henry Clin-
ton, and the time being nearly expired when ho could pru-
dently remain in camp, General Burgoyne directed a move-
ment to the left of the Americans, not only to discover
whether there were any possible means of forcing a passage,
should it be necessar^y to advance, or of dislodging his
enemy for the convenience of a retreat, but also to cover a
forage of the army, which was in groat distress on account
of the scarcity.^
The movement being reported to Gates, by Wilkinson,
the commanding general immediately arranged a plan of
attack. As usual, Morgan was ordered ont "to begin the
game." He pro{X)sed to make a circuit through the woods
and get possession of the heights on the right of the enemy,
and thence commence his attack so soon as a fire should be
^ St. Clair Papers. In his "Memoirs," Wilkinson says there was. not
a single general oflicer present until General Larned was ordered out.
*' General Arnold not being present in the battle of the 19th Septem*
ber." R. R. Livingston to Washington, 14th January, 1778.
' Burgoyne s Statetnent.
* Ibid, Appendix LXXXIX.
90 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
opened jigainst the left by General Poor, who had been
charged with tliat duty. The British ibrce consisted of fif-
teen hundred reguUir troops, commanded by General Bnr-
goyne himself, accomjianied by Major-Generals Phillip'*
and Riedesel, and Brigadier Fraser. The plan of General
Burgo} ne was frustrated by a very sudden and rapid attack
on liis left by General Poor. Major Ackland's grenadiers
sustained the attack with great resolution, but the Americans
extending the aggressive movement along the front of the
Germans, a second line could not be formed to support
the grenadiers, and they gave way. Major Ackland being
wounded nnd taken prisoner, and the artillery captured. In
attempting to save the left line from being entirely carried,
Brigadier-General Fraser was mortally w^ounded — an irre-
parable loss to the British, who at this. moment retreated,
"hard pressed but in good order,''* covered by the troops of
Phillips and Kiedesol. " The troops had scarcely entered the
camp," continues General Burgoyne, "when it was stormed
with great fury, the Amercans rushing to the Knes under a
severe fire of grajic-sliot and small arms. The post of the
light infintry, under L(»rd Balcarras, assisted by some of the
line which threw themselves, by order, into the intrench-
ments, was defended with great spirit; and the Americans,
led on by General Arnold, were finally repulsed, and the
General wounde<l; but unhappily the intrenchments of the
German reserve, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Brey-
man, who was killed, were carried; and the Americans, by
that misfortune, gained an opening on our right and rear.
The niglit put an end to the action."^
The Atnericans, flushed with victory, slept on their arms
upon the field <»f battle. The I^ritish, who had lost four
hundred men in k lied, wounded, and ]»risoner, withdrew
to the hills on the river, and continued ottering battle the
whole day of the 8th.^
Being advised that the Americans were marching to turn
^ Buri/oi/nen Xarratire, Appendix XC.
^ Burgoyne s Narrative, Appendix, XCI.
3 Jbid.
Lf'k c^c Priitf &.^'r^<ti if A^^nr Si^, (Jt'r.
T-Tia •",^-^. x.orr xi*:. '•^i.vi- •L-ir •:-La. i ~ v-Siii'^L *iL'.'i,ci
92 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
dred and fifty-two men remained of the fine array that
three months before had appeared in such proud array be-
fore Ticonderoga. There was surrendered also a large
quantity of artillery, clothing, tents, and military stores of
all kinds.
The promise of St. Clair had been fulfilled. The State
had been saved, and the country roused to a degree of en-
thusiasm which no disastei's hereafter could wholly alia}'.
General Gates w^as raised to a pinnacle of military fame
eclipsing that of Washington. This came near wrecking
all, at a later day. Meanwhile, there were those who ad-
mired the courage and sagacity of St. Clair, and who
did not fail to send him congratulations on the result at
Saratoga. The ofticers of the army improved the oppor-
tunity to express their opinions on events, of which this,
from Colonel Baldwin, w^ill suflice: " Give me leave to con-
gratulate you," said he, "on the important conquest over
Burgoyne and his army. The capitulation and other par-
ticulars you will have by the time this reaches you. I be-
lieve the people have by this time, in general, altered their
notion with regard to the evacuation of Ticonderoga. The
ofticers that I hear speak of it say that a better plan could
not have been adopted, and that nothing but your leaving
that place could have iriven us this success."*
St. Clair warmly congratulated Gates on the great suc-
cess at Saratoga.
A few w^ords more, and we dismiss the subject of Ti-
conderoga forever. St. Clair left the Northern Depart-
ment on the 20th August, in obedience to the orders of
Congress, to report at headquarters and await an inquiry
^ St. Clair Papers,
" It is not my intention to derogate from the merits or Bervices ot
General Gates, which were important and conspicuous; on the con-
trary, it is my opinion that under a change of circumstances the same
causes which degraded General Sehuyler would have sunk General
Gates under popular discontent and Congressional anathemas; and,
in such case, all the consequences would have been reversed. But I
shall ever believe that St. Clair laid the foundation of our good for-
tune in the Convention of Saratoga." — Wtlk-lnson.
iWf and PtMic Scrvlecs of Arthur St. auir. 93
into liis management at the Xorth. lie promptly demanded
a court-martial, but that was not forthcoming as ppeeilily
as expected, and, in the interim, he enteriHl actively into
the campaign under Washington. Little did the gallant
soldier, whose character was oj>en and manly, know of the
inofenuitv and lertilitv of secret malice The examination
of private correspondence of the period shows that this
was not directed against St. Clair on pei'somil grounds,
except in the case of Samuel Adams, who could not for-
give him for liaving dismissed in disgrace two ''disorderly
and licentious '' regiments. Ilis offense was in the friend-
ship of Washington, which was open and faithful. The
saving of his little army for the country, in the face of a
powerful and active enemy, was only a pretext for the un-
friendlv action that ensued. TVashinocton's downfall was
the object which the original conspirators liad in view.
The inquiries presently became suspiciously frequent.
After Schuvler and St. Clair, Putnam, Sullivan, Greene,
and, later, that pure patriot, Robert Morris, fell under the
displeasure of the ruling powers. There were those who
deprecated such proceedings, but as Jay said, in the case
of Schuyler and St. Clair, " few persons possess honesty
or spirit enough openly to defend unpopular merit, and by
their silence permit calumny to gain strength."*
The court-martial was not permitted, and a committee *
was appointed to collect testimony, but as they could not
find to convict they did not report. The intriguants were
weaving their web. Suspicion of their fell purpose reached
the far South, and Edward Rutledge, on Christmas day,
months after the inception of the scheme, in a burst of
honest indignation, says: "T have time to tell you, and
I fear with reason (as it comes North about), that a damned
infamous cabal is forming against our Commander-in-
* Life of John Jai/, Vol. II., p. 17.
'This committee consisted of Laurens, of South Carolina; John Ad-
ams, Dyer, and Folsom, of New England; Roberdeau, of Pennsyl
vanin — only one«of the five uncontrolled by New England.
94 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
Chief, and that whenever they shall find themselves strong
enough they will strike an important blow." ^
The activity of St. Clair, at the battle of Brandywine,
and in the discharge of all the important duties in the
field to which Washington assigned him, aroused the mal-
contents to renewed activity, and a resolution was adopted
by Congress, in November, permitting him to attend to
'' his private aftairs." St. Clair denounced this in fitting
terms in a letter to Gates. *' If they had common hon-
esty," said he, " they would have owned that, after five
months spent in searching for an accusation, they had been
unable to find one." "A trial, however," he added, " they
shall give me; be the event what it will, they can not rob
nie or' that heartfelt satisfaction which is the companion
and reward of virtuous actions.''^
Washington was indignant at the treatment of St. Clair.
As early as the 7th Octcber, lie suggested to Congi*ess,
throuirh President Hancock, that '*it woul«l bo well if the
intended inquiry into the conduct of General St. Clair
could be brought to a speedy issue; and, if h*' is acquitted
to the satisfaction of Congress, that, as his general charac-
ter as an oflScer is good, he may be again restored to tlie
service."* No attention beitig paid to this, in the follow-
•ini!:Mav,in writini:: to the President, he emitloved verv severe
language. "I most sincerely wish," he said, "that (con-
gress would lay the charire, and order the trial of the major-
Sfenerals in diso^race. St. Clair is exceedinirH' uneasv and
distressed at the delay; and, wifh pain, Imltl, (hat the pro-
crediiig, or, more properly, vot p'^oceeding^ in this matter^ is
^ T/if>- nf John Jny^ Vol. II., pagn 17.
"The conspiracy against the Commander-in-Chief was not idle; nor
^vor* the conspirators less sparing of their machinations and calumnies
ng 'inst General Srhuyler than they had bepn against General Wash-
in^'ton; and hy force of these. Oites was again ordered to the com-
m ind of tlio Northern army, to reap the harvest sown by the inde-
f tigiihle trtorts of S'chnyler, and by the self-sacrifice of his gallant,
but nnfortunate coadjutor, 8t. Clair." — Life of General John Lariib,
p. 170.
* St. Clair Papers.
' The Writirt^s of Washitigton, Vol. V., p. 86.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair. 95
looked upon as cruel and oppressive.''^ Des|»ite Wa^ihing-
toii's indignaut protests the tactionists in Congress coiitin*
ued their unjust course, and they were defeated and driven
to action only through the strategy of Gouverueur Morris,*
who, in April, succeeded in getting a committee appointed
under instructions to prefer charges. In September, 1778,
a court martial, of \vhich Major-Generid Lincoln was pres-
ident, was organized, and, alter a thorough hearing, a unan-
imous verdict was reached, which was ex[»ressed in tlie fol-
lowing complimentary terms :
" The Court having duhj consideied the charges against 3Ltjor-
General »SY. Clair^ and the evideuce^ are u)tanimou4g of opin-
ion, (hat he is not gudty of either of the charges prefaced
cgainst him^ cmd do un(inii/tou<fg acquit him of all and every
of them with the highest honor."
Schuyler's acquittal, in similar terms, followed four days
later.
At hist, then, th's bare justice was rendered these patri-
otic officers by their peers, but it was the middle of Decem-
ber beft)re Congress tormally approved of ihetinding of the
Court.^
' Wriff'njs ff Washinr/fon, p. 385.
'*• Putnam will soon be tried. The affair of Schuyler and St. Clair
labored under awkward circumstances. Tlieir friends and their ene-
mies appear to me to have been equally b ind. I inclose extracts from
tlie minutes made the other night to possess myself of the real state of
facts. There are some other entries from time to time. It was erron-
eous to order a committee simply to collect faUs; they shouhl have
been directed to state charges. This morning, my colleague being ab-
sent, I got a committee appointed for the latter purpose: Sherman,
Dana (Mass ), and Drayton (S. C). This was unanimous, and yet I
would have undertaken to argue for it in a style which would abso-
lutely have ruined the measure. You know it would have been easy
to say, justice to t/to.^e injme<l gentlenicn/xnaXewd of justire to an injured
country requires it, etc." — Life of John Jaij, Vol. II., j). 22
•Despite opposition from the factionists, the proceedings of the
court-martial, which revealed the shameful neglect and the responsi-
bility of the Board of War, in the matter of the defense and loss of
the Northern posts, were ordered to be printed. Thus, at last, the
whole case was made public. The reaction wjis a restoration of St.
Claii' to popularity equal to that enjoyed by any, save Washington.
96 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
Congratulations poured in on St. Clair, but the one that
moved him most deeply was this from the noble La Fay-
ette :
" I can not tell you how much my heart was interested
in any thing that happened to you, and how I rejoiced, not
that you were acquitted, but that at length your conduct was ex-
amincdy
It was while actively employed under Washington,
pending the action of Congress, that the acquaintance be-
tween St. Clair and La Fayette ripened into close friend-
ship—a friendship that never grew cold. " Give my love
to General St. Clair," wrote the warm-hearted Frenchman
to a friend in later years.
Life ohd PMie ikrcia^ of Arthur St. Clair 97
CHAPTER IV.
177T-I753 — St. Cz-um, jorvs Gexeral Wa5h;xgtox. axi) BECOvrs a Mcx-
BCE or was Milttaet Family — Pakticipates ix the Battle of Brax-
DTOVE — lMP»>5TA3rr Seevices — Shares ix the Siffekixcs or Valley
F->BGE >T. ClaIE FAlTHfTT. TO WaSHIXCTOX IV THE M:l»>T OF CaBALS
— Te»>7x:.e$ tx THE Pex-xstltaxia Line, axd labi>ks of Fbesipest Reed
AJTO St. Cl-All TO AICUST THEM ASSACLT OX StOXT PolXT PoST OF
HOXOB HELD BY ST- Cl.MK < DlYIMt^X. IX iTSO— A COMMIS^OXIE T»^ AB-
EaXGE aCaBTEL F"BEx. HiX'lEOF PRISOXERS — ^TrEASOX OF ARNOLD AXD
I»EATH OF AST'^E Sr. <'*LA1B SEXT TO COMMAND We5T PoIXT OfFKRED
THE COMSAX-D OF CoSPS OF LiGHT IxFAXTRT — RetoLT OF THE PeXXSTL-
taxia Ljxe — RECKrmxG for the Fixal Strucgie — Makche5 t\» Srp-
p»:i«T OF Greece ix SitCTH CaRmljxa — <?lose of thk War — MrriNT or
Pexx>tlta51a REcnriTj! — Ai arm ix Philadelphia — St. Ol.\ir <fxt
FOR — "loXGRES^ JiDJOrR\> TO PrIXCETv^X.
I-et us take a look at St. Clair's r^vonl while with the
armv, making use of his own too brief narrative where it
urill answer our pur[»ose. •^Although I was, for a eonsid-
erable time, suspended from command, I never lett Gen-
eral Washiuorton nor the army, and, before the battle of
Brandvwine, I sucrirested to him a measure similar to that
so bappilv executed at Trenton, and would have been at-
tended with similar effects. It had before occurred to him-
self (who rarelv indeed missed observing anv advantage
that could be taken of the enemv), and he then showed
me General Greene's division in motion to \n\x it into exe-
cution, and desired me to attend him to General Arm-
strong's quarters (aliout two miles from Chad's Ford, where
the bodv of the annv was posted) who, with the Pennsvl-
vania militia, whieh he commanded, was to have had a
share in it; but the Pennsvlvania militia were not in readi-
ness, and he was obliged to abandon the project. It was
this: while Sir William Howe was ascendinsic the Brandv-
^ne, to cross it near Birmingham church. General Knyjv
hausen had been left with a strong corps in front of ouf
army at Chad's Ford, clearly to keep it in check until Sir
7
98 Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair.
William had made good his passage above ; to carry or
disperse that corps was the object. Greene's division was
to descend the river to General Armstrong's quarters, and
that movement would be concealed from Knyphausen by
the thick woods on the river's bank, and being joined by
his division, cross the river there, and fall in the rear of
Knyphausen, while the General, with the corps at Chad's
Ford, should cross at that place* and attack him in front,
which would infallibly oblige Sir William to retrace his
steps : for the loss of that corps he could not bear, and it
was certain he would run every risk to prevent it."
It fell out at Brandywine far otherwise than Washing-
ton had hoped for, through false information transmitted
by Sullivan to him. That officer had been dispatched with
three divisions to intercept Cornwallis, who was trying to
reach the American rear, while Knyphausen should
threaten the front by way of Chad's Ford ; but, being de-
ceived as to the real movements of the enemy for a time,
was late in coming up and forming his line of battle.
While deploying he was attacked by Cornwallis, his
troops thrown into confusion, and a retreat rendered nec-
essary. Thereupon, Greene brought up the reserves,
checked the enemy, and covered the retreat. The main
part of the army being thus drawn away, Knyphausen
seized the opportunity to effect the passage of Chad's
Ford, which Wayne was unable alone to successfully re-
sist. The Americans withdrew to Chester, the next day
to Philadelphia, and thence to Germantown, where, in a
few days, they met with another reverse. The British loss
at Brandywine was six hundred, and the American con-
siderable more. In this affair St. Clair had a liorse shot
under him, and Pulaski, who served as a volunteer, showed
such zeal and courage in collecting the scattered troops
and covering the retreat, that, upon Washington's recom-
mendation he was appointed to the command of the horse,
with the rank of Brigadier-General.*
In tlie skirmishing that followed the battle of Brandy-
wine, St. Clair had his share, but in the action of German-
^ Hildreth, Vol. III., p. 219. — Journals of Omf/ress.
Lift and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 99
town he had no part, as he had received permission to
visit his family.*
Another object which this absence embraced, was to try
and get a hearing before Congress. In writing to Presi-
dent Hancock on the movements of the army, General
Washington took occasion to refer him to General St.
Clair, " who has been constantly with the army for some
time past," for fuller information.*
We find him with the army again in November, render-
ing General Washington such service as he could without
the command of a di\'i8ion. The Commander-in-Chief, in
a letter to the President of Congress, dated at White-
marsh, 17th November, referred to him in the following
terms:
" As the keeping possession of Red Bank, and thereby
still preventing the enemy from weighing the chevaux-de-
frise before the frost, obliges their ships to quit the river,
has become a matter of the greatest importance, I have
determined to send down General St. Clair, General Knox,
and Baron de Kalb, to take a view of the ground, and to
endeavor to form a judgment of the most probable means
of securing it. They will, at the same time, see how far
it is possible for our fleet> to keep their station since the
loss of Fort Mifflin, and also make the proper inquiry into
the conduct of the captains of the galleys mentioned in
the former part of this letter."
The report of the officers was to the effect that keeping
possession of the Jersey shore at or near Red Bank, was
of the last importance. In accordance with this, rein-
forcements were sent under the command of General
Greene.*
St. Clair shared in the trials and sufferings of the army
at Valley Forge,* and during the winter, at the request of
• St, Clair 3 Narrative. — Appendix.
• Washingtons Writings, Vol. V, p. 71.
• WaskingtorC 9 Writings. Vol. V., p. 163 — note.
*" Hungry and cold were the poor fellows who had so long been
keeping the field; for provisions were scant, clothing worn out, and so
badly off for shoes, that the footsteps of many might be tracked in
100 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
Washington, in common with other of the general officers,
submitted suggestions for the reform of the Quartermaster
and Commissary Departments, which, owing to the in-
efficiency of General Mifflin, head of the former, and the
interference of Congress in the latter,* had been thrown
into the most deplorable condition. The reforms recom-
mended by the officers were generally adopted, and Major-
General Greene being appointed Quartermaster-General,
and Colonel AVadsworth Commissary, order was restored
to their respective departments, food and clothing were
obtained, and the clouds once more disappeared — to return
later, blacker than before — for the Americans. That ho
should succeed in keeping together an army under such
circumstances, is evidence of the genius and tact and
marvelous personal influence of Washington. Phila-
delphia being in possession of the enemy, the demoraliza-
tion of the people^ was wide-spread, and, but for the timely
assistance voted by the French government, it would have
left but a few devoted patriots here and there to sustain
the cause. Sir Henry Clinton anticipated the arrival of
the French fleet,^ and withdrew from Philadelphia in June,
following the usual line through the Jerseys leading to
New York.'*
Washington followed in pursuit, hoping to improve
some favorable opportunity to strike a blow. La Fayette,
who was most zealously in favor of active operations, was
given the post of honor, and instructed to press hard on
blood. Yet at this very time we are told. ' hogsheads of shoes, stock-
ings, and clothing, were lying at different places on the roads and in
the woods, perishing for want of teams, or of money to pay the teams-
sters.'"— /n'%, Vol. IIL. p. 352.
* By the removal of the head in the midst of the campaign in op-
position to remonstrances from General Washington.
^The French fleet under Count O'Estaing arrived off the mouth of
thii Delaware, on the 8th of July. The assistance rendered this season
was disappointing.
' His army was about twelve thousand strong, and was not incum-
bered with any except necessary baggage and provisions. The rest of
the baggage, and about three thousand Penn\vlvanians who adhered
to the royal cause, were sent around to New Yo'k by water.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 101
that part of Clinton's army moving on the high irronnds.
General Charles Lee, who had recently returned to the
army, had opf»osec] an agsrressive movement, but thinking
better of it, by virtue of liis rank, extended his comnjand
over the troops under La Fayette in the advance. On the
28th of June, Washington sent word to Lee to attack the
enemy, who were encamped at Monmouth Court House,
and promised to support that attack with the whole army.
Upon advancing in accordance with this plan, he met Lee
retreating.^ Sharp words' ensued between the two Gen-
erals, and the line was reformed by Wasliington's com-
mand. A sharp engagement ensued which lasted until
dark, without advantage to either side.^ The British with-
drew to Nevisink, and took up a strong position, from
which the American General thought best i;iot to attempt
to dislodge them. St. Clair participated in this engage-
ment, and continued with the army without regularly
assigned duties, until, restored by the vindication of the
court-martial and the action of Congress, he was placed
in command of a division composed of the Pennsylvania
line.
The winter of 1779 found American affairs at a very low
ebb. Washington's headquarters were at Middlebrook in
the Jerseys; Putnam was at Danbury, and McDougall in
the Highlands. This starving, suffering army .was about
all that was left of the " United Colonies," having organ-
ized form, and it, owing to neglect and arrearages in pay,
^ This led to an ill-tempered correspondence on the part of Lee. to
his arraignment and trial on charges preferred by VVayne and other
officers, and suspension from command. Thus another of the Cabal
was eclipsed. Mifflin had been retired, Conway's resignation accepted,
and ere long Gates was to meet with defeat and disgrace. Even in
these dark days there was a God in Israel, and virtue, though often
sorely tried, was triumphant.
*The American loss in killed, wounded, and disabled, by heat was
two hundred; that of the British three hundred. But this march
proved very disastrous to the British, as over fifteen hundred Ger-
mans, who had been so pleased with Pennsylvania as to contract mar-
riages or form other attachments there, deserted, and afterwards be-
came good citizens of the commonwealth of the Penns.
102 lAft and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
which were attempted to be liquidated in worthless money,
was on the verge of dissolution. Congress was only the
shadow of a legislative body; corrupt, without ability,
without means, without power to levy taxes or to control
the action of the Colonies. In a word, there was no gov-
ernment, and the lawlessness and injustice inseparable from
such a situation were manifest on every hand. This is
clearly shown in the St. Clair MSS. One of his corre-
spondents, who had an invalid, wife, was unable to go to
Philadelphia because of the terror created by banditti who
infested the country. Pennsylvania was filled with dissen-
sions. There were the Constitutionists and the anti-Con-
stitutionists, jealous of each other, striving to get control
of the State, whose strifes produced a condition of anarchy.
A few men like James Wilson, Edward Biddle, and Joseph
Reed, are seen to rise superior to their environment, and
patriotically struggle for a restoration of law and the fontis
of government. Reed is chosen President, and henceforth
during the war there is vigor in the Executive Council.*
The effect of this change on the Pennsylvania troops will
be seen from the correspondence of St. Clair, printed in
this work. He and other officers in the Pennsylvania line
were stoutly opposed to the Constitution of 1776, which they
thought defective, and as containing "principles unfavorable
to liberty, which must inevitably, sooner or later, end in a
tyranny of the worst kind ; " ^ but they regarded as impoli-
tic all attempts to change it while the people were engaged
in a contest with Great Britain, and, though anti-Constitu-
tionists, their influence was given to the party of the Con-
stitution as the party of law and order in a time of gruat
danger. This influence was sufficient to compel the Assem-
bly to recognize and support the form of government under
^The services of President Reed were so important to the cause at
this period as to entitle him to a high place among the patriots of the
Revolution, and condemn its ungenerous all attempts to revive the
suspicion, one time entertained, of his loyalty to the Commander-in-
Chief.
* St. Clair Papers,
lAfe and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 108
the revolotionary Constitution.^ We shall see that when
the war was over, and St. Clair and Wayne were restored to
civil life, thej lahored to amend the Constitution, but for
some time without success.
The letters of St. Clair at this period show a manly, pa-
triotic spirit, a freedom from captiousness and ill-temper
rarely met with at a time when there was so much to com-
plain of, so little to keep alive faith in the justice of Prov-
idence. In letters of the 5th and 6th of March, to Presi-
dent Reed, describing the sufferings of, and the spirit of
defection among the Pennsylvania troops, his devotion
to the cause is made clear. " I am sure," he says, " I need
not press you on this head, but give me leave to repeat
that it is necessary something should be done immediately,
or there is too much reason to fear the dissolution of our
part of the army. No exertions of mine shall be wanting
to prevent so great a calamity; and, though it is a misfor-
tune to have come to the command of it at this trying
period, if I can steer happily through it, and render any
service to my country, I shall not regret any pains it will
cost me." The subordinate officers were, at times, almost
mutinous, and the impatience of such splendid soldiers as
Butler and Hurmar would be injudiciously displayed in
correspondence. In the midst of all of the trials, St. Clair
remained serene, and, by his kindness and tact, not only
kept the Pennsylvania line from dissolution, but its num-
bers in excess of others of the army. It was from St.
Clair's division the soldiers were taken to head the column
that assaulted the works at Stony Point.'
*The first Assembly refused to appoint a Council, and in that body,
in 1778, there was an active minority pledged to a change in the form
of government They refused to take the oath except with the reser-
vation that it was not to prevent the adoption of measures for calling
a Convention to change the Constitution. A resolution was adopted
to submit the question to the people, but that resolution was the cause
of the defeat of the scheme. Before the time fixed for the election,
the Assembly, which had met in February, 1779, had received so many
remonstrances from the people as to be influenced to rescind the reso-
lution providing for the election by an almost unanimous vote.
'^olon'^l Richard Bntler comtnanded tho left column, and Lieuten-
104 Lift and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
The story of that most brilliant exploit of the War of
Independence is familiar to every reader, and need not be
repeated here. Immediately upon receipt of the pleasing
intelligence of the success of the assault, St. Clair congrat-
ulated his friend General Wayne and those who shared in
the glory.
St. Clair's correspondence with General Washington
will show" that his division held the post of honor through-
out 1780, and that his services were arduous and valuable.
Detachments of the enemy having crossed over from Staten
Island on the ice to the Jersey shore, and entered Eliza-
bethtown and Newark on ihe night of the 25th of Janu-
ary, surprised the small garrison,^ captured four officers
and sixty privates, burnt several buildings, and plundered
the inhabitants, General Washington directed General St.
Clair to repair to the lines and make a thorough investiga-
tion into the causes of the " misfortune and disgrace." He
also instructed him to endeavor to find out whether it
would be possible to retajiate upon the enemy. On this
latter head St. Clair ascertained that the British garrison
on Staten Island had been reinforced so that it was two
thousand strong, and that so long as there was an easy
passage between the Island and the city a successftil offen-
sive operation from the Jersey shore was impracticable, as
w^as shown when Lord Stirling attempted a surprise on the
15th. He suggested that the intercourse between the in-
habitants of Jersey and the British on the Island should be
stopped. The disgraceful surprise at Newark and Eliza-
antrColonel Lewis Fleury, a very brave French soldier, whose defense
of Fort Mifflin is known to every reader of American history, the
right. At the head of each was a forlorn hope of twenty men. Lieu-
tenant James Gibbons, of the Sixth Pennsylvania regiment, com-
manded that under Colonel Fleury, and entered the work with three
men, having lost seventeen. Lieutenant Knox, of the Ninth Penn-
sylvania, led the other, under Colonel Butler, and was more fortunate
in saving his men. Lieutenant-Colonel Meigs, who commanded the
Eastern troops in the assault, was destined to come forward more
prominently, though not more gallantly, in the future.
^ These garrisons belonged to the command of Colonel Moses Ilazen.
AJI
ife and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair. 105
beth was due to negligence in not having a patrol out at the
proper time.
Early in March, Major-General St. Clair and Lieutenant-
Colonels Edward Carrinsrton and Alexander Hamilton were
authorized to meet commissioners on the part of the en-
emy for the purpose of settling a general cartel for an ex-
change of prisoners. The British government having
failed to obtain additional recruits in Germany, Sir Henry
Clinton was instructed to use all available means for effect-
ing an exchange of all of the prisoners. There were those
who entertained hopes that, under the pressure of their
necessities, the enemy would make a just recognition of
the independence of the Colonies in an honorable exchanire,
but Washington was not one of these. His instructions to
the commissioners were to " transact nothing but upon
principles of perfect equality, and on a national ground."
When the commissioners met at Amboy, it was soon as-
certained that the enemy would not treat on mutual
ground, and the American commissioners at once put an
end to the negotiation.* Afterwards, there was an informal
conversation as to an exchange on admissable terms, and,
after separation, this discussion was continued, in an in-
teresting correspondence, by General St. Clnir, on the part
of the Americans, and Major-General Phillips, on that of
the British. Courtesies, as to individual officers, were ex-
tended on both sides, and something accomplished towards
a better understanding.
In the movements to check Sir Henry Clinton, after his
return to the North from victorious lields in Georgia and
South Caroliiia ; and in the discussion of plans for the re-
daction of New York and Canada, in conjunction with the
French allies, St. Clair had his full share. A reference to
** Observations '' on the situation, submitted to the Comman-
der-in-Chief, will show how thoroughly he understood the
situation, and the conservative character of his opinions.
When the country was startled by the treason of Arnold,
General Washington immediately directed General St. Clair
* The report of the commissioners was communicated by Washing-
ton to Congress, on the 31st March. — Sparks^ Vol. VII., p. 1.
106 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
to take the command at West Point, and to put the several
posts in a state of defense to guard against a possible move-
ment by the enemy. It became his sad duty, as a member
of the Court to try Major Andr6, the victim of Arnold's
treason, to declare that that meritorious and virtuous offi-
cei'had incurred the penalty of death.^
Undoubtedly it had been Washington's intention to leave
St. Clair in command at West Point and the district on the
east side of the North River, but Greene asked for it, and
it was never the policy of Washington to deny him any
thing.^ A re-arrangement of troops became necessary.
Greene was given two divisions, consisting of Jersey, New
York, and New England troops, and was requested to
march and relieve the Pennsj^lvania line as expeditiously
as possible. "St. Clair waits till he is relieved by a Major-
General," wrote Washington, and he "is directed to move
the second Pennsylvania brigade and Meig's regiment to
*The Court to try Andr6 wavS composed of Generals Greene, Stirling,
St. Clair, La Fayette, Howe. Steuben, Parsons, James Clinton, Knox,
Glover, Patterson, Ifand, Huntington, Stark, and Lawrenca General
Greene was made President. A solemn stillness fell upon these officers
as the young and graceful Adjutant-General of the British Army was
ushered into their presence. *' It is not possible to save him, and yet
we would gladly save him." said Steuben, after the verdict. How
could it be done ? The brave young man, scorning a lie or subterfuge,
promptly denied that he had entered the American lines under protec-
tion of a flag, and so each member of the Court, under military law,
was constrained to pronounce judgment in these words: " He (Andr6)
is to be considered a spy, and according to the laws and usages of na-
tions ought to sufler (loath."
'Greene to Washington: "A new disposition of the army going to
be made, and an officer appointed to the command of West Point and
the district on the east side of the North River, I take the liberty
just to intimate my inclination for the appointment. Your Excellency
will judge of the propriety, and determine as the honor of the army
and the good of th<» service may require. I hope there is nothing in-
delicate or improper in the application," and thereupon proceeded to
show that the freedom of the country and Washington's reputation
and glory were inseparably connected. Greene was as accomplished
as a courtier as a soldier.
lAfe and Public Services of Arthur St Clair. 107
the army, as soon as a sufficient corps arrives to replace
them." *
In the preceding month, however, Washington had paid
St. Clair a handsome compliment, in oflEering to him the
command of the Corps of Light Infantry ^ which was be-
ing organized. He had formed a plan to attack New York
upon Sir Henry Clinton's departure for Rhode Island, a
scheme in which La Fayette took a deep interest. " The
command of it for the campaign," said Washington, '* is
promised to the Marquis de La Fayette, for reasons which
I dare say will be to you obvious and satisfactory. If we
attack New York, the part which this corps will take will
make it a most desirable command. Should it be agreeable
to you to take it until the return of this gentleman, which
is uncertain, it would give me great pleasure. I wish you,
however, to consult your delicacy, and determine without
the least restraint." The offer, said St. Clair, a quarter of
a century later, in his reminiscences, *' was most joyfully
accepted, nor could he have contrived to have done me a
more grateful favor, nor in a more gracious manner. The
sudden return of Sir Henry prevented the attempt, and
the Marquis soon after returned to his command."
About this time, a serious cause of embarrassment arose
in the Pennsylvania line, which threatened to put an end
to the long-time friendship between Generals St. Clair and
Wayne, and leave the regiments without officers.' Major
^Sparks, Vol. VII., p. 233. The first brigade of the Pennsylvania
line bad marched to join the army some days before.
'"The Corps of Light Infantry consisted of six battalions, each com-
posed of eight companies selected from the different lines of the army.
These battalions were arranged in two brigades, one of which was
commanded by General Hand, and the other by General I'oor. The
Light Infantry was stationed in advance of the main army." — Sparks.
' " There is a matter now in the Pennsylvania line, which originated
by the appointment of Mtyor McPherson to the command of one of
the Light Infantry battalions, that I fear will be attended with some
serious and disagreeable consequences between General St. Clair and
General Wayne. One time the matter got so high that I really appre-
hended the loss of your whole line." — General Greene, to President lieed^
August 29. 1780.
108 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair,
McPherson, a meritorious officer, had been appointed to the
command of a corps detached from the Pennsykania line,
by General Washington. This gave great offense to the
officers in line of promotion, and they had the sympathetic
support of Generals Wayne and Irvine, and Colonel Kich-
ard Butler. Their resentment extended to St. Clair, who
stood loyally by the Commander-in-ChiciV although in sym-
pathy with his subordinate officers. To Colonel Butler he
wrote in persuasive, but earnest words. He could, not rec-
oncile himself to the thought that so many brave, virtuous,
and good officers proposed leaving the service of their
country, and throwing their well-earned laurels to the
ground, and sacrificing their future peace to a punctilio.
He declined to ask Major McPherson to resign, and said
that the Commander-in-Chief ought not to recede;^ but
he suggested that the officers address a memorial to Gen-
eral Washington, setting forth their grievances, and offering
their services until the campaign was over. This sugges-
tion was adopted, harmony was restored, and the Com-
mander-in-Chief presented the matter to Congress. The
result was the adoption of new regulations, and the correc-
tion of some of the abuses that existed in the army, which
prevented the dissolution that threatened.
It is impossible for one at the present day, living in the
midst of a vast and wealthy country, surrounded by inex-
haustible supplies of the necessaries and luxuries of life,
to conceive of the extent of the destitution and suffering
of the Revolutionary army in the years 1779, 1780 and
^ General Wayne, -»vho had aided in fomenting the difficulty, when
he found that General Washington remained firm by the principle he
had established, felt called on to vindicate himself, and thought the
best way to do that was to insinuate that St. Clair was unfriendly to
him. This mischievous effort was properly rebuked by Washington,
in a letter whioli wiU be found elsewhere in this work. Wayne's char-
actor was not as frank and manly as one would wish to meet with in
so good a soldier. lie was envious, ambitious, and given to intrigue.
Sparks says: 'General Wayne and General Irvine had used all their
efforts to quell the storm." We are satisfied this is untrue, so far a«
Wavne is concerned.
* St. Clair Papers.
liift and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 109
1781 . There was no money, and no provision of law for
taxation ; the imaginary value of the paper issues was de-
stroyed by enormous volumes of counterfeit promises ,to
pay ; the crops were poor, and other resources were un-
available; extortion run riot and sucked up the life-blood
of the poor, until labor could not command enough paper
to buy the bare necessaries of life ; those that had been
wealthy were plunged into the depths of poverty, while the
few corrupt became possessed of houses and lands. With-
out means, how could the army be fed and sustained in the
field? If patriotism had sufficed — if it had been provisions
and clothing and powder and ball, no army had been better
provided. But alas! this could only endure cold and
hunger in camp, and bleed upon the field of battle. ** I
can assure you with great truth," wrote General Irvine of
St. Clair's division in May, 1780, "that many officers have
lived some time on bread and water rather than take any
scanty allowance from the men." Whole regiments had
spent the winter — the coldest for many years — without
blankets. Even Washington had about ceased to hope :
"I see nothing before us but accumulating distress," wrote
he to a friend. " We have been half of our time without
provisions, and are likely to continue so. We have no
magazines nor money to form them. We have lived upon
expedients until we can live no longer."^ Said Greene, at
that time : " The great man is confounded at his situation,
but appears to be reserved and silent."^ Out of this re-
serve came plans for the future, and appeals which finally
brought the leading men in the difierent States to the front
again. New measures for supplies were adopted; new
financial legislation, not always wise, was devised ; and bills
were drawn on agents in Europe. France herself, with de-
ranged finances, and the accumulated wrongs of centuries
threatening chaos, was America's salvation.
It is not surprising that out of this poverty and suffering
there came revolt. On the night of 1st January, 1781, the
Pennsylvania troops, under General Wayne, stationed at
* Ramsay* s Life of Washington^ p. 163.
"In a letter to President Reed, May 10, 1780.
110 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
MorristowDy broke into open mutiny, and after a straggle
with some of their officers, in which one was killed and
several wounded,* marched for Princeton under the leader-
ship of a board of sergeants. Wayne furnished them with
supplies to keep them from plundering, and with Colonels
Stewart and Butler became a voluntary prisoner, hoping
to obtain some influence over them. The avowed cause
of the mutiny was a difference between the men and the
officers as to the term of enlistment. The former held that
the enlistment was for three years or the war; and the
latter that it was for three years and the war. The men
demanded, in writing, a discharge to all that had served
three years; an immediate payment of all sums due; and
that in future all who remained in service should be paid
in real money. This demand they purposed to lay before
Congress, with arms in their hands to enforce it.
St. Clair and La Fayette, who were at Philadelphia, has-
tened to the scene and were admitted within the lines, but
were not permitted to have any intercourse with the men,
and were soon afterwards commanded to leave by the board
of sergeants. To prevent a further spread of the defection,
General St. Clair proceeded to Morristown, and gave as-
surances to the soldiers that remained of future considera-
tion. He directed them to be collected and marched to
Persipenny; sent the remaining artillery and ammunition
to Luckysunny, and then reported to General Washington,*
who approved of what had been done.^
Immediately after the revolt the British showed great
activity, and Sir Henry Clinton sent a considerable force to
Staten Island, whence two emissaries were sent to the camp
of the malcontents. These, however, were given up through
the influence of two of the sergeants, bribed thereto by
General Wayne, and were subsequently tried and executed
as spies.
Meanwhile, a Congressional Committee, at the head o£
^ Captain Billings was killed and Captain Talbot mortally wounded.
^ St. Clair Papers. Sparks, Vol. III., p. 197, Correspondence.
» Writings of Washington, Vol. VII., p. 363.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. Ill
which was General Sullivan, accompanied by President
Reed, proceeded to Trenton and opened negotiations with
the sergeants. The situation was truly alarming, as it was
uncertain how far the defection extended to other lines.
On this account, "Washington abandoned his first formed
purpose to proceed to Princeton, and, instead, resolved on
severe measures. He directed General St. Clair to proceed
to the Pennsylvania side opposite Trenton and send for the
Congressional Committee to meet him for a conference. If
there were no reasonable hopes of a compromise, then get
the opinion of the Committee as to what policy should be
adopted. If coercive measures were decided on, then make
ulterior arrangements for militia with President Reed and
Governor Livingston to co-operate with a thousand Conti-
nental troops which he should send from the army.^ This
painful course was found not to be necessary, as terms,
which included the demands of the mutineers, were con-
ceded by the Congressional Committee and President Reed.
These were communicated to General "Washington by Gen-
eral Sullivan, who assured him that no concession had been
made that the critical situation of affairs did not warrant
and justice dictate.^
Men and means not being forthcoming from the States,
as promised, Washington put forth the most earnest appeals
and resorted to measures which showed the desperate straits
to which the cause had now fallen. The recruiting was put
into new hands. To St. Clair he intrusted the work of fill-
ing Pennsylvania's quota. The order was loyally obeyed,
although the field was more inviting. The difliculties, de-
lays, and vexations, will be found fully described in the St.
Clair papers. When finally enrolled, clothed, and equipped,
the troops were sent to Virginia to join the Marquis de La
Fayette.
St. Clair still hoped for active work immediately under
Washington, and he confidently expected the command of
^Sl. Clair Papers. Writings of Washington, Vol. VII. p. 364.
*Sparks*s Correspondence Rev., Vol. III. p. 198.
112 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
the army,^ but the exigencies of the campaign determined
otherwise. How all this came about we shall tell in his
own words:
"When the army marched to the southward, I was left
in Pennsylvania to organize and forward the troops of that
State and bring up the recruits that had been raised there.
The command of the American army was kept open for mo.
the General intending to take upon himself, formally, the
command of the allied army, which hitherto he had only
done actually. After having sent off the greatest part of
that line under General Wayne, and on the point of follow-
ing them. Congress became alarmed that some attempt on
Philadelphia would be made from New York, in ordor to
divert General Wafthiugtou from his purpose against Lord
Cornwallis, and thev ordered me to remain with the few
troops I had left, to which it was purposed to add a large
body of militia, and to form a camp on the Delaware: of
this I immediately apprised General Washington, who had
written to me, very pressingly, to hasten on the reinforce-
ments from that State; informing me of the need he had of
them, and, as he was pleased to say, of my services also.
He wrote again, on the receipt of my letter, in a manner still
more pressing, and I laid that letter before Congress, who,
after considerable delay and much hesitation, revoked their
order, and I was allowed to join the army before Yorktown,
^ " September 21st, 1 7S1. At 1 p. m. I waited on tho President of the
State of Pennsylvania at his house in Market street, and met there Mr.
Peters and Mr. Cornell, of the Board of War, General St. Clair, General
Irvine, and General Irwin, of the militia. This conference lasted a
considerable time, and in its consequences took up the rest of the day.
I gave it as my opinion that Sir Henry Clinton did not intend for this
city ; nevertheless, as the inhabitants are alarmed and uneasy, I agreed
to tho propriety of being prepared, although I lamented the expense
such preparation would put us to. I advised the placing a garrison at
Mud Island, and putting that place in posture of defense, and men-
tioned the plan proposed to me by Mr. Paine' of collecting immedi-
ately one quarter's rent from all the houses in Philadelphia in order to
havo an immediate supply of money to defray the expenses. — Diary of
Bohcrt Morris^ Vol. XI. p. 473.
1 Thomas raiiie, who Iwul just returned from France.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair. 118
but did not reach it until the business was nearly over, the
capitulation having been signed in live or six days alter my
arrival. From thence I was sent with six regiments and
ten pieces of artillery, to the aid of General Greene in
South Carolina, with orders to sweep, in my way, all the
British posts in North Carolina; but they did not give me
trouble, for, on my taking a direction towards Wilmington,
they abandoned that place and every other post they had in
that country, and left me at liberty to pursue the march by
the best and most direct route; and on the 27th of Deccm*
ber, I joined General Greene, near Jacksonburgh."
We get a glimpse of this march through the South in
the journal kept bj- Lieutenant Denny,* and Greene re-
cords their a« rival at camp, at Round O, on the 4th of Jan-
uary, 1782, *' weary from their long march, and greatly di-
minished in numbers."^ It a trump of two months through
an uninteresting country had diminished the numbers, what
was to be exp'^X'ted of service through the summer months
on the bank of Ashley River? In September following,
Lieutenant Denny makes this cheerful entry in his journal:
"Our camp very thin; not more than three reliefs of otii-
cei^s and men for the ordinary dutiei». Ilospitnls crowded,
and great many sick in camp; deaths so frequent, the
funeral ceremony dispensed with. Provisions scarce and
very indifferent; the beeves brought from the back counties
of North Carolina, by the time they reach the camp, poor
indeed, and must be unwholesome. Commissary's yard
and slaughter place commonly short distance from camp.
Soldier going there in morning, about killing time, met his
comrade returning in; asked huw was the beef this morn-
ing? Other replicil that it took two men to hold up the
creature until the butcher knocked it down. Savs the
other, 'And why didn't he knock it down as it lay?'"^
' Ebeneezer Denny, afterwards Major in the United States Army,
and Aid to St. Clair, in 1791. We shaU hear from this meritorious
officer frequently hereafter.
* Life of General Nathaniel Greene, Vol. III.
* Military Journal, p 251.
8
114 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair,
St. Clair had been spared this bit of ghnstly humor by
returnins^ to his faniilv in the Bunimer. Tlie war was vir-
tually over, and lie could return home with propriety, con-
scious of liavino^ done his whole dntv throus^hout the ar-
duous struggle for Independence. Before closing this
chapter, however, we must refer to correspondence of an
interesting character that passed between General Wasli-
iiigton and General St. Clair during the progress through
Virginia. The latter had written of his plans and the diffi-
culties that beset him, and received from his ever-generous
friend a most appreciative letter.
"The difficulties," writes Washington, "of which you
speak are such as I feared, but such as I feel confident the
resources of your genius will surmount. ... If your
attempt should fail, whatever may be the censures of the
people at the moment, I doubt not that your character will
eventually obtain that justice which I flatter myself your
conduct will ever merit — an instance of which you have
alreadv had in the course of the war."
"Nothing," writes St. Clair in answer, "could have been
more acceptable to me than the manner in which your Ex-
cellency has been pleased to speak of my conduct."
While St. Clair was engaged in closing up the accounts
and furloughing the veteran soldiers, in 1783, the new levies,
stjitionod at Lancaster, refusing to accept their discharges
without immediate pay, mutinied and marched for Phihi-
del[)hia, for the avowed purjjose of compelling Ccmgress'to
accede to their demands. The mutineers were reinforced
by the recruits in the barracks of Philadelphia, and, as they
marched to the hall where Congress was in session, they
numbered three hundred. Their demand was made in very
peremptory terms, that, " unless their demand was com-
plied with in twenty minutes, they would let in ujion them
the injured soldiery, the consequences of which they were
to abide." Word was immediately sent to General St.
Clair, and his iresence requested. After hearing a state-
ment of the facts by him. Congress directed him to en-
deavor to march the mutineers to their barracks, and to
announce to them that Congress would enter into no delib-
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 115
eration with them; that they must return to Lancaster,
and that (here^ and only there, they Avould be paid.* After
this, Congress appointed a committee to confer with the ex-
ecutive of Pennsylvania, and adjourned. The members
passed through the files of the mutineers, without being
molested.
The committee, with Alexander Hamilton as chairman,
waited on the State Executive Council ; but, receiving no
promise of protection, on the 24th of June, advised an
adjournment of Congress to Princeton. The day after
their arrival there, a resolution w^as passed directing Gen-
eral Ilowe to march fifteen hundred troops to Philadelphia
to disarm the mutineers and bring them to trial. Before
this force could reach Philadelphia, St. Clair and the Execu-
tive Council had succeeded in quieting the disturbance with-
out bloodshed. The principal leaders were arrested, obedi-
ence secured, after which Congress granted a pardon. The
resolution directing General Howe to move with the troops,
gave oftcnse to General St. Clair, who regarded it as an
attempt to supersede him in his command. Thereupon,
he addressed a sharp letter to the President of Congress,
who very considerately refrained from laying it before that
body. Explanations followed, showing that St. Clair had
misconstrued the order, and peace prevailed once more.
1 'i
'Ihe BepiiUic, Vol. II., p. 562.
116 , Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
CHAPTER V.
1783-1787 — Reti'rx to Civil Life — Loss of Fortune — Engages ix Busi-
KE8S — A Membkr of the Boakp of Censors — Elected a Delegate to
Congress from rHii.Ai)Ei.pmA County — Choskn President of thb
LAST Continental Congress — Cireat Gift to Freedom — History of
the Ordinance of 1787 — St. Clair Elected Governor of the North-
western Teuritory.
When General St. Chiir got time to look into his private
affairs, he found himself ruined finaneiallv. The mill
which he had left in Westmoreland for the use and benefit
of the inhabitants of that part of the country, was found
to be in ruins — an evidence that beneficiaries do notalwavs
•I
led themselves bound morally to make any return for favors
voluntarily confeired. St. Clair mentions having lost
£20,000 on one piece of renl estate al^ne. The comforta-
ble fortune, and the valuable offices, which were all his in
1775, and eight yeai's ot the prime of life were all gone —
all given freely, and without a regret, for freedom and a
republic.
In 1783, St. Clair was elected a member of the Council
of Censors, a body provideil for in the Constitution of 17*76,
and charged with the duty of inquiring whetiier the Con-
stitution had been ]»reserved inviolate ; whether the legis-
lative and executive branches of government had performed
their duty as guardians of the i)e(>ple; and whetiier the
taxes had been i>ropcrly laid, collected, and ex[»ended. The
Council could call a new constitutional convention only
bv a two-thirds vote. St. Clair was elected from thecountv
of IMiiladclpljia, and he had for a colleague that eminent
citizen, Frederick A. Mulileiiburg. The names of other
distiiiirnislied friends are found on the roll of Censors.
From the city of Philadelphia, came Thomas Fitzsim-
mons; from the county of Chester, Anthony Wayne; from
Cumberland, William Irvine; and from York, Tliomaa
Hartley.
lAft and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 117
m
6t. Clair was an active member of this body, participat-
ing in the debates and in the committee work.^ A large
number of the reports of the minority were. written by him,
and they display a breadth of opinion and a familiarity
with law and the principles of government highly credit-
able. He was made a member of the committee *' appointed
to report those articles of the Constitution which are ma-
terially defective and absolutely require alteration and
amendment." This committee adopted an elaborate report,
drafted by St. Clair, and attempted to secure the passage of
a resolution calling a new constitutional convention, but
although their report was supported by a majority of the
Censors, it could not command the necessary two-thirds.
Thereupon, an address to the people, setting forth the facts,
was issued by those in favor of a new convention. There
was a strong party feeling displayed throughout the sessions
of this Council, but an examination of its labors does not
come within the designs of this work.^
St. Clair was also elected to the office of Vendue-master
of Philadelphia — an honorable, and very lucrative posi-
tion, through which the public revenues were received at
that time. His transactions were with the State Controller.*
In the confusion resulting from revolution, there wasa vast
amount of property to be sold, from which the State de-
rived a revenue.
February 20, 1786, St. Clair first attended Congress, as a
delegate from Pennsylvania, an<l, on Friday, February 2,
1787, he was elected its President. This was a recognition
of the ability of the man, rather than the patriotism which
made him a soldier of the Revolution. As the w^ork of the
session of 1787 was scarcely excelled in importance by the
* These names will bo found always associated together in the pro-
ceedings of the Council of Censors: Arthur tSt. Clair, Fred. A. Muhlen-
berg, John Arndt, James Moore, Anthony Wayne, David Espy, Thomas
Fitzsimmons, Thomas Hartley, Richard McAllister. Occasionally Will-
iam Irvine voted with the others.
'The reader is roTerred to ''The Proceedings relative to Calling (he Cm-
ventions of 177G and 1790, and the Council of Censors." — Harrisbur^, 1825.
•This should not be confounded with the position of auctioneer,as
known at the present day.
lis L'U 'r.i I P^tK'!^. Scrct.'fs of Arthur St. CXcir.
resold of the Lib»?rs of that other boJr. in session at the
same r me, which gave to America a Constitution, and es-
tabli^^heil the Ur.:--»!i. I shall dwell cpmn it at some length.
In the history or every c^»untry there are supreme events
to which may W tractJ the influence that sha)»ed the des-
tinv of the i e*>: le f >r s: o«i or for evi' : in that of the United
Stares, it i< custon.arv m n:fer to the Declaration of In»le-
j»en'enee and the adv^pri'ii of th^ Constitution in enco-
miastic phrase, as exhibit:!^? wis.lom and £reuiu3 of the
higi.est order. Br*:, whatever may he said of these, may
be apt lied to tLo Onihiai.ce of 17S7 with equal justice.
Aye, more, the spirit of the Oniinance has conferred bless-
ings in addition to tLo>e derived fn>m the Constitution upon
the citizens of tho States erectC'l under i^s provisions.
*• Up<»n the si;rpass:T'g exceller.ce of this Ordinance/' said
Jud<re Timotliv WTaiker, - no laniria^eof paneevric would
be extravagant. The Romans would have imagined s«>me
divine Egeria f »r its author. It ap{»roachos as nearly to ab-
solute perfection as any thing to l>e found in the legislation
of mankind : for, after the experience of fit\y years, it would
j»erhaps be imp«)ssib!e to alter without marring it. In short,
it is one of those matchless specimens of sag:icions forecast
which even the reckless spirit of innovation would not ven-
ture to assail."* As Ion ^ as human srovernmeiit shall en-
dure, the influence for st'^^^I of this remarkable charter shall
be wrnessed. It was the i>ne reallv creat act of le<rislation
bv C »i!irress under the old contV-leratioM, and it was the
ha[n»y fortune of Arthur St. Clair to be the President of
tht* hody at that time and have the opportunity to give to
tlie iiicasnrc his hearty support.
J> t ns take a brief survey of the provisions of the Or-
difinuco :
It provides rules fop ihe descent and conveyance of real
and ptrsonal property : for the a: pointment i>f the Gover-
nr»r. Secretarv, Jndires, and other officers of the territorial
irov<r!»ni<*nts ; for the atloption of laws for the teiujKirary
govf rnineiit ; for the erection of counties; fop the election
* lit 'oi^i' D'-r-ur-^e. '1Z\ DeOfiiiber. 1S37. TraHsa€ion< Ohio Hist, and
PhV. .S>. V Vol. I., Part ii., p. ISU.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 119
oi' a General Assembly after the growth in population to
live thousand souls; and for the election of a delegitc to
Congress, to have the right of debate, but not of voting
during the territorial con'dition. It then says: '-For ex-
te ding the fundamental principles of civil and religious
liberty, which form the basis whereon these republics, their
laws and constitutions, are erected; to fix and establish
those principles as the basis of all laws, constitutions and
governments, which hereafter shall be formed in the terri-
tory; to provide also for the establishment of States and
perman^^nt government therein, and for their admission to
a share in the Federal councils on an equal footing with the
original States," etc., '*It is hereby ordained and declared,
by the authority aforesaid, that the following articles shall
be considered articles of comi)act between the original
States, and the people and States in the said territory, and
forever remain unalterable unless by common consent."
The first ox these articles secures relisj^ious freedom to
the inhabitants^; the second prohibits legislative interfer-
ence with private contracts, secures the bcneiit of the writ
of habms corpus^ trial by jury, and of the common law in
judicial proceedings; it forbids the infliction of cruel or
unusual punishments; the third declares that as religion,
morality and knowledge are necessary to good government
and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of
education shall ever be encourage^!, and good faith ob-
served towards the Indians; the fourth i)rovides that the
territories shall renmin forever a part of the United States,
pay their just proportion of the Federal debts and expenses,
not interfere with the primary disposal of the soil by
the general Government, nor tax non-resident proprietors
higher than resident, and makt-s the iiavigal)le waters free
forever to all citizens of the United States;^ the fifth pro-
vides for a division of the territory into States, and their
' Mr. Grayson, of Virginia, March Ifi, 178G. moved a resolution rela-
tive to the free navigation of the Mississippi, which was incorporated
into the Ordinance of 1787. The authorship is traced to Timothy
Pickering, in a letter to Kufus King, March 8, 1785. See Spencer a
Hist. U. aS.. Vol. II.. p. 207.
aiLm>s-u»a iiiro 'die Uiiioa with repaUioaa goremmenta,
w::en rhey :»mill have ^xty rhotittind inhabitants, on an
e«\ lui r- or.Mir ^^th *he orr^niu Scaxe<: and the sixth «leclared,
Tiitire 3-:ia!i :>» neither -^iaverv nur inToIuatarv servitude
wirhiii the rer-ir.'ry. orhenvitje than in the punishnient of
crnit*?*. wheniof :i»e oar'v mi-^'A have been dulv convicted:
Pn>vuleii A*wavs. *i.a: ;i:iy rers n esoapm^r into the same,
from whom !ab«^r ^yc -H^i^'ice :< -awpi iv claimed in anv one
iyi t:;e on^ina. Star.*?. <i.\*:h. r*i:rr:ve mav be lawfullv re-
ciaimoil an' I o-.Mivev«:d t.> the per^a olaimin? his or her
la^or or serv* -et^ j:* a:^ nf^saiii.^
S<ich are rLe bctit.'d':en: pn.^vi:sioiis of this remarkable
purer, ut.tler wiiicLi Srates h;ive grown to be great and
thoir inLao::arr> r'.^re r iosr^rn.^'i-s and happy than the
world has ever Ivr >rv >eea — t 'visions ** unalterable and
invlestracdb^e exce : Iv tha: ti^^a and cvxumon ruin which
to
has overtaken al f;r?!ier sy<t^nLS ot human polity."*
Ttioc?e re!ariu^ t > v:ou:rav:ts. r > the treatment of Indians, and
to slavery, are ori^iriual. wLiie tue others are dratted ciru*fly
tV>[ii tiio Vlr^rTu Bill ot U:^i;ts» and the ctmstitutions
f.'nueti r^r Perir.svlvui.ia, Marviarsd. and Georgia in 1776-7.
B :;t the whole are ^raoe:\i ly wo.ded.and admirably adapted
for rhe parp^'sos ot frve i^>vertimenr. It was fortunate
that thio^v^rciu was to be established first in a new cnun-
try. where there were no olv>tri;etive customs and privileges
to l>e lenu ve^i lK>f're i:s Ivnetits c^uld Iv fnllv realized.
It is true there were iinrniirrants who bron»;ht with tl em
opii.i'Mis in contiivt with the priiiciples of the Ordinance,
ari«l inc'^n>i«.iorate!v soaijht their miHliticati«m, in vain.*
' ^ f jj ' '^ Pre. r M :r S< ••', p 17
''Iii!^ refrr- t«> :mini::rants fr»iu S^nithern States uho located in
S'^.i-r. rri I.'.di.iiia :i:.<l Uliii.Ms. I h»' Frouoii rfTii^lenis at St. Vincents,
;>'. i >• K..-k i-k::» ;iii«i ( aliokia. )ia«i bi-t'ii j>»TniiittHl to hohl slaves by
» .<• V.'w t' "i France. aii«l this }>e!ni:^<i»n was coi'.iiniie*! uniler the Gov-
'f ..rij'fit 'if <Tr»at liriiain. HtMiC«'. when tht^ «^nlin'ince w,\s passed, in
1 7-7 -ilav^rv ♦•xi't»Ml at tlio plaofs nanunl. and it was not interfered
with iifi'l«r th<' territorial j:'«\ernnienis Some slaves were rem ove<l to
th" Loui-iana Territory, but others wt-re retained as indentured serv-
unt-* Immi^'rants favorable to -lavory. and the old inhabitants, united
in memorials to Cong^e^s. asking a suspension of the Sixth Article.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 121
There were others, however, with broader views onmnian-
ity and the ends of government, who, attracted by ihe
principles of civil and religious liberty incorporated in the
fundamental law, came by thousands, grateful for the op-
portunity to bo bound by its covenants.^
The first of ihese, signed by John Edgar and others, was reported on
May J 2. 17%, by Joshua Coit, of Connecticut, to whom it had been
referred, adversely. In December, 1802, a meeting of citizens of the
Indiana Territory, held at Vincennes, and presided over by William
Henry Harrison, resolved to make an effort to secure a suspension of
the Sixth Article of the Ordinance. A memorial wns drawn up, and in
February following, it and a letter from Mr. Harrison were referred to
a special committee, of which John Randolph, of Virginia, was Chair-
man. March 2, 18('2, Mr. Randolph reported the following resolution:
" JiesoJve'l, That it is inexpedient to suspend, for a limited time, the
operati<ni of the Sixth Article of Compact between the original States
and the people and States west of the river Ohio."
This resolution was accompanied by these wise remarks: "The
rapid population of the State of Ohio sufficiently evince, in the oi)in-
ion of your cojnmitt e, that the labor of slaves is not necessary to pro-
mote the growth and settlement of colonies in that region; that this
labor, demonstrably the dearest of any, can only be employed to
advantage in the cultivation of products more valuable than any
known to that quarter of the United States; that the con;mittee deem
it highly dangerous and inexpedient to impair a provision wisely cal-
culated to promote the happiness and prosperity of the north-western
country, and to give strength and security to that extensive frontier.
In the salutary operation of this sagacious and benevolent restraint,
it is believed that the inhabitants of Indiana will, at no distant day,
find ample remuneration for a temporary privation of labor and of
emigration."
In March, 1804, Ccesar Rodney, of Delaware — afterward Attorney-
General of the Unit«'d States — reported the resolution of a Special
Committee in favor of the suspension of the inhibition for ten years.
A similar report was made in 1800. by James Garnet, of Virginia; and
in IS07, Mr. Parke, delegiite from Indiana, reported favorably on a
memorial of William Henry Harrison and the Territorial Legislature,
praying for a su-^pension of the Sixth Article of the Ordinance. But
no action was ever taken by the House on these favorable reports.
Subsequently, General Harrison and his Legi>lature went before the
Senate, and a Special Committee, consisting of Mr. Franklin, of North
Carolina. Mr. Kitchell, of New Jersey, and !Mr. Tillin, of Ohio, was
appointed. They brought in an adverse report, and that put an end
to the efforts to destroy the anti-slavery clause of the Ordi.umce.
* **0n the whole, these articles contain what they profess to contain,
122 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
Not less interesting than the Ordinance itself is the qnes-
tion of authorship. Who possessed the s^ateniiniship to
draft it, and the political tact to secure its unanimous
adoption? Claims have heen put forth for different emi-
nent oitizens. Thomas II. Benton, Governor Edward
Coles, and others, attributed the authorsliip to JeffL'rsi>n ;
Mr. Webster, and a long list of writers, to Xatlian Dane,
of Massachusetts, while a son of Ruhjs King chiinied hiui
to be the originator of the anti-slavery article. New in-
terest lias been given to this discussion by recent contribu-
tions to the Historical 3Ltgazine^ and North American lie-
vieWy* ascribing the authorship of the most imjiortant arti-
cles, and the influence that secured its passas^e, to Dr.
Manasseh Cutler, of Massachui^etts. This claim, which is
biised on a single paragraph in the Diary of Dr. Cutler,
and the circumstances attending the making of a contract
for the sale of western lands to the Ohio Company, was
first brought to public notice by Hon. William P. Cutler,
a grandson of Dr. Cutler, in 186C.* Dr. Cutler, as agent
of the Ohio Company, in July, 1787, attended Congress for
t!ie {uirpose of purchasing a million and a half acres of
land in the Territory north-west of the river Ohio, provided
favorable conditions could be secured. This proi>osition of
the Ohio Company revived the scheme for the erection of a
government in that. Territory, whiih had been rei)eatedly
under discussion in Congress, beginning in 1784, when Mr.
Jefferson brought forward a comprehensive measure for the
division into States of the entire Western Territory.
tlic tnu^ theory of Am^'riciin lil>erly. The great principles promul-
gjitt'd are vvliolly ami purely American. Thoy are, indeed, the genuine
jiriiiciples of freedom, unadulterated by that compromise with cir-
cinnstanccs, the effects of which are visible in the Constitution and
li story of the Union." — C/tase's VriHm'>nar}i Sketch, p. IS.
Mr. Clrise refei-s to the slavery compromise, of course. He over-
lor)ke<l the fact that the Sixth Article is, after all, a compromise on
lh(* .-ul»ject of slavery similar to one in the Constitution.
' By Presid«'nt Ti.ttle, of Wabash Colloge, in 1873.
- By William Frede/ick Poole, in ISTO.
^()^^ <-ccasion of u Pioneer Celebration at Marietta. Tie claimed for
Pr <'ntbM*an e<jual participation with Mr. Dane in the formation of
the Ordinance.
i(/b and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 123
Maryland, and Mr. Howell, of Rhode Island, had reported
an ordinance for the temporary government of tlie Terri-
tory North and South of tlie river Ohio, out of which ten
a
States were to be formed. Its notable features were articles
of " compact" between the original States and the Terri-
tories, and the following : " That, after the year 1800 of the
Christian era, there shall be neither slavery nor involun-
tary servitude in any of the said States, otherwise than in
the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been
duly convicted to have been personally guilty." Subse-
quently, on motion of Mr. Spaight, of North Carolina, this
clause was stricken out, only six States voting for it,^ and,
on the 23d April, 1784, the ordinance was passed as
amended. It was a dead letter.^ Mr. Jefferson, having
been appointed Minister to France, retired from Congress.
One year later, Timothy Pickering, of Massachusetts, be-
sought liufus King to make another effort to secure an or-
dinance prohibiting slavery in the Territories. Accord-
ingly, on the \Q\\\ March, 1785, Mr. King moved that the
following resolution be committid:
^^Itesolvedy That there shall be neither slavery nor invol-
untary servitude in any of the States described in the re-
solve of Congress of the 23d April, 1784, otherwise than in
the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been
l»ei*sonally guilty; and that this regulation shall be an arti-
cle t)f compact, and remain a fundamental principle of the
Constitution between the thirteen original States and each
of the States described in the said resolve of the 23d of
April, 1784."
The resolution went to the Committee of the Whole, but
was never afterwards called up.'
In 1786, other committees were appointed for the purpose
of reporting an ordinance for the Western Territory.* The
^ The votes of seven States were required to pass any measure.
'The lands had not been surveyed nor Indian titles quieted.
* Forces History of the Ordinance, Vol. II., Ai)peiidix I : Eight States
voted to commit, and three (Virginia, North Carolina, and South
Carolina) voted in the negative.
*This year, a memorial was received from the inhabitants of Knskas-
124 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
last consisted of Mr. Johnson, of Connecticut; Mr. Pinek-
ney, of South Carolina; Mr. Smith, of New York; Mr.
Dune, of iMassachusetta, and Mr. Ilenrv, of Marvhmd.
They linally reported an ordinance April 26, 1787. The
third reading was reached on the 10th May, but no vote
was taken, and final action was postponed. The oriirinal.
draft of this ordinance was found and conmuinicated by
Mr. PetiT Force to the National Intellif/fncer, August 26,
1847, and it contains little in common with the instrument
that was finally paj^scd on the 13th of July.^ There was
nothing of the gr;:nd principles of freedom, of non-inter-
ference in coutrac s, of protection of private property, of
the importance of education, religion, and morality to so-
ciety, which are the distiniruishinsr features of the Ordinance
we are considerinj?. It did not contnin the articles of com-
pact, which were to remain unaltered forever, unless by
common consent.^
This was the situation of affairs when Dr. Cutler arrived
at N<*w York, on the 5th of July, to make that bargain
with Congress for land on the Ohio. He was a man of
affairs, in the prime of life, and highly educated. He had
been a Chaplain in the Hevolutionary army, and, in com-
mnn with other officers who had been paid off in Govern-
ment certificates, was in such circumstances as to be con-
strained to exchaui^e these evidences of indebtedness for
somethinjj immediatelv marketable. The Ohio Company
had been formed for that purpose. Dr. Cutler was a grad-
kiii, praying for tlio organization of a territorial govornment. On the
24th of August, tho S^crotary of Congress was dir^'cled to inform the
meniorialists that " Congn-ss have under consideration a plan of tempo-
rary government of that district, and that its a(h^ption would be no
longer protraote<l than tlie iinportauce of the subject and a duo re-
gard to their interests might require." — JonniiiU of Congress.
* Mr. Poclesavs: "It had no rfsemManee to the Ordinance which
passed nil tin* l.ith Julv." Thi"* languag<» imjdies that there was noth-
ing in rMiniiion. lint tlie ])n)vi>i<»ns for temp<^rary government; the
app<'intnn'nt of oflicrrs; the lormation ^)f « legislature ; the adoption
of laws; the (|ualifieations of electors, and tlie hi'iiefits of the act of
hal'ia-y Corpus, and of trial by jury, are very similar.
'^ Force. See -\ppendix 1., Vol. II., ►St. (.'lair rai)ers.
Life and Public Services of Arthur i7. Clair. 125
ua*e of Yale College, was clistingnished as a scientist and
author, and had been honored with the degrees of A. M.,
by Harvard, and LL, D., by Yale. He served four yeai's
as a member of Congress, and is described as a '* person of
stately and elegant form and courtly manners, and, at the
same time, easy, aftable, and communicative, lie was much
given to relating anecdotes, and making himself agreeable."
He was armed with letters Qt* introduction, especially to
Southern members, and soon was on intimate terms with
the Virginia members — Richard Henry Lee, Colonel Car-
rington, and Mr. Grayson.
Four days after his arrival, a new committee, consisting
of Mr. Carrington and Mr. Lee, of Virginia; Mr. Dane, of
Massachusetts; Mr. Kean, <»f South Carolina, and Mr.
Smith, of New York, was ai>p()inted to consider an ordi-
nance for the Western Territory. That was on the 9th of
July. A new ordinance, the Ordinance of 1787, was drafted,
introduced, read, amended, and passed, all within four
days. The vote by States was unanimous, but one mem-
ber, Mr. Yates, of New York, voted in the negative, be-
cause it was constitutional with him to oppose every thing
of a practical character.
Very properly the question is asked : What was the in-
fluence that produced the radical change in Congress, and
secured the approval of such liberal princip-es? Undoubt-
edly, Dr. Cutler organized the victory. The treasury was
exhausted, and Congress was in a humor to consider plans
for bringing the Government binds into market. Princi-
ples had been discussed, and it was possible to reconcile
conflicting views. The time was ripe for action, and Dr.
Cutler understood the situation. His first move after mak-
ing the acquaintance of members, would be to secure a
committee favorable to his plans.* He could do this only
through* the President. Accordingly, he went to General
* Colonel Carrington, a personal friend of St. Clair's, who had been
associated with him during the Revolutionary War, as a member of a
Committee to negotiate a Cartel; and, secondly, in the movement of
troops through Virginia to reinforce Greene, was made Chairman of
the Committee.
V
12G Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
St. Clair, where it is reported he had a cool reception. And
here I must take issue with Mr. Poole as to the reason for
this, as that given hy him is not consistent with the char-
acter of St. Clair. Ilesavs: "He found that General St.
Clair wanted to be Governor of the North-western Terri-
tory; and Dr. Cutler, representing the interests of the Ohio
Company, intended that General Parsons of Connecticut
should have the office. But he must have General St.
Clair's influence, and found it necessary to pay the price.
From the moment he communicated this decision, General
V St. Clair was warmly engaged in his interests."
This is suspicion merely. The universal testimony of
all who knew St. Clair disproves the justice of it. lie was
frank and manly, and free from any of the cunning or
worldliness the statement of Dr. Cutler would imply. It is
much more likely that Dr. Cutler approached him first to
enlist him in his land scheme, and was balked by the cau-
tion ai)d circumspection of the Scotchman; but M'hen he
spoke of the blessings of a free government over such a
vast extent of territory, he engaged his sympathetic aid.
The committee was made to win, and the influence of the
President of Congress in shaping legislation, we know
from experience and observation, must have been great,
and was essential to secure success.
There is a misapprehension of facts here, which has
given rise to perplexing and altogether unnecessary confu-
sion, which a more careful inquiry may correct. The anxi-
ety of Dr. Cutler will be found to have a more particular
reference to another ordinance which, in a sense, was a se-
quel to, and dependent wholly upon, the Ordinance formed
f(U' the government of the Xorth-western Territory. The
two are essentially f»art8 of the same history. They have,
in their origin such close relationship, that they must be
considered as inseparable. Without the application of the
Ohio Company in that summer of 1787, supported by a
declaration of the principles of government deemed essen-
tial to attract purchasers of the lands, it is doubtful if a
form of government so highly favorable in all respects
could have been secured in that or any succeeding Congress.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Chir. 127
The necessities of the Colonies, the enterprise of the men
of the East, and the political convictions of leading char-
actei'S, all combined to form and give effect to the Ordin-
ance. A year or two later the conditions changed. Party
differences became more sharply defined-, and sectional jeal-
ousies proved more obstructive than ever.
Who should be the head of the new crovernment, did not
enter into consideration at any stage of the Icirislation.
Before the passage of the Ordinance, the name of President
St. Clair had not been mentioned in connection with the
office of Governor. On the 13th of July he did not preside.
He had gone the day before to New Jersey to visit a friend,
and he did not return until two days after the passage of
the Ordinance. Only eight States out <»f thirteen voted for
that instrument: Pennsylvania was one of the five not
represented. When St. Clair returned to New York, he
was accompanied by General Irvine, one of his colleagues.
In a letter* of the latter, written 19th July, and addressed
to Colonel Richard Butler, he refers to the Ordinance which
had passed two days before his return, and adds : *' Who the
officers of that governmevt icill be I have not heard, nor in-
quired.^^ If the name of General St. Clair had been can-
vassed, or, if he had had any understanding with the New
England people, as is alleged, it would have been known to
a friend as intimate as General Irvine.
But, furthermore, we have his own testimony, which is
of the best, to sustain us. In a letter to the lion. William
B. Giles, he says that the office of Governor was, in a great
measure, forced upon him by his friends, who thought
there would be in it means to compensate for his sacrifices
to his country, and provide for his large family. But it
proved otherwise. He had *' neither the taste nor genius
for speculation in land; nor did he consider it consistent
with the office." He declared the accepting of the Gov-
ernorship the most imprudent act of his life, for he was
then in possession of a lucrative office, and his influence at
home was very considerable. But he had the "laudable
ambition of becoming the father of a countr\-, and laying
^ MS. in possession of Isaac Craig. Seep. 604.
128 JAfe and rublic Services of Arthur St. Clair.
tlie foundation for the happiness of millions then unborn/'*
All this, however, was months after the Ordinance had be-
come an accomplished fact, and Dr. Cutler had returned to
his home.
Colonel Carrington was Chairman of the Special Com-
mittee that reported the Ordinance for the government of
the North-western Tcrritorv, and also of the Committee on
Lands.* Mr. Dane was a member of both Committees. A
sharp opposition to the terms proposed by the Ohio Com-
pany for tlje lands, developed after Dr. Cutler's return from
Philadelphia. Some members thought Congress was asked
to make too important concessions and too large donations
for special purposes, in order to secure the sale of the rest
of the hmds. This view is expressed in tho letter of Gen-
eral Irvine before referred to. While he had no objection
to the mode of sale proposed, ns it would sink the National
debt, yet, he added : *' I confess to you, I am opposed to
n pre-emption to any company or set of men, I think, on
sound principles; and I hope to j>rovent this passing with
that tail, however beneficial the body might be without. I
have no idea in making a sale, to bribe a person to get him
to take my commodity with another article of equal or more
value.''
Dr. Cutler set about the work of overcoming the objec-
tions to Ills scheme. lie brought all available influences
known to politicians to bear on those w^ho stood out. Col-
onel Duer, Secretarj'' of the Board of Treasury, devised a
new Qchcme, which would secure tho support of prominent
men, and would bring into market three and a half mil-
lions more of land. The original proposition was enlarged,
and Dr. Cutler savs he eiii'ai'cd with the Southern mem-
hers to bring in the New England members to the support
of General St. Clair* for Governor, if they would make
» Letter to WiUiam B. (iilt>s, *SV. Clair's Karratne, p. *J49.
'^ riio Cominittoe on Lands consisted of Mr. Carrington, Mr. King,
Mr. Pano, Mr. Ma<lison, and Mr. Benson.
^Tho reforencf»3 in Dr. Cutler's Diary to St. Clair, in connection with
legi.-slation for the Ohio Company, are as follows :
" .luly IS. Paid my respects, this morning, to tho President of Con-
gres«i, General St. Clair."
" July 23. . . . Spent the evening with Colonel Grayson and
Life and Public Scr rices of Arthur St. Clair. 129
Major Sargent Secretary, and General Parsons one of the
Judges. But why this to the Southern members when they
were in favor of the contract from the first? This was on
the 23d of July, ten days after the Ordinance had passed,
and members were just beginning to cast about for officers
for tlje new government. The first measure passed by Con-
gress, 23d July, was not satisfactory, and Dr. Cutler sent a
letter to the Board of Treasury explaining wherein it would
have to bo modified. To bring Congress to terms, he
threatened to leave New York and buv lands for his com-
pany of some of the States. This had the desired effect,
and, on the 27th, Congress completed the contract by ac-
cepting the modifications proposed by the wily Doctor.
"At half-past three, I was informed that an ordinance had
.Mt
members of Congress from the southward, who were in favor of a con-
tract. Having found it impossible to support General Parsons as a
candidate for Governor, after the interest that General St. Clair had
secured, and suspcctlrtg this might be some impediment in the way, for
my endeavors to make interest for him were well known, and the ar-
rangement of civil officers being on the carpet, I embraced this oppor-
tunity frankly to declare that, for my own part, I ventured to engage
for Major Sargent that, if General Parsons could have the appointment
of First Judge, and Sargent Secretary, we should be satisfied; and that
I heartily wished his Excellency, General St. Clair, might be the Gov-
ernor; and that I would solicit the Eastern members to favor such an
arrangement. This I found rather pleasing to the Southern mem-
bers, and they were so complaisant as to ask, repeatedly, what office
would be agreeable to me in the Western country. I assured them
that I wished for no appointment in the civil line.
**July 26. This morning I accompatiied Generals St. Clair and
Knox on a tour of morning visits* and, particularly, to the Foreign
Ministers .. . . Being now eleven o'clock. General St. Clair was
obliged to attend Congress. After we came into the street, General
St. Clair assured me, he would make every possible exertion to prevail
with Congress, to accept the terms contained in our letter. He ap-
peared much interested and very friendly ; but said we must expect
opposition. I was now fully convinced that it was good policy to give
up Parsons, and openly to appear solicitous that St. Clair might be
appointed Governor. Several gentlemen have told me that our mat-
ters went on much better since St. Clair and his friends had been in-
formed that we had given up Parsons, and that I had solicited the
Eastern members, in favor of his appointment."
9
130 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
passed Congress, on the terms stated in our letter, without
the least variation ; and that the Board of Treasury was
directed to take, order, and close the contract. . . . By
this ordinance, we obtained the grant of near five millions
of acres of land, amounting to three millions and a half of
dollars. One million and a half of acres for the Ohio Com-
pany, and the remainder for a private speculation,* in which
many of the principal characters in America are concerned.
Without connecting this speculation, similar terms and ad-
vantages could not have been obtained for the Ohio Com-
pany.''
We have Dr. Cutler and General St. Clair laboring to-
gether for the creation of a government for the North-west-
ern Territory, and both afterwards related to it, though in
manner widely difterent — the one sharing in its benefits,
the other in tiie labors of administration in a vast wilder-
ness beset by such difficulties and perils as were calculated
to test the stoutest heart — that could only be met success-
fully by the highest qualities of character, and these St.
Clair possessed.
Mr. Poole says there have been traditions and positive
evidence, in the form of autograph letters in the family of
Dr. Cutler, since his death, that he caused the insertion in
the Ordinance of the following clause : " Religion, morality,
and knowledge being necessary to good government and
the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of edu-
cation shall forever be encouraged." And he contended
stoutly and successfully for the grant of land for the uni-
versities and ministry. These provisions were essential
to the success of the scheme of the Ohio Company. Dr.
Cutler's diary is not explicit on the different points.* He may
^ The ''principal characters in America" failed to complete this part
of the contract.
* Dr. Cutler says, that the bill for the government of the North-
western Territory was submitted to him, *' with leave to make remarks
and propose amendments," and that he returned it with his observa-
tions in the form of several amendments. This bill was undoubtedly
the one proposed by Mr. Dane, and which was retired May 10th, as we
find this entry in Dr. Cutler's Diary under date, July 19. "Called on
members of Congress very early this morning. Was furnished with
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 131
have suggested the clause on contracts, as that had been in
his **line of thought," but that as to the treatment of the
Indians was more likely to have originated with some one
who had experience in treating with them, and there was
no member who had had po much experience, or who had
studied the questions so thoroughly as the President of
Congress.
The anti-slavery clause has provoked the widest discus-
sion, as it touched what has proved to be the sensitive nerve
of national politics, and determined immediately the char-
acter of the communities to be organized in the Territory.
Who was the author of the Sixth Article ? Dr. Cutler is
understood to have said that he drafted it when in New
York;* but he was in Philadelphia, discussing the flora
of New England, or moral philosophy, with the venerable
Dr. Franklin, when that article was drafted. Mr. Dane
says: "When I drew the ordinance, which passed, a few
words excepted, as I originally formed it,* I had no idea
the States would agree to the Sixth Article, prohibiting
slavery, as only Massachusetts of the Eastern States was
present, and therefore omitted it in the draft; but, finding
the House favorably disposed on the subject, after we had
completed the other parts, I moved the article, which was
the Ordinance establishing n Government in the Western Federal Ter-
ritory. It is, in a degree, new moJcLd. The amendments I proposed
have all been made, except one; and that is better qualified. It was
that we should not be subject to Continental taxation, until we were
entitled to a full representation in Congress. This could not be fully
obtained, for it was considered, in Congress, as offering a premium to
emigrants. They have granted us representation, with the right of
debating, but not of voting, upon our being first subject to taxation."
* Judge Ephraim Cutler, who had incorporated in the Constitution
of Ohio, the clause inhibiting slavery, stated in a private letter (No-
vember 24, 1849) that his father. Dr. Cutler, remarked to him, on being
informed of this, that " he thought it a singular coincidence, as he
himself had prepared that part of the Ordinance, while he was in New
York, negotiating the purchase of lands for the Ohio Company." —
Poole, in North American Review^ as before quoted.
'We have shown that the Ordinance, drafted by Mr. Dane, and aft-
erward discovered by Mr. Peter Force, bore slight resemblance to the
Ordinance as passed July 13. Dr. Cutler says it was new modeled.
132 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
agreed to witliout opposition." It is of record that Mr.
Dane offered an amendment, which became the Sixth Ar-
ticle, on the 12th of July, when the bill was up for a sec-
ond reading. . But did he draft it with the proviso? Was
he, in any proper sense, the author of it? I think not,
nor of any of those original and striking provisions which
mark the Ordinance as " one of the greatest monuments'
of civil jurisprudence." In the first place, we have seen
that the Ordinance which Mr. Dane did draft, and which
was left untouched after the 10th of May, contained no
hint that he had ever even dreamed of such principles of
government. In the second place, the style of the Ordi-
nance of July 13th is the surest refutation of Mr. Dane's
claim of authorship. It bears no resemblance to his com-
position. Nor does Mr. Dane, in his letter to Mr. King,
which is given at length in Spencer's History of the United
States, show that he had an intelligent conception of the
real nature and importance of the Ordinance; and no-
where does he attempt to explain why the committee that
had his ordinance in charge May 10th was discharged, a
new committee appointed, and a new Ordinance, of widely
different character, drafted and rushed through, all within
four days. We shall have to look further.
The explanation will be found, I think, in the prevalence
of anti-slavery sentiment among the prominent statesmen
of Virginia, at that period. It was not until after 1808,
the date of the suppression of the slave trade, when Vir-
ginia assumed a new relation to the cotton States, that this
sentimeiit became unfashionable in the Old Dominion. In
1784-1787, the echo of the Declaration of Independence
had not yet died away. Jefferson believed slavery to be an
evil, and drafted an article prohibiting it in all territory
after 1800. This future limitation was undoubtedly put in
as an inducement to South Carolina and Georgia to sup-
port the Ordinance. The same policy was pursued in 1787,
when the proviso for the rendition of fugitive slaves was
added to the Sixth Article. And this proviso aids us in
determining the influence that secured the adoption of the
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 133
anti-slavery clause. It clearly emanated from Virginia.^
On the committee were Richard Henry Lee and Colonel
Carrington, of that State, the latter of whom was chairman
of the committee. Before them were the resolution offered
by Mr. King in 1786, for which their colleague, Mr. Gray-
son, had voted, and the report of Mr. Jefl'erson in 1784.
They were familiar with, and doubtless shared in, the opin-
ion as to slavery prevailing in their own State — that, while
the institution ought to be destroyed, it would be danger-
ous and inconvenient to make any sudden change in prop-
erty rights. Hence the clause for the recovery of fugitives.
In support of this the reader is referred to the debates in
the Virginia Convention on the adoption of the Federal
Constitution in 1788, and particularly to the remarks of
Mason, Tyler, Madison, Nichols, and Henry, on pages 452
to 458 inclusive, of Elliott's Debates; and also to the re-
marks of Mr. Sherman on the rendition clause when under
consideration in the Federal Constitutional Convention,
in 1787.
Not only does the Sixth article contain language similar*
^ In making this statement, I do not forget the influence of Massa-
chusetts men in creating a sentiment in favor of the prohibition of
slavery. Timothy Pickering, in 1786 devised a plan for the forma-
tion of a new State west of the Ohio river — " the total exclusion of
slavery from the State to form an essential and irrevocable part of the
Constitution/' ^ And we have seen how he moved Rufus King to offer
a resolution proposing a compact inhibiting slavery from the Western
Territory. But, after all, we are compelled to retrace our steps to Mr.
Jefferson's article, proposed in 1 784.
•Compare the Jefferson article with that of the Ordinance as finally
adopted :
Jefferson's Article, 178U. I Ordinance of 1787— Sixth Article.
" That after the year 1800, of the Christ- " There shall he neither slavery nor invol-
Ian era, there shall be neither slavery nor tn-iuntar// serxntude in the said territory, other-
voturUary servitude in any 0/ the said :^tntes,\wise than in punishment 0/ crimes whereof
otherwise than in the vunishment 0/ crimen, the party shall have been duly convicted ;
vfhereof the party shatl have been duly con- Provided, alwti^s, that any person escap-
vieted to have been personally guilty." ing into the same from whom labor or ser-
' vice is lawfully claimed etc. etc."
And yet, with these two articles before him, Mr. Howard Gay, in re-
futing the claim of authorship of the anti-slavery article set up for Mr.
Jefferson, says: "Nor was there any essential similarity in the two or-
dinances." Then as the language is identical in the essential part of
this most important article, what constitutes authorship?
(1) Howard Gay's " Bryant's Popular History United States," Vol. IV., p. »5.
134 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
to that employed by Mr. Jefferson in 1784, but the proviso
is the same in effect as the clause in Article IV. of the Con-
stitution. Both the proviso and the rendition clause avoid the
use of the word slave. And on the very day the Ordinance
was passed the Federal Convention perfected that clause of
the Constitution relative to representation and direct taxa-
tion, which adds " three-fifths of all other persons " — to-
wit: slaves.
Is this to be attributed to accident? Does it not show
clearly that these important clauses were decided on after
conference between members of the Constitutional Conven-
tion and Congress, as related by Mr. Madison to Governor
Coles,* and should be regarded as compromises? In case of
the Constitution, if the slave trade were to be prohibited
and slaves taxed, escaping slaves should be delivered up to
their owners. In that of the Ordinance, if slavery were
prohibited in the North-western Territory, masters should
be allowed to reclaim their slaves.
There is one other point to consider in support of this
view of the supremacy of Virginia influence, and that is,
that Colonel Carrington, in presenting the amendments,
*"Thi8 brings to my recollection what I was told by Mr. Madison
The old Congress held its sessions, in 1787 in New York,
while at the same time the Convention which framed the Constitution
of the United States held its sessions in Philadelphia. Many individ-
uals were members of both bodies, and thus were enabled to know
what was passing in each — both sitting with closed doors and in secret
sessions. The distracting question of slavery was agitating and retard-
ing the labors of both, and led to conferences and inter-communications
of the members, which resulted in a compromise by which the North-
ern or anti-slavery portion of the country agreed to incorporate into
the Ordinance and Constitution the provision to restore fugitive slaves;
and this mutual and concurrent action was the cause of the similarity
of the provision contained in both, and had its influence in creating
the great unanimity by which the Ordinance passed, and also in
making the Constitution more acceptable to the slave-holders." The
History of the Ordinance of lib! , p. 28,
It may be urged, on the other hand, that as the Constitution was
formed after the Ordinance, the clause in the Constitution relating to
the rendition of slaves, as well as other provisions, was copied from the
Ordinance. But the testimony of Mr. Madison as to the conference
should be accepted as conclusive on that ] oiit.
Lift arid Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 135
which were adopted on the 12th, inserted a clause in the
second paragraph to confirm the reservation made for the
French and Canadian inhabitants at St. Vincents and Kas-
kaskia in the deed of cession of Virginia. This was a mat-
ter on which the Virginians laid much stress. Other amend-
ments proposed by Mr. Carrington related to the descent of
property and the dependence of good government upon the
diffusion of knowledge. Hence, Mr. Force remarked in his
communication, to which I have referred, that it would ap-
pear "that most of the principles * on which its wisdom and
fame rest,' were presented by Mr. Carrington." This does
not conflict with the theory above considered at length;
it enforces it, rather. The conferences between Colonel
Carrington and Dr. Cutler were useful in harmonizing the
views of the South and New England. Surely there was
not one, but many authors.^
To complete the work so auspiciously begun, and to
carry out the provisions of this Ordinance, on Friday, the 5th
of October, 1787, Congress proceeded to elect oflicers for
the new Government. Arthur St. Clair was chosen Gov-
ernor; James M. Varnum, Samuel Holden Parsons, and
John Armstrong, Judges; and Winthrop Sargent, Secre-
tary. Mr. Armstrong declining, John Cleves Symmes was
afterwards appointed to the vacancy.
There was, as yet, no Congressional legislation for carry-
ing into effect the Ordinance, and General St. Clair im-
proved the earliest opportunity after the assembling of the
first Congress under the Federal Constitution, to secure the
necessary action. In July, 1789, Mr. Fitzsimmons, of Penn-
sylvania, reported in the House of Representatives a bill,
which had been drafted by St. Clair, for the government
of the North-western Territory, which passed the House
and the Senate without opposition. This act gave the sanc-
tion of the National legislature to all of the important pro-
* For a full statement of Mr. Dane's claim the reader is referred to
Spencers History of the United States Vol. II., pp. 206-7-8. Mr. Gay, on
p. 110, Vol. IV. of his " Bryants History of the United States" says that a
printed copy of the Ordinance, with the articles in question in Mr.
Dane's handwriting, was found among the archives of the United
SUteB.
136 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
visions of the Ordinance, including the compact for the in-
hibition of slavery, which was a formal assertion of the
right of the National legislature to regulate that institution
in the Territories.
Meanwhile, the Ohio Company had been preparing the
way for a governmcmt by making a settlement on lands
at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers, pur-
chased through the agency of Dr. Manasseh Cutler.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 137
CHAPTER VI.
The North-western Territory^— Arrival op Governor St. Clair at Fort
IIarmar — Interesting Ceremonies — Address to the Settlers at Ca\i-
pus Martius — AusiMcioLs Bkoixnino of the Work of Establishixj;
Civil Government — Claim of the Indians to the Territory, and its
Importance to Them — Adoitinq Laws — Difference with the Judges
— Establishment of the First Court in the North-west — Social
Life on the Muskingum — Louisa St. Clair — Treaty at Fort IIar-
mar— Influence of Joseph Brant and his British Allies — Confed-
eracy OP Indian Nations— Arrival at Fort Washington — Cincinnati
Named, and why — Organization of Counties and Local Governments
IN THE Illinois and Wabash Countries — Temptation to Return to
Political Life in Pennsylvania — Proposition to Make St. Clair
Governor op that State.
The opening chapter in the history of the North- west
begins with the recital of the indomitable perseverance and
heroic bravery displayed by the discoverer — John Nicolet,
An investigation of the career of this Frenchman shows
him, at an early age, leaving his home in Normandy for
the New 'W'orld, landing at Quebec in 1618, and at once
seeking a residence among the Algonquins of Ottawa river,
sent thither by the Governor of Canada to learn their lan-
guage. In the midst of many hardships, and surrounded
by perils, he applied himself with great zeal to his task.
Having become familiar with the Algonquin tongue, he
was admitted into the councils of the savages.^
The return of Nicolet to civilization, after a number of
years immured in the dark forests of Canada, an excellent
interpreter, qualified him to act as Government agent among
the wild Western tribes in promoting peace, to the end
that all who had been visited by the fur-trader might re-
* Nicolet has at last found an American biographer competpnt to do
him justice, in Mr. C. W. Butterfield, the accomplished author of
"Crawford's Campaign against Sandusky," ** The Washington-Crawford
Letters," and other valuable contributions to Western History. Mr.
Butterfield h«s just published, "The History of the Discovery of the
Northwest by .John Nicolot, in 1634, with a Sketch of IJis Lile "
188 lAfe and Public Services of Arthur &. Clair.
main firm allies of the French. Nay, further : it resulted
in his being dispatched to nations far beyond the Ottawa,
known only by hearsay, with whom it was believed might
be opened a profitable trade in furs. So lie started on his
perilous voyage. He visited the Hurons, upon the Georgian
Bay. With seven of that nation, he struck boldly into
wilds to tlie northward and westward never before visited
by civilized man. He paddled his birch canoe along the
eastern coast of Lake Huron and up the St. Mary's Strait
to the falls. He floated back to the Straits of Mackinaw,
and courageously turned his face toward the West. At the
Sault Ste. Marie he had — the first of white men — set foot
upon the soil of the North-west.
Nicolet coasted along the northern shore of Lake Michi-
gan, ascended Green Bay, and finally entered the mouth
of Fox river. It was not until he and his swarthy Hurons
had urged their frail canoes six days up that stream, that
his western exploration was ended. He had, meanwhile,
on his way hither, visited a number of tribes, some that
had never before been heard of by the French upon the St.
Lawrence. With them all he smoked the pipe of peace:
with the ancestors of the present Chippewas, at the falls ;
with the Menomonees, the Winnebagoes, the Mascoutins,
in what is now the State of Wisconsin; with the Ottawas,
upon the Manitoulin Islands, and the Xez Perces, upon the
east coast of Lake Huron. He made his outward voyage
in the summer and fall of 1634, and returned the next year
to the St. Lawrence. He did not reach the Wisconsin
river, but heard of a " great water " to the westward, which
he mistook f )r the sea. It was, in fact, that stream, and
the Mississippi, into which it pours its flood.
On the morning of Wednesday, July 9th, 1788, there was
unwonted activity in the garrison at Fort Ilarmar. The
dav was to be a memorable one, and care was taken that
nothing should bo omitted that could possiblj- add to the
inipressivencss of the occasion. The soldiers' muskets had
been freshly burnished, and the officers wore their newest
uniforms. At an early hour the distinguishcMl citizens dwell-
ing in and around Campus MartiuSy having donned their
JLiJe and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 139
'best attire, waited on the commandant, to be assigned their
proper places.^ Old soldiers — brothers of the Revolution-
were to meet again, and unite in the establishment of the
principles for which they contended on the martial field,
in a vast new country. The day, like the common expec-
tation, was bright and beautiful, and the waters of the
Muskingum and Ohio, as they united and flowed peacefully
towards the western confines of the new land, seemed to
refiect the outlines of the hills and wooded shores more
perfectly than ever before.'
And now the signal gun is heard announcing the ap-
proach of the hero. General Harmar, with officers and
citizens, proceed to the landing, where they welcome Gover-
nor Arthur St. Clair, as he, accompanied by Major Doughty,
of the artillery, steps from the twelve-oared barge upon the
shore. The military honors are not omitted by his old
companion-in-arms, and fourteen guns are discharged with
^ The settlement had heen in existence all of three moons. It was
on the 7th of April, 1788, (occasion ever to be remembered by the good
people of Ohio) that that noble Revolutionary soldier, General Rufus
Putnam, and forty-seven others of the hardy sons of New England,
disembarked from the " Mayflower," at the mouth of the Muskingum
river. Within th**se three months, forest trees had been felled, houses
built, a stockade erected, a city designed, lands laid off, seeds planted,
and grounds tilled — an exhibition of determination and intelligent
skill never excelled in the history of the world. Before the expiration
of the three months quite a number of families joined the settlement.
Hence the orator on the 4th of July could, with propriety, address his
fair countrywomen.
* How tame does this attempt to depict the scene, after a lepse of
nearly a century, appear beside the bright anticipations of one of the
participators in the event of that July day. On the 4th of July, 1788,
the garrison and the citizens of Marietta celebrated Independence,
and Judge Varnum was the orator. He said : " We mutually lament
that the absence of his Excellency will not permit us, upon this joyous
occasion, to make those grateful assurances of sincere attachments,
which bind us to him by the noblest motives that can animate an on-
lightened people. May he soon arrive. Thou gently flowing Ohio,
whpse surface, ^ conscious of thy unequaled majesty, reflecteth no
images but the grandeur of the impending heaven, boar him, oh, bear
him safely to this anxious spot! And thou beautiful, transparent
Muskingum, swell at the moment of his approach, and reflect no ob-
jects but of pleasure and delight!"
140 Life and Public Services of Arthur St Clair.
due precision at the Port, where he is to remain until the
formal opening of the civil government.^
Tuesday, July 15th, is red-letter day in the annals of the
North-western Territory, for it was on that day that civil
government was first established west of the river Ohio.
Governor St. Clair, attended by Judges Parsons and Var-
num, and Secretary Sargent, made his public entry at the
bower, in the City of Marietta, where he was received by
General Rufus Putnam, and all of the citizens, " with the
most sincere and unreserved congratulations."^
"His Excellency was seated, and after a short interval
of profound silence, arose and addressed himself to the
assembly in a concise but dignified speech." * He expressed
his great pleasure at meeting them upon so important an
occasion, and informed them that he had brought with
him a most excellent constitution for the government of
the Territory, to which he invited their attention. There-
upon Secretary Sargent read the Ordinance, and also the
commissions of the officers, after which the Governor
spoke at some length in a very happy manner on the im-
portance of good government; of his desire to administer
the trust confided to him in such manner as to merit their
approbation ; of the relations of the Territorial to the Gen-
eral Government; of the auspicious opening of the new
country, and of the necessity for the community to culti-
vate friendly relations with the savages. ** The present
situation of territory," he concluded, "calls for attention
in various places, and will necessarily induce a frequent
absence, both of the judges and myself, from this delight-
ful spot; but at all times and places, as it is my indispens-
able duty, so it is very much my desire to do every thing
within the compass of my power for the peace, good
order, and perfect establishment of the settlement; and as
* There wiU bo found included in the correspondence of this work
an affectionate letter from General Ilarmar to St. Clair, from Fort Har»
mar, Nov. 25, 1787, expressing his pleasure at hearing of his appoint
ment as Governor.
^ Contemporary account published at Newport, R. I.
" Ibid.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 141
I look for not only a cheerful acquiescence in and submis-
sion to necessary measures, but a cordial co-operation, so I
flatter myself my well-meant endeavors will be accepted in
the spirit in which they are rendered, and thus our satis-
faction will be mutual and complete." *
At the conclusion the Governor was very heartily ap-
plauded,^ and on the following day he was presented, in the
name of the people, with a highly complimentary answer.
♦ This was the happy beginning of five large States, which
have controlled to a greater degree than any other section
the destinies of the Republic, and by the virtues of their
citizens, the wisdom of their laws, and their faithful observ-
ance of the compact which says " they shall forever remain
a part" of the Union, have vindicated the wisdom of the
old Continental Congress in creating the Ordinance of 1787.
If the skies were bright above the favored spot chosen by
the land company of Massachusetts, there was a cloud in
the West of ominous blackness. Trace a line from South-
eastern Ohio diagonally to Lake Superior, and you pass
over what was then a wilderness, wooded hills, in the bowels
of which was untold wealth, plains with prairie grass so
tall as to cover a horse, and a soil unsurpassed by any in
> St. aair Papers. Vol. II. p. 63.
' " During the address of Ilis Excellency, a profcTund veneration fop
the elevated station and exalted benevolence of the speaker; the
magnitude of the subject; the high importance of the occasion; the
immense consequences resulting; the glory, the grandeur of a new
world unfolding; heaven and earth approving, called forth all the
manly emotions of the heart. At the close, peals of applause rent the
surrounding air^ while joyful echo reverberated the sound. Every
citizen felt to the extent of humanity, and affection herself impressed
upon the mind, in characters never to be obliterated: long live our
Governor!". — Contemporary Account. Pamphlet.
The same veracious and rhetorical chronicler as.sures us that every
attention was paid to the Governor. On the following Sunday, Divine
service was held by Rev. Dr. Breckj which was attended by every body.
The text was from Exodus: *' Now, thoreforo, if you will obey my
voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then yo shall be a peculiar
treasure unto me above all people; for all the earth is mine. And ye
shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." Governor
St. Clair expressed great satisfaction, especially with the singing. " In*
deed it was enchanting 1"
142 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
the world, rich river bottoms and virgin forests, uninhab-
ited save by Indians. To the eastward the British still
held the posts along the chain of lakes, and by pernicious
counsel increased the wrath in the breast of the red man.
Draw a similar line from the Upper Ohio to the Mississippi,
and save here and there a devoted Moravian missionary,
there was not a white inhabitant over whom the territorial
segis could be extended. At Au Post (Vincennes), Kas-
kaskia, and Cahokia were French inhabitants and military
posts which had been transferred to the British by the
peace of 1763, and afterwards conquered for Virginia and
the Continental Congress by the intrepid George Rogers
Clarke. At lesser points were a few adventurers, traders
chiefly, but every- where else, over a vast country, the Indian
was lord of all he surveyed. Here had been the home of
his fathers — he knew of no other; here his children had
acquired that confidence that comes of undisputed posses-
sion; food was found in the forests, on the prairies, in the
waters, or in the cultivated fields of the Scioto, the Mad
River, the Miami, the Auglaize, the Wabash, or the Illi-
nois; there was such abundance as could be found no
where else in the world. Should he yield this without a
struggle to the Long Knife — the intruder — and find his
grave in the waters of the Mississippi?
Won by the devotion and eloquence of the Jesuit Fathers,
the Indians had permitted the French to erect posts on the
lakes, on the rivers and in the interior without objection.
Nay, more, they welcomed the French because they brought
them arms, instructed them in useful arts, and received
their furs in barter. The British pursued pretty much the
same policy, but pushed the traffic for furs with more vigor.
ITeithcr the French nor the British ever put forth a claim
to the soil of the West,' or sought to do more than to con-
duct a profitable trade with the Indians from the posts. In
holding these posts despite the treaty of 1783, the British
hoped for new complications; such change in the favors of
* The British required the Indians to deed to them the land on which
the forts were erected and adjacent to them ; but put forth no cUim
to the lands in general.
Life, and Puilie Services of Arthur St. Clair. 143
fortune as would preserve to them the profitable fur trade
of the West. Hence the commanders of the posts con-
tinued on friendly terms with the Indians, and encouraged
them in the opinion that white settlements west of the
Ohio threatened the extermination of the red people.
The young men of the Indian tribes conducted a predatory
warfare against the intruders, as they regarded the whites.
All along the borders, the venturesome pioneers were either
killed or driven away, those surviving only remembering
the momentary gleam of the tomahawk or scalping-knife,
from beneath some leafy covert, as the first or only notice
of the avenging foe. The red-men, while denying the right
of the Six Nations to cede their lands to Congress west of
Pennsylvania, and that they were bound as a whole by the
action of a few chiefs at Fort Mcintosh, in 1785, and Fort
Finney, in 1786, yet sought a partial justification for their
bloody deeds in that clause of the several treaties, which
declared that any citizen of the United States who ob-
truded on the Indian reservations, should forfeit the
protection of the United States, and be liable to punish-
ment by the Indians. There was a partial suspension of
these depredations in the first half of the year 1788, and
the friendly attitude of the Indians who came to Fort
Harmar led the inhabitants on the Muskingum to hope
that they would cease altogether. There was a determina-
tion to do nothing that would awaken the animosity of the
savages. We shall see that this hope was doomed to dis-
appointment, and that, after the confirmation of the hated
treaties the following year, the chiefs put no restraint upon
their warriors.
By the treaty of Fort Mcintosh, the Wyandot, Delaware,
and kindred nations, had acknowledged the sovereignty of
the United States as superceding that of Great Britain,
and had sold lands lying east, south, and west of a line
drawn from the mouth of the river Cuyahoga to the por-
tage between that and the Tuscarawas branch of the Mus-
kingum, and to the forks of Tuscarawas above Fort Law-
rence ; thence to Loramiesbn the Big Miami ; thence to the
Maumee, and thence, with the south-east line of that river,
144 Liife and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
to the lake. In the following year a treaty was concluded
with the Shawanese nation, at Fort Finney, by which
title was obtained to a section extending from the fork of
the Great Miami to the Wabash, on a line with the river
De la Panse.
Laws for the survey and sale of such of these lands as
were not reserved for the Virginia militia and Continental
troops were passed, and intruders warned off.* To pro-
tect the surveyors and carry out the orders of the Board
of Treasury, was the dutj- of Colonel Harmar's command
on the Ohio. The land was divided into townships, six
miles square, by lines running north and south, and inter-
sected by cast and west lines. These townships were again
sub-divided, each section containing a square mile, or six
hundred and forty acres. The ranges were numbered from
south to north, beginning on the Ohio river, and were dis-
tinguished by progressive numbers from east to west.
In addition to the general claims of the western Indian
tribes, above referred to, the situation was complicated by
the extraordinary claims of the Illinois and Wabash Land
Companies, and of the French settlers at Post Vincennes.
The latter, by virtue of Indian grants and court concessions,
claimed a territory of about fifteen thousand square miles f
while the Land Companies claimed even a greater extent
of territory. The French, on the Mississippi river, had not
yet had their titles confirmed, as provided for in the grant
made by Virginia to the United States. American adven-
turers had also taken possession of lands and formed a set-
tlement in the vicinity of the confluence of the Kaskaskia
and Mississippi, giving it the name of New Design.*
These various movements and claims excited the jealousy
^ See Land Laws of the United States for the North-western Terri-
tory. The missionary towns of Gnadenhiitten, Schoenbrun, and Sa-
lem, on the Muskingum, were given to the Moravian Indians surviv-
ing the massacre; and three townships, on Lake Erie, were reserved
for the use of refugees from Canada and Nova Scotia.
* Dillons Hist Indiana^ p. 183.
» Formed in 1782.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair, 145
of the ludiarjs, which was not allayed by the varioas
treaties.
This was the situation confronting Governor St. Clair,
when, after the impressive opening scenes at Marietta on
the 15th of July, he set to work with the judges to form a
code of laws for the new government, as provided for in
tVie Ordinance. These officers did not strictly confine them-
selves within the limits of their legislative authority, which
v.as to make selections from the statutes of the original
thirteen States. When they could not find laws suited to
the condition of the Territory, they supplied the want by
enactments of their own. This practice was acquiesced in
by Governor St. Clair with great reluctance,^ and it will be
seen, from his correspondence and speeches included in this
work, that his conservatism and firmness saved the people
from a good deal of unwise legislation. The laws which
were not adapted from the statutes of the States were not
approved by Congress, on the ground that the officers were
not authorized to enact laws. Nevertheless, they (with two
exceptions) continued in force in the Territory, because nec-
essary to good government, until the second grade of gov-
ernment was established, in 1795, when the Governor and
Council formally enacted a code of laws.^
^ St. Clair Papers. Address to first Territorial Legislature'.
' This legislative authority extended from 1788 to 1 TUo, at which time,
the second stage of government having been reached, a General As-
sembly was constituted. "That the Governor and .hidges, in the en-
actment of these laws, exceeded their authority, without the slightest
disposition to abuse it, may be inferred from the fact that, except two
which had previously been repealed, they were all confirmed by the
first Territorial Legislature." — Chases Preliminary Sketch, p. 20.
The vacancies caused by the deaths of Judges Varnum (January 10,
1789) and Parsons (1790), were filled by the appointment of George
Turner and Rufus Putnam, respectively. Judge Putnam served until
1796, when he resigned to accept the office of Surveyor-General. Jo-
seph Gillman, of Point Harmar, was appointed to the vacancy. Judge
Turner removed from the Territory, and resigned in 1796. In his
place Return Jonathan Meigs was appointed, in February, 1 798. There
were no further changes until Ohio was erected as a State. — Consult
Burners Noies^ p. 40.
10
146 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
The first law created provided for the organization of the
militia. The draft was prepared by Judges Varnum and
Parsons, and presented to the Governor for his approval.
His criticisms on their work will be found among the St.
Clair papers, and are sufficiently caustic to be acceptable to
a modern reviewer.
The Judges had speculative views, and, unheeding a let-
ter from the Governor inviting their attention to important
points of legislation, prepared and presented to him an ex-
traordinary " projet" for dividing* real estate held in com-
mon.^ The Governor declined to give his assent in a digni-
fied and able paper. He showed that great injustice might
result to non-resident property holders through such a law,
and that in that respect it was in violation of the spirit of
the Ordinance. This veto, following so closely after the
criticisms on their essay at military legislation, disturbed
the equanimity of the Judges, and they took advantage of
a letter from the Governor, of the Ist of August, in which
he asked them to give him the precise meaning they affixed
to the word "Laws," as employed in the Ordinance, to de-
clare the right and power of a majority of the Judges to
enact laws without the consent of the Governor, and quoted
this sentence from the Ordinance as their authority : " The
governor and judges, or a majority of them, shall adopt,
and publish in the district, such laws of the original States,
criminal or civil, as may be necessary," etc. They claimed
that " a majority of them " applied to the Governor and
Judges sitting as a legislative body.
The Governor replied in a letter that displayed keen an-
alytical powers and familiarity with lavr and the princi-
ples of government. "I conceive, gentlemen," said he,
*' Congress thought there would be an impropriety in leav-
ing the adoption of laws, by which the people of the Dis-
M ■ ■ - - - — - — ■ ■ ^ ■ !■ ^^^^
* Atwater, in his History of the State of Ohio, falls into an error in say-
ing that the Judges presented their scheme on real estate to the Gov-
ernor before the passage of the militia law. It was immediately after.
Atwater adds, with perfect justice: ** This bill was so loosely drawn up
that had it became a law, the non-resident owners of land, would have
been swindled out of all their lands by the resident proprietors. This
projet was rejected by the Governor." — p. 129.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 147
trict were, for a time, to be governed, solely to the persons
who were to expound them. ; much greater, however, would
that impropriety be if the clause of the Ordinance goes
not only to adoption, but to the formation of laws. The
Judges would, in that case, be complete legislators, which
is the very definition of tyranny; and though that arrange-
ment might, in your hands, produce.no evils, no man can
tell how long this stage of the government will last, or who
may be your successors ; nor could it fail to produce much
uneasiness in the minds of the people over whom so (pos-
sibly) oppressive an authority was established.^" He said
that he agreed with the Judges that the " clause in ques-
tion, and every other clause in the Ordinance, should receive
a liberal construction wherever they are in the least doubt-
ful; and as it, in some measure partakes of the nature of a
charter, is to be expounded favorably to the grantees ; but
it is one thing to construe a grant liberally, and another to
add to the grant by construction that was never in the con-
templation of the grantor ; and this is precisely what I
think would follow, should your opinion upon the clause "
prevail.^
The legislative duties kept Governor St. Clair busy until
the close of the year. Beside the militia law already re-
ferred to, nine other laws were framed and published, the
most important of which were ; For the establishment of
inferior courts, including probate; for fijcing the terms bf
the general court; for the punishment of crimes;^ prescrib-
ing oaths of ofiice ; regulating marriages; prescribing the
duties of ministerial oflicers ; for appointing coroners, and
for the limitation of actions. In the law for the punish-
ment of crimes, is a section for the prevention of profan-
ity, and for a sacred observance of the Christian Sabbath.
The county of Washington, having within its limits about
^ St. Car Papers. See Vol. II. Correspondence for 17S8.
* Ibid. St. Clair, having been President of the Congress that passed
the Ordinance spoke for the grantor.
• As there were no jails, minor offenses were punished by fines,
whipping and confinement in the stocks. These emblems of terror
remained in Ohio, until 1812.
148 Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair.
half of the present State of Ohio, was erected on the 26th
of July. Officers for the militia were appointed. The
Governor also appointed three distinguished gentlemen, of
whom we shall hear a good deal, Justices of the Peace, viz.,
Rufus Putnam, Benjamin Tupper, and Winthrop Sargent;
and, on the 30th of August, established a Court of Quarter
Sessions, of which he appointed another distinguished citi-
zen and soldier. Return Jonathan Meigs, Clerk. Gen-
eral Putnam was also made Judge of Probate, with Col-
onel Meigs as Clerk.^
Laws having been framed, civil officers appointed there-
under, a county erecte<l, and the population having in-
creased on the Ohio to one hundred and thirty-two souls,
there remained, to complete the government, only the
formal inauguration of the judiciary : with just laws, bench
and forum, the liberties of the people would be made se-
cure. Tuesday, the 2d day of September, 1788, was the
day set apart for this ceremony. The account of an eye-
witness enables us to enter into the spirit of the occasion,
and to feel, after an interval of nearly one hundred years,
something like a just appreciation of the greatness of the
work of those Revolutionary heroes. It is the duty, as it
should be the pleasure, of all who enjoy the blessings con-
ferred by the most liberal government, and equal and ben-
eiicent laws, to study the sources of these, and the charac-
ter of the men who framed and established them. They
builded for posterity. Then ever green be their memories.
On that memorable first Tuesday of September, the cit-
izens, Governor St. Clair and other Territorial Officers, and
military from Fort Ilarrnar being assembled at the Point,
a procession was formed, and, as became the occasion, with
Colonel Ebenezer Sproat, Sheriff, with drawn sword and
wand of office at the head, marched up a path that had
been cut through the forest, to the hall in the north-west
block-house of Campus Martins, where the whole counter-
^ Other officers appointed were as follows : Additional Justices of the
Peace, with power to hold the Court of Quarter Sessions, Archibald
Crary, Isaac Pierce, and Thomas Lord ; Clerk of the Supreme Court^
William Collis ; Sheriff and Colonel of Militia, Ebenezer Sproat.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 149
marched, and the Judges, Putnam and Tupper, took their
seats on the high bench. Prayer was fittingly oflerred by
our friend, the Reverend Manasseh Cutler, who was on a
visit to the new colony, after which the commissions of the
Judges, Clerk, and Sherift" were read, and the opening pro-
claimed in deep tones by Colonel Sproat, in these words :
" O, yes! a court is opened for the administration of even-
handed justice, to the poor and the rich, to the guilty and
the innocent, without respect of persons ; none to be pun-
ished without triul by their peers, and then in pursuance
of the laws and evidence in the case."^ Paul Fearing, Esq.
(of whom more hereafter), was admitted as nn attorney, and
was the first lawyer in the territory. This was the opening
of the Court of Common Pleas.^ The Indian Chiefs, who
had been invited by Governor St. Clair to attend a con-
vention, were curious witnesses of this impressive scene.
The letters of General Rufus Putnam, printed in the Mas-
sachusetts Spy, this year, give us a very good picture of pass-
^ From a manuscript that some years afterward found its way to the
columns of the Marietta Intelligencer. See the American Pioneer^ Vol.
I., p. 165..
'On the Tuesday following, September 9th, the first Court of Quar-
ter Sessions was opened in the south-east block-house, occupied by
Colonel E. Battelle. Colonel Meigs, Clerk, read the general commis-
sion issued by the Governor, after which Colonel Sproat's deep bass
voice commanded the solemn attention of all. General Rufus Put-
nam and General Benjamin Tupper were the Justices of the quorum,
and Isaac Pierce, Thomas Lord, and Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs,
Assistant Justices; Colonel Meigs was also Clerk. Paul Fearing was
admitted an Attorney, and appointed Court-Counsellor for the United
States in the county of Washington. The Grand Jury was constituted
as follows: William Stacy, Foreman; Nathaniel Cushing, Nathaniel
Ooodale, Charles Knowles, Anselm Tupper, Jonathan Stone, Oliver
Rice, Ezra Lunt, John Matthews, George Ingersol, Jonathan Devol,
Samuel Stebbins, Jethro Putnam, and Jabez True. "The charge was
given with much dignity and propriety by Judge Putnam. At 1
o'clock the Grand Jury retired, and the Court adjourned for thirty
minutes. At half-past 1 the Court again opened, when the jurors
entered and presented a written address to the Court, which, after
being read, was ordered to be filed. Judge Putnam replied to the
address. Th^re being no suits before Court, it was adjourned without
day.*'— HiWr^M, p. 2:J3.
150 Life and PubUe Services of Arthur St. Clair.
ing events on the Muskingum. The affairs of the Ohio Com-
pany had not progressed far enough to admit of the sale
of tracts of land to settlers, and the General and his asso-
ciates sawj with deep chagrin, the emigrants floating down
the Ohio to the settlements of Kentucky. " Upwards of
seven thousand," he wrote, "have gone down since we
began our settlement," and he was confident many of them
would have staid on the Muskingum if they could have
got lands. Accordingly, notice was issued in August of a
meeting of the Company, and when held, in the December
following, measures were taken to give to settlers lots for
improvement, and for the survey of the lands which fell to
the share of members. Meanwhile, a number of comfort-
able log houses with shingle roofs, had been erected in the
town, and the stockade and block-houses of Campus Mar-
tins completed. The south-west block-house was appro-
priated for the use of Governor St. Clair and family^ who
had also presented to him, by the Ohio Company, fifteen
acres of ground in the town.
In the midst of all this toil there was not wanting pleas-
ant social intercourse and diversions to relieve the pioneer
life of much of its roughness. From the journal of Colonel
John May, and other contemporary writings, we get a
pleasing view of this life in the wilderness. The great
abundance and variety of game and fish, and the rapid
growth of vegetables and fruits in the rich soil, was the
cause of much wonderment, as well as of much satisfaction.
After the completion of the north-west block-house, the
Directors of the Ohio Company gave a dinner (August 20)
to Governor St. Clair and the officers of Fort Harmar.
The twelve oared barge, that had done such signal duty
before, brought the company, which included a number of
ladies, from the Fort up the Muskingum to the landing
opposite the new garrison. At this dinner were produced
some peaches grown from pits planted by ^lajor Doughty
when he erected Fort Ilarnuir in 1785, very fine and lus-
cious. On the Sunday following (August 24) all of the
inhabitants had the i)rivilege of lii^tening to a sermon
* Mrs. St. Clair and children were still in Pennsylvania.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 151
preached by the accomplished divine, Manasseh Cutler.
And three days later there is another memorable social
event, which we glean from the journal of a friend whom
we met in the South in the closing days of the Revolu-
tion— afterwards more intimately associated with St. Clair —
Lieutenant Ebenezer Denny. Under the date of August
27, we read :
"Judge Symmcs, with several boats and families, arrived,
on their way to his new purchase at the Miami. Has a
daughter (Polly) along. They lodge with the General and
Mrs. Harmar. Stay three days and depart. If not greatly
mistaken, Miss Symmes will make a fine woman. An
amiable disposition and highly cultivated mind about to be
buried in the wilderness."
A gleam of sunshine in the forest.
The correspondence of Governor St. Clair, during these
days, is chiefly devoted to business affairs, and to these we
shall now turn our attention.
The instructions of Congress to the Governor rela-
tive to the Indians, required him to hold a general treaty
with the tribes inhabiting the country north-west of the
river Ohio, and about the lakies, at such times and places
as he should appoint, for the purpose of ascertaining the
causes of uneasiness among them, hearing their complaints,
regulating trade, and amicably settling all aftUirs concern-
ing lands and boundaries between them and the United
States. This business detained him during the winter for
some time at Pittsburg, where he concerted measures with
General Richard Butler, for bringing in the chiefs of the
Six Nations, and of the western tribes, to the proposed
Convention.* After a correspondence with the Indians, it
was agreed, in deference to their wishes, to have the con-
ference held in what they were pleased to call their own
country, beyond the guns of any fort, to meet at the falls
of the Muskingum,^ and, accordingly, in the latter part of
* St. Clair Papers.
'Situated about seventy miles from the mouth, and afterwards,
on account of the killing of a colored servant of Major Duncan,
in July, by the Indians, known as " Duncan's Falls." The site selected
152 Life and Publio Services of Arthur St, Clair.
June, General Harmar was instructed to send a detach-
ment to that place to prepare a council-house and buildings
for storing the goods to be distributed among the Indians.
The instructions were carried out, and such Indians as
arrived were sent thither. Unfortunately, some renegade
Chippewa and Tawa Indians were among them, and on ihe
night of the 12111 July attacked the sentries and attempted
to steal the goods they were guarding. Two soldiers were
killed and two wounded, but other soldiers coming to their
assistance, the attempt was frustrated. One Indian was
killed and one wounded. The friendly Delawares, who
arrived sof)n after, declared the dead Indian to be a Tawa,
and the}' aided in the capture of a half-dozen of the ras-
cals, who were taken to Fort Ilarnuir in irons.^ It was
afterward ascertained that the Chippewas and Ottawas were
opposed to a treaty and iji favor of a war, unless the
whites would agree to the Ohio as a boundary line. We
shall see whose influence it was that brought them to this
determination. Immediately after learning of the unto-
ward affair, General St. Clair ordered the provisions back
to Fort Harmar and sent messengers with a request that
they would forward an acconi[)anying speech to the Xations
assembled at the Tawa, or the Detroit River. He also
changed the place for the conference to the Fort. This
change did not, as some writers have held, have any influ-
ence on the result.^
for the Council was that upon which the town of Taylorsville was
afterwards built.
* St. Clair Correspondence. Through the carolessnoss of the guard,
two of these prisoners escaped, and one of them was afterwards, at
the earnest solicitation of Captain Pipe, set free. f«n- the purpose of
accompanying that Chief to the Conference of Indian Njitions, on the
Detroit river. Captain Pipe said he desired to have the truth set
before the Indians.
'*S^/. Clair CorrespoYKtencr.. ITildreth mentions that a son of Joseph
Brant, with two hundred warriors, was at the Falls in November, and
sent a request to Governor St. (Jlair that the treaty might be held at
that place. Upon this being refused, "it is supposed, persuaded the
Shawanese not to visit Fort Harmar." St. Clair's letters mention that
Joseph Brant himself was on his way to the Muskingum, and, on
Life ami Public Services of Arthur St. Clair, 153
The great Mohawk chief, Captain Joseph Brant, or
Thayandanegea, after the peace with Great Britain had
moved with the Mohawks into Canada, but that Nation
had not withdrawn from the confederacy of the Six Na-
tions, nor had Brant resigned his headship of the whole.
He was ambitious, and had grand schemes in view. He
espoused the cause of the western tribes in their contro-
versy with the United States upon the question of bound-
ary, and, as early as 1785, attempted to form a confederacy
of all the North-western nations and tribes.^ If five of' the
Six Nations had f-old tliemselves to the devil — otherwise
the Yankees — as he declared, he did not intend the fierce
Miamis, Shawanese and Kickapoos should do so. In this
benevolent purpose he was encouraged by representatives
of the British Government at the western posts. In
March, 1787, Sir John Johnson wrote to Brant, congratu-
lating him on the success of the meetings he had been
holding in the Indian country near Detroit, which he
hoped w^ould have the effect he wished in preventing the
Americans from encroaching on the lands west of the river
Ohio. " Do not suiFer an idea to hold place in your mind,"
wrote Sir John, " that it will be for your interests to sit still
and see the Americans attempt the posts. It is for your
sakes, chiefly, if not entirely, that we hold them. If you
become indifterent about them, they may, perhaps, be given
up; what security would you then have? You would be
left at the mercy of a people whose blood calls aloud for
revenge; whereas, by supporting tliem, you encourage us
to hold them, and encourage the new settlements, already
considerable, and every day increasing by numbers coming
in, who find they can't live in the States.''^
Of the same purport was a letter from Lord Dorchester,
receiving St. Clair's message, turned back, and, meeting with the
Shawanese, induced them to remain away from the conference. It is
not clear whether it was the father or the son en route to the Mus-
kingum. The adverse influence was traceable to Joseph Brant, the
bead chief.
*See Stone's The Life of Joseph Brant, Vol. II., p. 264.
^Life of Brant, Vol. IL, p. 268.
154 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
through Major Matthews, who expressed a wish to see Col-
onel Brant to confer with him for the mutual advantage of
that canse which had always been common. He said that,
while his Lordship could not begin a war with the Ameri-
cans, " they must see that it was his Lordship's intention to
defend the posts; and, while these were preserved, the In-
dians must find greater security therefrom, and the Ameri-
cans greater diflBculty in taking possession of their lands."^
Brant's activity in the direction indicated, continued
throughout 1788, although his correspondence with Gov-
ernor St. Clair through General Butler, and with General
Knox, gave the government ground to hope that that import-
ant chief might be brought to support a peace. The tone
of his letters of this period was different from that of his
correspondence of former years. Mr. Stone expresses the
opinion that this change was due to the anticipated suc-
cess " which was to crown the Indian diplomacy of Gen-
eral St. Clair." ^ But it may have been due to craft, or to
a w^ish to pave the way for a change if the United States
paid high enough for his services.
I am inclined to attribute it to the former motive. His
correspondence w^ith representatives of the United States
was tardy, and every means was resorted to to effect delay
until he could have time to form his dreamed-of conspiracy
in the North-west, at the head of which he hoped to be
placed. Tlie reply to St. Clair's invitation of the 23d De-
cember, 1787, to the Five Xations to join in a conference,
was not sent to General Butler until July of the following
year. The excuse that Brant offered was, that the " land
jobbers," of New York and Massachusetts had been in
western New York to purchase some land, and that it had
been a tedious business. He added : " We are preparing
to meet your council, and shall be able to write you from
the Miamis river what time you may expect to see us;
meantime, we hope you to exercise patience, and not
think the time long, as it is a business of importance, which
we mean to consider seriously, and hope to settle to mutual
1 Life of Brant, Vol. II., p. 273.
' Ibid, p. 279.
Life and Public Services of Arthur SL Clair. 156
satisfaction. I am happy at the idea of meeting you per-
sonally, to bring about this long-wished-for business."^
Meanwhile, General Butler informed General St. Clair
that Colonel Brant was preparing for a conference of the
western Indians at Detroit; and that early in July eighty
chiefs were already there awaiting the arrival of Brant,
whose influence had turued them from the Muskingum to
the former place. It is not known what was done at the
council on the Detroit river, but, doubtless, there was a
division of sentiment, and a failure in forming a confed-
eracy under Brant. This chief represents himself, in his
correspondence, as acting with the Hurons, Delawares,
Chippewas, Ottowas, and Pottawatamies, in favor of form-
ing a treaty with the Americans, and having a boundary-
line fixed, rather than a war, even at the sacrifice of a small
part of their country. " On the other hand," he said, *• the
Shawanese, Miamis, and Kickapoos, who are now so much
addicted to horse-stealing that it will be a diflBcult task to
break them of it, as that kind of business is their best har-
vest, will, of course, declare for war and not giving up any
of their country, which, I tm afraid, will be the means of
our separating." ^
It is apparent that if a war-confederacy could not be
formed between the western tribes and the Six Nations, a
general treaty with the Americans was to be prevented, if
possible. The only glimpse we get of this council is fur-
nished by the correspondence of Governor St. Clair. He
received his information through friendly Indians, who
were present, or who served him as messengers. In one of
his letters, he mentions a circumstance that took place be-
tween the Wyandots and the warlike chiefs of the Twi^j-
twees (Miamis), Shawanese, and Kickapoos. A chief of
the former placed one end of white wampum on the shoulder
of a principal Miami chief, recommending that they be at
peace with the Americans, as were the Six Nations. "With-
out making any reply, the chief turned aside and let the
emblem of peace fall to the ground. Thereupon, the Wy-
1 St. Clair Papers.
• Letter to P. Langan, October 7, 1788.
156 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clavr.
•
andots immediately left the council. Were the representa-
tives of the British nation interested in this ? They thought
the States could not be consolidated into a Republic, and
were encouraged by Shay's Rebellion in Massachusetts, and
the Spanish intrigue in Kentucky. John Connolly, erst-
while of Fort Pitt and His Majesty's service, had been sent
to Kentucky, by somebody, and was in this very year hold-
ing out inducements to the inhabitants of that country to
receive the protection of good King George. As late as
December he sent a messenger to the Indians, armed with
a passport, addressed to Captain McKee, in which he asked
him to recommend the messenger to the "natives in gen-
eral, that no evil consequences may ensue from the inter-
ruption of a good design."
This was the situation in 1788, for which Thayendanegea
and the British officers were chiefly responsible.
On the 9th of September, the important chiefs began to
arrive, but it was not until the middle of December that
a sufficient number had appeared to justify General St.
Clair in attempting a treaty. The council was opened on
on the 15th of December, «nd on tlie 29th the cause for the
Indians was stated with great force by the old Wyandot
chief, Shandotto, to which Governor St. Clair formally re-
plied on the 6tli of January. To the demand for the Ohio
river as the boundarv-line he refused to listen, and ex-
plained to the assembled Indians, by a simile, how they
had forfeited their country, in becoming allies of the British
in the Revolutionarv War.^ The business was concluded,
and two separate treaties formed on the 9th January; the
first with the Six Nations (excepting the Mohawks), confirm-
ing the treaty at Fort Stanwix, and the other with the
representatives of the Wyandot, Delaware, Chippewa, Ot-
tawa, Pottawatomie, and Sac Nations, confirming and bet-
tering the treaties of Forts Mcintosh and Finney.
For particulars, I refer the reader to St. ("lair's letters.
lie had accomplished an important work and showMi great
address, lie secured valuable concessions from the Indians
* ^S*^. Clair rai)>T.<i. Seo letter of Major Dunn to St. Clair.
' Military Journal of Major Ebcnczcr Dentu/, pp. 332 and 333.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 157
and rewarded them liberally, in which, says the author of
the Ijife of Branty " there was an approximation to justice
toward the Indians wliich hud not been previously count-
tenanced by Congress." * He did not recognize the Indians
as one nation, but as different nations having distinct in-
terests, in which he followed their own practice. "A
jealousy subsisted betw-een them," says he, "which I was
not willing to lessen by appearing to consider them as one
people,"^ and he was of the opinion that their confederacy
was broken. This the author of the Life of Brant calls
the Machiavelian policy of dividing to conquer, and then
proceeds to denounce it as immoral. If St. Clair had
created the divisions which the Indians themselves recog-
nized, there would have been some ground for censure;
but his action bore a just relation to existing circum-
stances. Mr. Stone's premises are not sound.
Neither the fiercest of the western tribes nor the Mo-
hawks^ were represented at the conference. The absence
of the latter did not matter much, while the friendship of
» Life of Brant, Vol. II., p. 280.
"^ St. Clair Papers. Letter to the President.
' Mr. Stone expresses the opinion that Captain Brant was present,
although not a party to the treaty. lie bases this opinion on an am-
biguous passage in a letter from Captain Brant to Major Matthews, in
March, 1789: "You'll hear by this opportunity the result of our jaunt
to the southward, as Captain McKee has sent down all the proceed-
ings of our councils with the American Commi.ssionerd, speeches and
answers. Our proceedings have been such as 1 hope will bo a})proved
of." But Brant does not refer in this to the Mohawks, but to the
Five Nations, who signed the first treaty. As he had not yet resigned
his headship, he could with propriety speak of the business in the
manner here quoted. Major Denny, in his journal, under the date of
November 7thj saysi " Brant is expected here in a few days," but in
his account of the councils no mention is made of the Mohawk chief,
which he would have been apt to do if he had been present. More-
over, St. Clair says in his correspondence with the War Department,
that Brant was on his way to the Muskingum with a large i>arty, but
upon receiving a message from him turned back, and pursuadod the
Shawnese also to do the same. There is a legend, however, in the 8t.
Clair family, that it was a sou of Brant who was present, attracted by
the charms of Louisa St. Clair, and not by any particular interest in
the treaty.
158 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
the Five Nations was permanently secured. But there
could be no peace while the Shawnese and Miamis stood
out. The murderous attacks on the pioneers in Kentucky
and on the Virginia and Pennsylvania borders were re-
newed, and it soon became apparent to General St. Clair
that severe measures would have to be adopted towards the
obstreperous Indians. Captain Brant does not appear ac-
tively on the scene again for two years, but he did not omit
any opportunity to denounce the treaties of Fort Harmar,
even while he was receiving tokens of the high regard of
the United States government,^
St. Clair visited his family, and afterwards proceeded to
New York to concert measures with General Knox for the
settlement of the Indian difficulties. While there, he had
the pleasure of assisting at the inauguration* of his old
Commander-in-Chief, and devoted friend, as first President
of the United States. We are indebted to Colonel May,
who had also left the banks of the Muskingum, for a
graphic description of the ceremonies of that ever-memor-
able day. There were ringing of church bells, prayers for
blessings upon the head of him who had come to be the
head of the nation, parading of the military, an imposing
administering of the oath in the Senate Chamber, followed
'General Washington, in a letter to Governor Clinton: " It gives
me pleasure to learn from you the friendly sentiments of Captain
Brant; and with you I think they merit cultivation; but he has not
been candid in his account of the conduct of General St. Glair, nor
done justice in his representation of matters at Muskingum. It is
notorious that he used all the art and influence of which ho was pos-
sessed to prevent any treaty being held; and tliat, except in a small
degree, General St. Clair aimed at no more land by the treaty of Mus-
kingum than had been ceded by the previous treaties." — Washhigton s
Writings, Vol. X., p. 122.
^General Washington "was clad in a full suit of dark -brown cloth,
manufactured at Hartford, Connecticut, with a st^el-hilted dress-sword,
white silk stockings, and plain silver shoe-buckles. His hair was
dressed and powdered in the fashion of the day, and worn in a bag
and solitaire. The oath was administered by Chancellor Livingston;
near him stood Roger Sherman, Alexander Hamilton, Richard Henry
Lee, Generals Knox and St Clair, Baron Steuben and other distin-
guished men." — Journal of Colonel John May^ p. 133. Note by William
M. Darlington.
JAfe and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 159
in the evening, bj illuminations and fire-works, very bril-
liant, which the people applauded, as they did every thing
on that joyous occasion. The President was very dignified,
but Colonel May thought him much altered in countenance
since he last saw him.
After this, St. Clair remained in New York, waiting
patiently for legislative action to enable him to proceed
with the new government, and for the formulation of an
Indian policy. There was a personal matter, too, in which
he was deeply interested, concerning which it was his duty
to take counsel of his friends. It was no less than that of
resigning the Territorial Governorship, and returning to
Pennsylvania to enter actively into political life. After the
requisite number of States had adopted the Constitution,
the name of St. Clair was freely canvassed in connection
with the position of Vice-President. In July, 1789, while
he was waiting on the new government, he received an
urgent letter from his old friend James Wilson, asking an
immediate interview for the purpose of deciding whether
he would stand for the governorship of Pennsylvania. It
was not St. Clair's manner to look back when once his
hands were upon the plow, but he found himself in a false
position in the West. He had no genius for speculation;
his salary as Governor would barely cover his traveling ex-
penses; his family was large, and his wife, who had been
accustomed to every comfort, was not well fitted for a
pioneer life. The mistake he made in leaving Pennsylvania
might be rectified by an early return. But a canvass showed
that the party led by General Mifflin, who knew how to
catch the popular breeze, was in the majority. The de-
moralization and discontent following the Revolution
favored the plans of those who had not been closely identi-
fied with the party of Washington during the war.
It was late in the year before General St. Clair received
his final instructions and turned his face toward the West
again, to resume the work of constructing a government in
a wilderness filled with hostile savages, distant from the
supporting power, with an imperfect and unreliable system
of communication, and without adequate means. Inimedi-
160 Lt'tfc and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair,
atelv after the trcatv of Fort Harmar, the ludiau^ were
more quiet than usual, only a few depredations having been
committed and tho-e by the Miamis.* But later this quiet
gave place to a jiredatory warfare on the borders of Penn-
Bvlvania, Vircrinia, and Kentuckv, in which all of the dis-
satisfied tribes engaged. The Indians took p')Sses.sion of a
high point of land on the Ohio near the mouth of the Sci-
oto, whence they sent out parties to waylay the boats pass-
ing up and down the river. Thrilling events occurred,
which will be found duly recorded in Indian history, to
which the curious reader, who would sup on horrors is re-
ferred.* Something of these will be found related in the
St. Clair papers printed in this work. It is the purpose of
this memoir to touch on only the most salient points, and
the above reference to the general situation, will suffice for
our purpose.
The citizens of Marietta gave special attention to the
preparation of a residence for Governor St. Chiir, and in
the winter of 1790, his son Arthur, twenty-one years of age,
and three daugliters, Louisa, Jane, and Margaret, with a
middle-aged, sensible, colored woman whoatted as cook and
housekeeper, took possession. Mrs. St. Glair still remained
in the Kast.' Louisa, the eldest of the three daughters,
was about nineteen vears of asre, and is described bv Pro-
fessor llildreth as " a healthy, vigorous girl, full of life and
activity, evorv wav calculated for a soldier's daujrhter; fond
of a frolic, and readv to draw amusement from all and
' Lott<*r of rjiptain McKoo, British Indian Agmt. at Detroit, to ("aiv
tain Urant. See Lite ^f Brant. Vol. II. j». 290. President Wasliington
attribut«*d thu nii.schief to the Shawaneso.
A quarrel arose thi.s year between the Miamis and Delawares, which
caused the latter to withdraw beyond th«* Mis«<issip|)i river — an event
greatly d^'plored by the ilritish agents as it threatened the destruction
of th«» Confederacy.
Mudge Inncs, of Kentucky, estimated, in 1700, that within seven
years over fifteen hundred whites had been killed, and twenty thous-
and horses and other ])roperty stolen by the Indians. The statement
frequently made at this time that the savages were always the aggre.-v
8ors, was not correct. Tiiere were bad whites as well as bad red men.
^HifdreOiS Pioneer History, p. 262.
I i
1 - *■
.' k.
I'JL' 'I--: -=-..
164 Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair.
that struggle for freedom, anJ affording aid to tlie sur-
vivors, should also be remembered bv St. Clair at this time?
In a short time the name of St. Chiir was given to the third
county and that of General Knox, who was concerned in
the drafting of the cliarter of the Society, to the fourth,
by Secretary Sargent, who, despite the modest protests of
the Governor, took good care to see that his own chief was
not neglected in the records.
TheGovernor remained at Fort Washington only a week,*
and then hastened on toward the Mississippi, where his
coming was looked for with great impatience. The inhab-
itants of the French towns on that river had been persist-
ent in their appeals to tlie old Continental Congress to give
them a government, and the President was very anxious
that General St. Clair should establish the forms of civil
government there as soon as practicable.* The Governor
reached the Rapids of the Ohio on the 8th, where he remained
long enough to prepare dispatches containing speeches ad-
dressed to the Indian tribes on the Wabash, which he trans-
mitted to Major Ilanitramck, commandant at Post Vin-
cennes, with instructions to send them to their destination
by Antoine Gamelin, a trader, who was very popular among
the Indians. It was St. Clair's plan to first organize the
Illinois country and then return to Post Vincennes, by
which time he hop«'d favorable replies would be received
from the Wabash Indians.^ But as it turned out otherwise
he was, upon his return, compelled to leave the work of or-
ganization at Vincennes to Secretary Sargent, and hasten
to the east to provide means for the chastisement of the
savages and the relief of the suffering inhabitants of the
various posts.
Governor St. Clair arrived at Kaskaskia in Februarv.
He found the inhabitants in an impoverished condition,
and rendered incapable of taking any action looking to
permanent improvements, on account of the uncertainty of
^ Rccordft of Governor North-western Territory — Stale Department.
* St. Clair Correspondence.
• St. Clair Papers. Letter to Major Ilanitramck.
Life and Fubllc Scrciccs of Arthur St. Clair. 165
the tenure of the lands they occupied. He described the
condition of the people in a report to the Sccretury of Sta'e:
"The Illinois country, as well as tiiat upon the Wabash,
has been involved in great distress ever since it fell under
the American dominion." He said the inhabitants had
contributed supplies liberally to the support of the troops
under General Clark, for which they received certificates
which had been repudiated by the State of Virginia, by
whose authority the expedition led by Clark had been un-
dertaken; that, after the Illinois regiment had been dis-
banded, "a set of men, pretending the authority of Vir-
ginia, embodied themselves, and a scene of general depre-
dation and plunder ensued. To this succeeded three suc-
cessive and extraordinury inundations from the Mississippi,
which either swept awiiy their crops, or prevented their
being planted. The hiss of the greatest part of their trade
with the Indians, which was a great resource, came upon
them at this juncture, as well as the hostile incursions of
some of the tribes, which liad ever before been in friend-
ship with them ; and to these was added the loss of their
whole last crop of corn by an untimely frost. Extreme
misery could not fail to be tl.*e consequence of such accumu-
lated misfortunes."
The order of Congress,^ relative to the survey of the
lands, could not be carried out, because the people could
not pay the Surveyor. St. Clair's aid was invoked, in
pathetic terms, by Father Gibault, the venerable priest of
Kaskaskia and Cahokia: "Your Excellency is an eye-
witness," said he, "of the poverty to which the inhabitants
are reduced, and of the total want of provisions to subsist
ou. Not knowing w-here to find a morsel of bread to
nourish their families, by w-hat means can theysupport the
expense of a survey which has not been sought for on their
parts, and for which, it is conceived by them, there is no
necessity ? Loade 1 with misery, and groaning under the
weight of misfortunes accumulated since the Virginia
troops entered their country, the unhappy inhabitants
* *S'/. dair Papers. See Report to Secretary of Stale, Vol. II., p. 136.
166 Life and Public Services of Arthur St Clair.
throw tlierhsclves under the protection of yonr Excellency,
and tiike the liberty to solicit you to lay their deilorable
situation before Congress."^
St. Clair did every thing in his power, and went beyond
the technical restrictions formed by an authority a thou-
sand miles awny to relieve the distress surrounding him.
His familiarity with the French hvnguage proved a great
help to him in his work.
The county of St. Clair was erected, courts established,
and officers iippointed, the same as in otiier cases. The
county embraced the section of country extending from the
River Ohio northward to the mouth of Little Mackinaw
Creek, where it empties into the Illinois River.
^iSl. Clair Papers. Letter of Father Gibault, Vol. II., p. 148.
Life and Public Sercices of Arthur St. Clair. 167
CHAPTER VII.
Ominous Signs observed ix the Indian Country — The Chieftain Brant
AND THE British Again at Work — Depredations on the Frontiers —
Failure of' Attempts to Negotiate a Peace — The Indians Demand
THAT THE VVuiTES ShaLL KkMoVE EAST OF THE OhIO — VIGOROUS MEAS-
URES Resolved on — St. Clair's Conferences with Secretary of War
— Successful Expeditions op Scott and Wilkinson — Expedition of
General Harmah and Severe Encounters with the Indians — St.
Clair Appointed Major-General and Commander-in-Chief — His Dis-
astrous Campaign — Responsibility of the War Department —
Scandalous Conduct of the Quartermaster-General — Report of
Congressional Committee Vindicating St. Clair from Blame —
Massacres of the White Settlers — Reorganization of Army
Under General W^ayne — Failure of Negotiations Result in
Conquering a Peace — Murder of Messengers — Legend of Louisa
St. Clair.
Receiving from Major Ilamtramek the information that
Antoiiie Qameliii had failed to persuade the Wabash In-
dians to enter into a treaty Vvith the Americans, Governor
St. Clair hastened to complete the work of organiz ition,
and on the lltii of June began his return journey. Before
his departure, he wrt)te to Major Ilamtramek, advising him
of his purpose to prepare for a military movement against
the Indians on the Wabash, and that Colonel Sargent
would proceed to Post Vincennes, to make the civil ap-
appointments, organize the militia, and carry out the plan
for the adjustment of land claims agreeably to the proclama-
tion he had issued to the inhabitants of that section from
£askaskia.^
The report of Mr. Gamelin^ is of extraordinary interest.
It shows that the machinations of Brant and his British
friends had been succes.'^ful, and that the Indians proposed
to tight to retain their country and force the Americans
* Jfeeofifs of Corerhwent Xorth-west Ihrifori/ — *S'^ Cuiir Vapcrs. F'ull ac-
count is also ^»iven in this work of Secretary Sargent's proceedings at
Poet Vincennes.
^S^e St, Clair Papers, Vol. II., p. 132.
168 Life and Public Services of Arthur Si. Cliir.
■\
bck across the Ohio. A Kickapoo chief said: "You in-
vite us to stop our young men. It is impossible to do it,
being constantly encouraged by the British."
General St. Clair, after conferring with General Ilarmar,
determined to send an expedition against the Maumee
towns, under the conmiand of that officer. A circular let-
ter was issued to the County Lieutenants of Kentucky and
Western Pennsylvania, informing them that there was no
I)rospect of a peace wMth the tribes on the Wabash, and in-
structing them to call out the militia allotted to their
resi»ective counties, to rendezvous at Fort Washington by
the 15th of September. When the militia did arrive. Gen-
eral Harmar was much disheartened, as they "were raw
and unused to the gun or woods." "One half," says Major
Denny, in his excellent journal, "serve no other purpose
than to swell their number. If the leading /;«/r/o/5 of Ken-
tucky don't turn out rascals, then some men that I know
are greatly mistaken."^ Those from Pennsylvania were
but little better. In addition, a large portion of the arras
were unfit for use — many of the muskets and rifles being
tcilhout locks! The militia officers quarreled, and the men
were insubordinate. Colonel Trotter aspired to the com-
mand, altliough Colonel Hardin was the senior ofticer.
Some of the men diclared they would return home unless
Colonel Trotter could lead them, and a compromise be-
came necessary.
When on the march, October 2d, the force was found to
consist of three hundred and twenty regulars under the
immc'liate command ot Majors Wvllvs and Dousrhtv, and
one thousand one hundred and thirtv three militia under
the command of Colonel Hardin, an old Continental oflicer.
The route wa?? by old Chillicothe, at the headwaters of the
Little Miami, thence to Mad Kiver, and tiience to the
Miami or Omee River, which they struck near the ruins of
La Source's trading post. Here they capUircd a Shawanese
Indian,' who informed them that the Indians were leavinij
their village (distant about thirty mile-) as fast as possible.
* Military Journal of Major Denny, p. 344.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 169
Colonel Hardin was detached with six hundred light troops
and one company of reguliirs. lie was instructed to push
for the Mianii village, which was at the junction of the
St. Joseph and St. Mary rivers, and take every precaution
to keep his men under strict discipline. When he reached
the village on the 15th, he found it deserted. On the 17lh,
he was joined by the main body, and the order was given
for the destruction of the buildings and the vast fields of
corn stretching along the bottoms of the streams. The
militia, regardless of discipline, broke into sqnads and
Btrolle*! about in search of plunder, but fortunately were
not disturbed.
The followin<j dnv, Colonel Trotter was ordered out with
three hundred militia and thirty regulars, under Captain
Armstrong, wiih instructions to see if he could find traces
of the Indians. He returned at night without having ac-
complished any thing. The next day Colonel Hardin went
out with the same command. Before he had proceeded very
far the militia began to desert, but this did not make him
more cautious. When distant from camp ten miles, he
suddenly came upon about one liundred Indian.^, ''and,
owing to the bad order of his men, and their dastardly con-
duct, was entirely defeated." At the first fire of the
Indians nearly all of the militia fled witliont fir'.ng a shot.
As usual, the regulars stood firm, and were cut to pieces.
"I lost one serg<.*ant and twenty-one out of thirty men of
my command," says the brave Captain Armstrong in his
report, and was obliged to retreat. We should think it
was ab(»ut time. All efibrt of Colonel Hardin to rnllv the
militia was unavailing. About seventy men were killed.
On the 21st, the army, having burned the Indian ca[)ital
and five villages and destroyed twenty thousand bnshe's
of corn in ears — the object of the expedition — took up their
line of march back to Fort Washington, and eneam])ed
eight miles from the ruins. At nine o'clock, at the solici-
tntion of Colonel Hardin, General Ilarmar ordered but four
hundred men, including sixty regulars, under Major Wyllys,
with instructions to return to the Indian town, on the head-
waera of the Miami, to surprise any parties that might
170 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
have returned there. The troops crossed tlie Miami early
in the morning, and it was the intention to surround the
village before making an attack. But the militia, led by
Majora Hall and McMillan, came upon a few Indians im-
mediately after crossing the river, init them to flight, and,
contrary to ordere, pursued up the St. Josei»h for several
miles. The center, composed of the regular troops, was
soon afterwards attacked bv the main bodv of the Indijins,
under Little Turtle, and, although they fought with des-
peration, were obliged at length to give way. The few sur-
vivors fled in the direction taken by the militia, and met
them returning from the pursuit of the scattering Indians.
They were followed by the Indians, who attempted. to pass
the stream, but were repulsed. The savages did not per-
sist in their attack, and the troops, after collecting the
wounded, returned to camp. The loss of the regular sol-
diers was forty-eight men and two officers — Major Wyllys
and Lieutenant Frothingham — of the militia, not so many.
But the death of the brave Wyllys was a loss long felt and
mourned over.
Althougii this expedition was in most respects a complete
success, it was, owing to the bad conduct of the militia,
attended with a severe loss of regular troops, which called
forth censorious cmiments on General Ilarmar. That
meritorious ofticer, after he had been vindicated by a court-
martial, could not be prevailed on to continue in the ser-
vice, and in the following year resigned his connnit^sion.
" Your frietid, Genenil St. Clair," said AVashiigton, in
a letter to La Fayette, ''resumes his functions as Major-
Geiu'ral.'' ^ It was even so. The result of 8t. Clair's visit
to IMnladelphia and his report on affairs in tlie terri-
torv, was: First, to send a formidable military force into
the Miami countrv, and erect a series of forts, as recom-
mended by him the preceding year; and, secondly, to
send minor expeditions against the Wabash tribes to puti-
ish tlieni for their reckless marauding and refusal of the
offer of peace in the spring of 1700. A new regiment was
^ I.<'lter of the 19th March, 1791. Was/(n,<;(onj Writings, Vol. X., p.
142.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 171
to be added to the military establishment, and General
St. Clair was to conduct the expedition against the Miami
towns in person, with General Kichard Butler second in
command. The equipment was to be com{)lete in all re-
spects, and the most cordial co-operation was promised on
the part of the War Department.
While this promise was being indifferently regarded,
two expeditions were sent against the Waba&h towns. The
first, under ,c« »mmand of Brigadier-General Scott and Colonel
JamesWilkirison, left the Ohio at the mouth of the Kentucky
river on the 23d of May, and marched directly for the Wea
village Ouiatenon, on the Wabash.* This and other im-
portant towns were destroyed, and a few Indians killed and
captured. The second expedition was authorized by Gov-
ernor St. Clair, on the' 25th of June. It consisted of live
hundred mounted men, under the command of Brigadier-
General Wilkinson, and marched from near Fort Washing-
ton, on the 20th of July, for the Indian village Ke-na-pa-
com-a-qua (rAnguille), situated on the Eel river, about
six miles above its confluence with the Wabash. This and
various other villages, and several hundred acres (»f corn
were destroyed, and a considerable number of prisoners
capti;re 1. This expedition was condivcted with such celer-
ity and signal success, us to receive a special letter of thanks
from the Secretary of War, which was communicated to
Wilkinson through Governor St. Clair.
But how was it with the main expedition? This entry
is found in Major Denny's Journal, under the date of Sep-
tember Ist: *' Generul St. Clair appcare exceeding impa-
tient at the delay or detention of some of the corps. The
Quartermaster-General, IIodg<lon, not yet come on, and
General Butler, the second in command, is also back.
Preparations for the campaign very backward." This,
when the army w^as to have moved in the summer. Whose
was the fault?
The story may be told in a few words. The War De-
partment had undertaken to provide an army, equip and
^ About eight miles below the present city of La Fayette.
172 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
provision it, and have the same at Fort Washington by the
10th of July. " In this case/' wrote General Knox, " you
will have assembled a foroe of three thousand eft'ectives, at
least, besides leaving small garrisons on the Ohio, in order
to perform your main expedition.^" In April, the Federal
part of the force was still to be recruited. There was a de-
mand for labor every-where, and such men as were finally
induced to enlist were not the kind of material out of
which the best soldiers are made. Nor was tliis the only
difficulty ; no money had yet been furnished General But-
ler to pay the men and provide stores for them. The mil-
itia were no better; some of them even worse. All were
unaccountably delayed on the upper Ohio until the sum-
mer had been far spent.^ The levies that now straggled
into Fort Washinsrton erave such evidence of a love of
strong drink as to m cessitate their removal to Camp Lud-
low, beyond the reach of temptation. There was neither
quartermaster nor commissary ; the commanding general
was both.' lie was also chief artisan, and superintended
the construction and repair of every thing, from gun-car-
riages to cartridge-boxes — the thousand details incident to
the creation and preparation of an armed force, without
the means which may be commanded in an old country.
Here the ingenuity and restless energy of the commanding
general supplied what it had been the duty of quarter-
master and other subordinates to furnish. But though
genius were never more fruitful and energy more tireless,
yet even St. Clair found it impossible to improve the qual-
ity of the powder;* to make an elephantine pack-saddle
fit the back of an Indian pony; to transform raw lines into
vetenin soldiers in a week ; make honest men out of rogues ;
nor by command, similar to that of Joshua of old, stop the
sun in its course and delay the rev«>lutions of the seasons.
It was the 7th of September before General Butler and
',SV. Ciuir Paper,s, Vol. II., 1791.
* Ibid.
' See te.stiniony taken by Congressional Committee. Damys Journal.
* Jffi<l. A ninnl>er of ()tl\(*ei's te.'<tifie«l that they experimented with
the powder, and found it had very little force.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair, 173
Quartermaster-General Iloclgdeii* arrived at Fort Washing-
ton and St. Clair had already moved forward his two thou-
sand men — not three thousand effectives, as promised by
the Secretary of War — about twenty-four miles.* If lie
had gone forward and constructed Forts Hamilton and Jef-
ferson and then disbanded the militia and gone into winter
quarters, all might have been well. But St. Clair "was a
strict soldier, and kept rigidly to orders. He saw ever be-
fore him these passages in correspondence from the War
Department: " The President still continues anxious that
you should, at the earliest moment, commence your opera-
tions." ''lie therefore enjoins you, by every principle that
is sacred, to stimulate your o[)erationsin the highest degree,
and to move as rapidly as the lateness of the season and
the nature of the case will possibly admit." Accordingly,
he [lUshed on. Forts Hamilton and Jefferson were con-
structed under the greatest difficulties, as there were few
tools,* and the rainy seascTn had set in.
It was on the 24th of October that the little army left
Fort Jefferson and- moved through the wilderness toward
the Maumee, where another fort was to be erected. The
frost had cut oft* the forage, the men were on half rations,
and the militia deserted in such numbers that the general
found it necessary to dispatch Major Ilamtramck with the
First regiment, three hundred strong, to arrest them and
bring up tlie provisions that were supposed to be en route.
The commanding general, who was now prostrated with
severe sickness, liad left only about fourteen hundred men.
Every precaution was taken on the march and in camp to
guard against a surprise.
On the 3d of Xovember, the troo[)S encamped on high
* St. Clair was sorely tempted to arrest and try the quartermaster-
general for disobedience of orders and nogloct of duty, but upon re-
flection decided that in case of disaster it would be attributed to his
act.
* St. Clair Papers.
•Testimony of officers. There were few axes, and but one cross-cut
saw. The axes were of such poor quality their edges would turn like
lead when used.
174 Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair.
ground on a small ereck supposed to be a branch of the
Maumce, but which waf, in fact, a branch of the Wubash.
The high ground was barely suflicient for the regulars in
rather contracted lines, but it was the best that could bo
found.^ The militia, under Colonel Oldham, passed beyond
the creek a quar:er of a mile, and encamped in parallel
lines the same as the regulars. Before mid-night. General
Butler dispatched ("aptain Slough, with thirty-two men, to
reconnoitcr in front of the lines. That officer was told by
Colonel Oldham that, in his opinion, the troops would be
attacked in the morning. lie saw enough Indians in
the woods to confirm that opinion. He immediately re-
turned to camp and communicated to General Butler what
he had learned, and added that if thought proper he would
go and make the report to General St. Clair. General But-
ler remained silent for some time, and then, thanking (cap-
tain Slough for his attention and vigilance, remarked that,
as he must be fatigued, he had better go and lie down.*
Captain Slough obeyed. Geieral Butler neither communi-
cated to General St. Clair the information he had received,
nor took any further precautions against the enemy.
On the morning of the 4th, a half hour before sunrise,
and when the men liad just been dismissed from parade,
an attack was made on the militia. Simultaneously with
the crack of the rifle, was heard the yells of the savages.
The militia fled pell-mell through the first line of regulars,
who were attempting to form, and caused some confusion.
However, the enemy was well received by the front line,
but almost instantly the entire camp seemed to be sur-
rounded by an unseen foe. The men were pressed toward
the center, where were liuddled the craven militia, and fell
by scores under the unerring aim of the savages, who fired
from the woo«ly covert surrounding them. Every-where
could be seen St. Clair, who had left his sick quarters upon
the first fire, endeavoring to reform the lines. lie repeat-
edly directed the men to chnrge against the skulking foe,
* }fa',or D(:nn>/.<t Jo'irnal Miijnr Denny selected the ground for the
camp. The surrounding country was low and wet.
'" Statement of Captain Slough before the committee.
Life and Public IServiccs of Arthur ISt. Clair. 175
who fled before tlie bayonet, and then returned to the
attack. The officers attracted the aim of the suvagCrJ, and
they fell on every liand. Among those wounded early was
General Butler, but he continued to urge resistance. When,
at last, all of the artillery officers had been either killed or
wounded, and the fire of the Indians became so near and
deadly from all points as to threaten the annihilation of
the force, preparation was made for a retreat. Such of the
wounded as could be moved were gathered together aud a
charo:e was made ao^ainst the enemv, under cover of which
the retreat was accom|>lished. '' A few officers," says Major
Denny, "put themselves in front. The men followed.
The enemy gave way, and, perhaps, not being aware of the
dc-ign, we were, for a few minutes, left undisturbed. The
stoutest and most active now took the lead, and those who
were foremost in breaking the enemy's lines were soon left
behind. At the moment of the retreat, one of the few
horses saved had been procured for the General ; he was on
foot until then; I kept by him, and he delayed to see the
rear." The General commanded his Aid, Major Denny, to
push to the front and rally a force sufficient to check the
panic, and then turned his attention to the care of those
who were partiidly disabled by wounds. As he and the
officer in command of the rear-guard moved over the
route, evidence was sern on every hand that the retreat
had been a disgraceful flight, even to the very gates of
Fort Jeffi3rson,^ where, at last, under the assuring presence
of Major Hamtramck's regulars, terror gave place to con-
fidence.
What pen can fittingly describe the scenes of that day ? —
the unexpected attack, the panic, the brave resistance of a
devoted few, under the inspiring example of noble officers,
the charge after charge through the forest, the destruction
of the lines, the gradual encircling of the camp by the
unseen foe, the terror of the poor wretches huddled in the
center, who had fled without a shot, the groans and shrieks
1 Si. Clair's Official Report, Nov. 10. Vol. II.
176 L'tfe and Pahlk Services of Arthur St. Clair.
of the wounded under the scalping knife after the retreat,
and the flight through the wilderness?
A word more and we sliall ring down the curtain on this
scone. The killed and missinor numbered thirtv-seven offi-
cers and five hundred and ninety-three privates; the woun-
ded, thirt\'-one officci's and two hundred and fifty-two pri-
viitos.- Among the former were Major-General Butler,
Major Ferguson, of the artillery, Major Hart and Major
Clark, of the first regiment, and Lieutenant-Colonel Old-
ham, of the militia. Among tlie latter were Colonel Sar-
gent, who acted as Adjutant-General, Lieutenant-Colonel
Gihson, Major Hutler, and Viscount Malartic, a volunteer
aid. The escape of St. Clair was miraculous.^ Not an ofli-
* The followinc description of St. Clair's conduct during the action,
taken from the Narrative of the Campaign, will best show the coolness
and courage of the man :
''During the engagement, General St. Clair and General Butler were
continuall}^ going up and down the line; as one went up one, the other
went down the opposite. St. Clair was so severely afflicted with gout
as to be unable to mount or dismount a horse without assistance. lie
had four horses for his use; they had been turned out to feed over
night, and were brought in before the action.
" The first he attempted to mount was a young horse, and the firing
alarmed liim so much that he was unable to accomplish it, although
there w<»re three or four peoj)le assisting him. He had just moved him
to a place wliere he could have some advantage of the ground, when
the horse was shot through the head, and the boy that was holding
him through the arm. A second horse was brought, and the furniture
of the first disengaged and put on him ; but at the moment it was done,
the hor.se and servant who held him were killed. The General then
ordered the third horse to be got ready, and follow him to the left of
the front line, which by that time was wm inly engaged, and set off on
foot to the point designated. However, the horse and man were never
heard of afterward and were supposed to have both been kille<l. Gen-
eral St. Clair's fourth horse was killed under the Count de Malartie,
one of his aids, whose horse had died wliile on tlie march.
"On the day of the battle, Generd St. Clair was not in his uniform;
he wore a coar*>e oappo coat, and a three-cornered hat. He had a long
cu»\ and large locks, very gray, flowing beneath liis beaver. Early in
tlir action, when near the artillery, a ball grazed the side of his face,
and cut olf a portion of one of his locks. During the action, eight
balls passed through his clothes and hat. After his horses were killed,
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 177
cer exposed himself as much as he, and yet it was always
with a calm courage seeking to reach the enemy effectively.
"I have nothing to lay to the charge of the troops," said
he, in his official report, " but their want of discipline, which,
from the short time they had been in service, it was impos-
sible they should have acquired, and which rendered it very
difficult when they were thrown into confusion to reduce
them again to order, and is one reason why the loss has
fallen so heavy on the officers, who did every thing in their
power to effect it." It was a wonder to General Harmar,
at the time, and is no less a wonder to us to day, that the
commanding general, who was known to be competent,
whose courage had been often proved, who knew the supe-
riority of the Indians, trained from infancy to war on such
a field, should think of hazarding with such people and un-
der such circumstances, his reputation and life, and the lives
of others.
St. Clair hoped to have an inquiry made by military
officers, but that being impracticable the matter came be-
fore Congress, and was there very thoroughly examined.
he exerted himself on foot for a considerable time during the action,
with a degree of alertness that surprised every body who saw him.
" After being on foot for some time, and when nearly exhausted, a
pack-horse was brought to him. This he rode during the remainder of
the day, although he could scarcely prick him out of a walk. Had he
not been furnished with a horse, although unhurt, he must have re-
mained on the field.
"During the entire action. General St. Clair exerted himself with a
courage and presence of mind worthy of the best fortune. He was
personally present at the first charge made upon the enemy with the
bayonet, and gave the order to Colonel Darke. When the enemy first
entered the camp by the left flank, he led the troops which drove them
back, and when a retreat became indispensable, he put himself at the
head of the troops which broke through the enemy, and opened the
way for the rest, and then remained in the rear, making every exertion
in his power to obtain a party to cover the retreat; but the panic was
so great, that his exertions were of little avail. In the height of the
action, a few of the men crowded around the fires in the center of the
camp. St. Clair was seen drawing his pistols and threatening some of
them, and ordering them to turn out and repel the enemy.''
12
178 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
The opinion of the committee must stand as the judgment
of the historian : —
"The committee conceive it but justice to the com-
mander-in-chief, to say, that in their opinion, the failure
of the late expedition can in no respect be imputed to his
conduct, either at any time before or during the action ;
but that, as his conduct in all the preparatory arrangements,
was marked with peculiar ability and zeal, so his conduct
during the action, furnished strong testimonies of his cool-
ness and intrepidity."
The Indians outnumbered the whites, and they fought
as they never fought before. The fact must be kept in
view that they had been rendered desperate by the desola-
tion of their homes, and that they were fighting against a
people who were trying to deprive them of their lands.
After the expedition of General Harmar, the Indians re-
ceived from the British posts large supplies of provisions
and ammunition which rendered abortive the destructive
expeditions of the Americans. The British influence was
further exerted in the direction of forming an Indian con-
federacy among the Western tribes. In this last engagement
many young Canadians and half-breeds and one hu4idred
and fifty Mohawk warriors participated. The whole was
commanded by the distinguished Miami chief. Little Turtle.
It is now believed that Little Turtle had the council and
assistance of another and an older chief. " General St.
Clair," says the author of the life of Brant, " probably died
in ignorance of the fact that one of the master spirits
against whom he contended, and by whom he was so sig-
nally defeated, was none other than Joseph Brant^ — Thay-
endancgea. How it happened that this distinguished chief,
from whom so much had been expected as a peace maker,
thus suddenly and efficiently threw himself into a position
of active hostility, unless he thought he saw an opening
for reviving his project of a great North-western confed-
eracy, is a mystery which he is believed to have carried in
his own bosom to the grave.^ "
^This interesting fact, Mr. Stone says, he derived from "fhayendane-
gea's family. It was, however, the opinion of St. Clair that Joseph
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 179
After his return to Fort Washington, on the 9th of No-
vember, St. Clair wrote his official dispatch to the Secretary
Brant was engaged in this contest, as a number of his followers were
present at the battle. There is a legend that the Brant who was en-
gaged in that affair was a son of Joseph Brant. The story is known as
" The Legend of Louisa St. Clair," 'and is as follows :
The proposed Indian treaty at Duncan's Falls, in 1788, being post-
poned and adjourned to Fort Harmar, the Indians prepared for peace
or war, and were hostile to holding a conven tion to adjust peace meas-
ures under the guns of Harmar and Campus Martius. Young Brant,
son of the famous Chief of that name, came down the Tuscarawas and
Muskingum trail with two hundred warriors, camped at Duncan Falls,
nine miles below Zanesville, and informed Governor St. Clair, by run-
ner, that they desired the treaty preliminaries to be fixed there.
The Governor suspected a plot to get him to the Falls and abduct
him, yet nothing had transpired of that import. He sent Brant's run-
ner back with word that he would soon answer by a ranger. Hamilton
Kerr was dispatched to Duncan's Falls to reconnoiter and deliver St.
Clair's letter.
A short distance &bove Waterford Kerr saw tracks, and keeping the
river in sight crept on a blufi, and raised to his feet, when hearing the
laugh of a woman, he came down to the trail, and saw Louisa St. Clair
on a pony, dressed Indian style, with a short rifle slung to her body.
Stupefied with amazement, the ranger lost his speech, well knowing
Louisa, who was the bravest and boldest girl of all at the fort. She
had left without knowledge of any one, and calling " Ham" — as he
was known by that name — to his senses, told him she was going to
Duncan's Falls to see Brant. Expostulation on his part only made her
laugh the louder, and she twitted him on his comical dress — head tur-
baned with red handkerchief, huntingshirt, but no trowsers, the breech-
clout taking their place. Taking her pony by the head, he led it up
to the trail, and at night they suppered on dried deer meat from Ham*s
pouch. The pony was tied, and Louisa sat against a tree and slept,
rifle in hand, while Ham watched her. Next morning they pursued
their way, and finally came in sight of the Indian camp. She then
took her father's letter from the ranger, and telling him to hide and
await her return, dashed oflT on her pony, and was soon a prisoner. She
asked for Brant, who appeared in war panoply, but was abashed at her
gaze. She handed him the letter, remarking that they had met be-
fore, he as a student on a visit from college to Philadelphia, and she
as the daughter of General St. Clair, at school. He bowed ; being ed-
ucated, read the letter, and became excited. Louisa, perceiving this,
said she had risked her life to see him, and asked for a guard back to
Marietta. Brant told her he guarded the brave, and would accom]>any
her home. In the evening of the third day, they arrived with Ham
180 Life and Public Services of Arthur Sf. Clair.
of War, which contains a comprehensive account of the
disastrous campaign, and charged his aid, Major Denny,
with its prompt delivery. This report is a model in its
way, cool, dispassionate, magnanimous in a high degree.
The nobleness of spirit so characteristic of St. Clair is con-
spicuous in every line. There is no fault finding, no allu-
sion to the shameful mismanagement in the War Depart-
ment (that he knew would be made apparent in the in-
vestigation lie was determined to have), and no allusion to
the neglect of Colonel Oldham and General Butler to ad-
vise him of the presence of the enemy on the night of the
3d of November : had not their lives been sacrificed on that
fatal day? Major Denny discharged his commission with
his usual promptness and good judgment. Upon his ar-
rival in Philadelphia, which was at a late hour on the 19th
of December, he waited immediately upon the Secretary
of War, and delivered his dispatches. "The morning
after my arrival here," he says, " General Knox called at
my quarters and took me to the President's, where we
breakfasted with the familv,and afterwards had much talk
on the subject of the campaign and defeat."
In striking contrast with this simple statement, is that
highly imaginary account attributed to Mr. Custis, which
is found copied into the works of several historians ; among
othcrS) Irving gives it the weight of his a{>proval. In that
work of the imagination we have the picture of an officer
in full uniform, dismounting in front of the President's
house, towards the close of a winter's day in December.
Kerr at the fort, whore she introduced Brant to hor father, relating
the incident. After some hours, he was escorted out of the lines, re-
turned to the Falls, and went up the valley with his warriors, without
a treaty, but in love with Louisa St. ('lair.
In January, 1789, ho returned, took no jmrt in the Fort Ilarmar
treaty, was at the feast, and aske<l .St. C'lair in vain for his daughter's
hand.
In the fall of 1791, Brant led the Chippewas for a time during the
battle at St. Clair's defeat, and told the warriors to shoot the general's
horse, but not him. St. Clair had four horses killed, and ns many bul-
let holes in his clothes, but escaped unhurt. Had St. Clair given his
daughter to young Brant, would the alliance have averted war ?
Jjife and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 181
The porter would have refused him admittance, as the
President was at dinner, and had company, but the offi-
cer was on pressing public business, and would not be
denied. A servant went after the Secretary, Mr. Lear, but
to that functionary the officer refused to deliver his letters.
Thereupon, Mr. Lear returned to the dinning-room, and in
a wliisper communicated to the President what had passed.
Washington withdrew into the hall, and in a short time
returned and resumed his seat at the table. That eveniui?
Mrs. Washington liad a reception. The President appeared
there with his usual serenity. Neither then nor at the
table did he allude to any thing unusual. After the com-
pany had gone and only his secretary remained, Washing-
ton suddenly became extremely agitated, and poured forth
a torrent of bitter invective against St. Clair. This was
followed by some moments of calm reflection, during which
the President apparently regretted the exhibition of pas-
sion. " This must not go beyond this room," said he, in a
subdued and altered tone; "General St. Clair shall have
justice. I looked hastily through the dispatches; saw the
whole disaster, but not all the particulars. I will receive
him without displeasure; I will hear him without preju-
dice; he shall have full justice."^
Here we have the man Washington giving way to his
passions in the most unreasonable manner, contrasted with
the philosopher Washington, cool, just and magnanimous.
This work of the rhetorician is calculated to make the
pages of a book attractive, but it does not give one as
natural and exalted a view of the President as the plain
account of Major Denny.
Among the St. Clair papers is a pleasant note from Mr.
Lear, changing the hour for a conference which had been
agreed on, to the hour of breakfast the following day,
when the President would be pleased to receive his old
friend. The. meeting was altogether cordial, and, with this
scene in our mind, we read, with exalted sentiments of
esteem for Washington, the following passage in the work
^ Rush's Washington in Dnmrsf'i- h'>fe.
182 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
of Chief Justice Marshall: "More satisfactory testimony
in favor of St. Clair is furnished by the circumstance that
he still retained the undiminished esteem and good opinion
of Washington."
The success of the Indians in this affair inspired them
with the hope that they might eventually drive the in-
truding whites back across the Ohio. They resumed the
predatory system of warfare against the settlements and
were more ferocious than ever before. To describe the
bloody scenes that ensued for twelve months would require
a volume for that alone. The settlers on the Muskingum
and the Miamis withdrew within the forts. General St. Clair
resigned his commission in the army and General Anthony
Wayne was appointed to succeed him. Congress resolved
on the vigorous prosecution of the war. The military es-
tablishment was to be increased to four regiments of in-
fantry and a corps of cavalry; tlie whole, with artillery, to
consist of five thousand men. Profiting now by the disas-
trous experience of the past, there was to be no six months'
levies, and it was agreed to give the new commander two
years in which to raise, equip and discipline his army be-
fore moving against the Indians. Mean\vhile, negotiations
looking to peace were undertaken by the Secretary of War
through Cai>tain Brant. That astute chieftain accepted the
commission, an<l appeared in public councils as an advo-
cate of peace. If sincere in this new character, the weight
of his influence hitherto, and of the present treacherous
counsels of Lord Dorchester, Governor of Canada, were
still snfticient to lead the Indian Nations to refuse to accept
a peace on any other basis than the Ohio River as a boun-
dary line. The court paid to this able chief bv the Ameri-
can Government during the period that the British held
the posts in the West, forms one of the most curious chap-
ters in the history of the United States.
Wliilo General Wayne wiis making preparations for the
field, negotiations for a peace were continued. Mr. Free-
man, Major Truenian, and Colonel Hardin, who were dis-
patched from F'ort Washington, on diftcrent routes, in the
spring of 17i»2, with flags of truce and presents, w-ere all
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 188
•mnrdered by the Indians. General Rufus Putman, how-
ever, was more successful. Aided by the Moravian mission-
ary Heckewelder, he succeeded in effecting a treaty with
the Wabash and Illinois nations, which bound them to
peace. Arrangements had been made with the Indians at
Au Glaize in the summer, that commissioners of the
United States should attend a conference of the Indian
nations in 1793, on the Miami of the lakes. The com-
missioners selected were Benjumin Lincoln, Timothy Pick-
ering, and Beverly RaiKlol[»h. They went byway of Niagara
to confer with Governor Simcoe, and were detained there
by fine speeches and feasting until near the middle of July.
They had been invited by the Indians to meet them at
Sandusky, but were detained by adverse winds at Fort
Erie, and, finally, had to return to Niagara. In a few weeks,
they received a communication from the Indian Nations,
which concluded as follows :
" Brothers : We shall be persuaded that you mean to do
us justice if you agree that the Ohio shall remain the
boundary line between us. If you will not consent thereto,
oar meeting will be altogether unnecessary."
This was accepted as the red man's ultimatum, and the
commissioners returned without having accomplished their
mission.
Thereupon, General Wayne pushed his preparations for
war. General Wilkinson, who was second in command,
stationed at Fort Washington, with one thousand men
marched to the scene of St. Clair's defeat, collected the
bones of the victims, and erected on the spot Fort Re-
covery. The garrison stationed here had a sharp conflict
with the Indians, under Little Turtle, on the 30th June,
1794, which cost the lives of the commanding officer,
Major McMahon, and twenty-one others. The Indians
displayed great courage, and made their attack in as good
order as regular troops. There were among them several
ofiicers in British uniform.
On the 8th of August, General Wayne marched against the
Indians. Profiting by the experience of the past, he moved
184 Life and Public Sercices of Arthur St. Clair.
with extreme caution and only in superior force. As the
forts had already been built by St. Clair, there was nothing
to delay him. lie had regular troops thoroughly drilled
for this service, and was supported by about eleven hundred
mounted Kentuckiaiis under General Scott. The Indians
took up a strong positfon in some fallen timber under the
guns ot the fort at the rapids, recently erected by Governor
Simcoe, and there awaited the attack from Waytie. They
attempted no surprise, but posted behind the thick wood,
rendered almost inaccessible by a dense growth of under-
brush and fallen timber, with their left protected by a rocky
bank of the river, they thought themselves secure. They
were formed in three lines within supporting distance of
each other, extending for two miles at right angles with the
river. General Wayne formed in two lines, the first begin-
ning the attack early on the morning of the 20th. Finding
that the Indians were attempting to turn his left flank, he
moved his second line to the support of the first, and
directed General Scott to turn the enemy's right. This
disposition checked the flanking movement on the part of
the Indians. Wayne simultaneously moved his first line
forward with instructions to charge with trailed arms, and
rouse the Indians from their covert at the point of the
bayonet.* This charge was made with irresistible impetu-
osity, and being followed by a sharp fire, the Indians were
completely routed. Within an hour, the enemy had been
driven two miles, and the victory was complete.' The loss
of the Americans in killed and wounded was one hundred
and seven. That of the Indians is unknown, but it must
have been very great.
After the battle, there was some sharp correspondence
between Major Campbell, commanding the British fort,
and General Wayne, which showed bad temper, but as
there was no blood spilled it is hardly worthy of mention.
The result of this campaign was a treaty between the
United States, represented by General Wayncj and the
^Li/e of Brant, Vol. II., p. 386.
» Ibid.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 185
Indian nations, concluded at Greenville. August 3, 1795,
by which peace was finally secured on terms which gave
to the Americans the lands of the Indians in the North-
west, with the exception of small reservations. The power
of the Western tribes was forever broken.
186 Lije and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
CHAPTER VHL
1793-1798 — Interest in National Politics — Against the French Par-
ty— The Scheme to Return to Pennsylvanl^ Abandoned — Second
Stage op Government in the North-western Territory — Meeting
OP THE Legislature — Important Work in the Revision op the
Code op Laws — Rapid Increase in Population — The Connecticut
Land Company — Commotion at Post Vixcennes and Judge Tur-
ner— Political Excitement — Spanish and .British Intrigues is
the North-western Territory and Kentucky — Influence and Bril-
UANT Talents of Wilkinson — Proclamation op St. Clair Warning
Against the French Agents — George Rogers Clark a French
Major-General — Division of People op Territory into Parties.
The year succeeding the close of the disastrous cam-
paign of 1791, was a period of unrest and anxiety to St.
Clair. He found the ties that bound him to the people of
the East gradually and surely relaxing, and the advantage
which had been his on account of his ability and promi-
nence in the War of Independence, now that he was ab-
sent, was less certain, and might soon disappear altogether
before the claims of less deserving men. A chance seemed
to oiler for him to regain his position. The representative
of the Westmoreland District, having met with some oppo-
sition, had indicated a purpose not to stand again as a can-
didate for Congress, and it was proposed by the Federalists
that St. Clair should make the canvass. The suggestion
was eagerly embraced, and the advice of friends freely
invited.
To his friend James Ross he contidod the delicate task
of sounding the political managers, aiul of deciding on a
policy to be adopted. The names most generally men-
tioned were those of \fr. Todd and Mr. Smilie. As the
latter was backed l»y Mr Finley, it was not thought possible
for Mr. Todd to succeed; if he did, "the public would not
be benefited by the change.'' Mr. Ross was warned against
Mr. J , of Greensburg, who, notwithstanding "his pro-
fession to the contrary, was suspected of being at heart a
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 187
very Democrat." It was evident that St. Clair longed to
be actively employed in the arena of national politics, in
which he saw many associates and friends of Revolu-
tionary days conspicuously engaged in support of the
principles he espoused. Pennsylvania had not main-
tained her rightful position — nay, was degenerating under
the dangerous political teachings of Gallatin and others.
To his friend Ross St. Clair poured out his heart freely;
though his recollections of La Fayette and other French
patriots of the Revolution were most tender, he was op-
posed to the Galilean party in America. *' I have seen
the bill for cutting off the intercourse with France,"
said he, " which I hope is a law ere now. It was a
step which should have been taken long ago, but is
better late than not at all. Now let the country be
put in a state of defense, and we shall have peace. One
good consequence has flowed already from the firmness and
decision of the President and Senate — the d d Faction
that were dragging the country to ruin are completely dis-
comfited. I hope, too, the time is not distant when Penn-
sylvania— poor, degraded Pennsylvania — under your aus-
pices, will regain her position of weight and influence in
the Union from which she has been detruded." And
concludes with a fine line from his favorite Horace:
** JVtf desperandum Teucro duce et auspice Teucro.^"
But St. Clair was destined not to share in the leadership
at the Capital. After careful inquiry it w^as found wiser to
adhere to a plan of campaign already outlined by the man-
aging Federalists. This action was what St. Clair himself
had advised, but it forever cut him off from active partici-
pation in all that was most congenial. He left a so^'iety
which he was so ^vell fitted to adorn, and turned his face
again towards the West with reluctance. The disappoint-
ment was even greater to Mrs. St. Clair, who still lingered
among the beloved hills of Pennsylvania, and who hoped
that some turn in affairs would reunite the family and re-
store their fortunes.
» MS, Letter, Jane 21, 1792.
188 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
While in Philadelphia, in 1792, Governor St Clair looked
faithfully after the interests of the people of the North-
western Territory. As he still held to the opinion that the
laws framed by the Territorial Legislature did not conform
to the Ordinance of 1787, he induced Congress to pass an
act giving to the Governor and Judges authority to repeal,
at their discretion, the laws by them made; an authority
judiciously exercised later. This seemed to be the only
practical method for correcting the error against which the
Governor had protested. His views on a judicial system,
on the practice in England, on the rights of the people, and
the duties of magistrates, will be found forcibly stated in
the papers and addresses included in this work, and, upon
examination, to be the basis of the system of laws estab-
lished in 1795 — a system, in the language of a distin-
guished jurist, " not without many imperfections and blem-
ishes; but it may be doubted whether any colony, at so
early a period after its first establishment, ever had one
80 good." *
In this work of revision, the Governor and Judges con-
formed to the provisions of the Ordinance, as the former
had insisted should be done in 1789-90. For the first time,
a complete system of government was created for the
North-west, by which the blessings promised by the Ordi-
nance were realized. Laws for the regulation of society —
subjecting real estate to execution for debt; directing the
manner of executing writs of attachment ; for the speedy re-
covery of small debts; concerning defalcations; for the
punishment of larceny; for the limitation of actions; for
the recovery of fines and forfeitures; for the settlement
of intestates' estates ; for assessing and distributing taxes ;
regulating inclosures; concerning trespassing animals; di-
recting how husband and wife may convey their estates;
for the speedy assignment of dower; for the partition of
land ; giving remedies in equity; against forcible entry and
detainer; allowing foreign attachments; limiting imprison-
ment for debt; governing proceedings in ejectment; sup-
^ Chase.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair. 189
pressing gaming; establishing prphans' courts; for the
relief of the poor, etc., etc. — were adopted. The j iidicial sys-
tem was so changed as to fix the general court at Marietta and
Cincinnati, and a circuit court was established, " with power
to try, in the several counties, issues in fact depending before
the superior tribunal, where alone causes could be finally
decided." Lastly, as if with a view to create some great
reservoir, from which, whatever principles and powers had
been omitted in the particular acts might be drawn accord-
ing to the exigencies of circumstances, they adopted a law,
providing that the common law of England, and all gen-
eral statutes in aid of the common law, prior to the fourth
year of James I., should be of full force within the terri-
tory.*
St. Clair had had this in view from the beginning of his
administration, but the opinions of the first Judges were
not in harmony with his own. He believed such legislation
warranted by one of the articles of compact of the Ordi-
nance, which provides that the people of theTerritory shall
always be entitled to judicial proceeding according to the
course of common law. This statute was subsequently
recognized as having the same force as any other adopted
law of the Legislature and the bench.^ But, on the other
hand, it has been objected, that the Ordinance permitted
the adoption of laws only from the^ then existing laws of
the original States, and that this could not warrant the
adoption of written and unwritten English law, especially
as the Virginia act, upon which it was based, had been re-
pealed.^ Again it may be urged in support of the first
view, if the action of the Governor and Judges was
in technical violation of that provision of the Ordinance
regulating the formation of laws, it was in keeping with
the spirit of the more important compact already refer-
red to, and with the history of all English colonies
who made the common law the foundation of free gov-
ernments. Upon this rock the Americans planted them-
' Chcaii Preliminary Sketchy p. 26.
* See case Thompson's Lessee vs. Gibson, 2 0. R. 340.
» Chaais Statutes of Ohio, Vol. I., p. 190.— Note.
190 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
selves when resisting the oppressions of George IH.*
Whatever benefit could be derived trom its obligatory
recognition in the administration of government and the
interpretation of laws, was secured to the people of the
North-west by this action of Governor St. Clair and the
Judges. If there was wanting the power to legislate, as
afterwards held by some, this was cured by the failure of
Congress to disapprove of the law.^
The act of Congress which gave to the Territorial Legis-
lature tliis important authority, also empowered a single
judge of the general court, in the absence of the others, to
hold the terms. This was intended to remedy the difficulty
of securing the attendance of any two Judges at any one
point in so vast a territory ; but the citizens saw their own
interests jeoparded by this change. Governor St. Clair
pointed out the danger to the Judges and to the President.
In the Eastern part of the Territory lands had been bought,
generally, either of the Ohio or the Miami Company ; of the
former Judge Putnam was a director, and of the latter Judge
Symmes was the sole manager. Both Judges were members
* •* When the difficulties with the home government sprung up, it
was a source of immense moral power to the colonists that they were
able to show that the rights they claimed were conferred by the com-
mon law, and that the King and Parliament were seeking to deprive
them of that common birthright of Englishmen." — Cooley <m Constitur
tioiial lAmitathns, p. 32.
" These statutes [common law] upon the points which are covered
by them are the best evidence possible They are the living charters
of English liberty to the present day ; and as the foreininners of the
American Constitutions and the source from which have been derived
many of the most important articles in their bills of rights, they are
constantly appealed to when personal liberty or private right are
placed in apparent antagonism to the claims of government." — Ibid. —
Note.
* " The legislation [by territorial bodies with plenary power], of course,
must not be in contlict with the law of Congress conferring the power
to legislate, but a variance from it may be supposed approved by that
body if suffered to remain without disapproval for a series of years
after being duly reported to it. Clinton r. Englebrecht, 13 Wall. 434,
446. See Williams r. Bank of Michigan, 7 Wend. 539; ^wan r. Wil-
liams. 2 Mich. 427 : Stout r. Hyatt, 13 Kan. 232."— Q>o&y on Omstitur
tional Limitations^ p. 33. Note.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 191
of the Supreme Court. Every land dispute was liable to be
trace(f to some transaction in which one or the other of
them was concerned, and in the hearing they would sit in
judgment. But the danger was increased by giving to a
single judge the power of a full bench. Though never so
upright, yet judgment was liable to be affected insensibly
by the bias of interest.^
The same vigilance for the protection of the rights of the
people is observable in the remarks of Governor St. Clair
on the motion of Judge Symmes to extend the jurisdiction
of a single magistrate in the trial of small causes, not in-
volving over twenty dollars. He pointed out the hardship
to the debtor resulting from summary proceedings ; the in-
crease of litigation through convenience of small courts, and
the injury to society as a consequence. ** These evils," said
he, " have all proceeded from extending the jurisdiction of
single magistrates; and the mischievous influence of it acts
with so much regularity, that, knowing the character of a
people as litigious or otherwise, you may tell with certainty
what is the spirit of their laws ; and, contrariwise, know-
ing the nature of their laws, you may with absolute cer-
tainty infer the character of the people." "Although "
added he, " the administration of justice should certainly be
so cheap as that every man may be within the reach of right,
it should also be so dear, particularly at the first step, as
that every body may be deterred from entering into law-
suits wantonly, or to gratify a revengeful disposition."
I have thus referred briefly to the more important part of
the work of St. Clair in laying the foundation of the five
republican states which hold to-day such an important place
in the Union, for the purpose ot calling attention to the
ability, versatility, and noble principles of the man. To re-
count in detail his labors in administering the government
from 1790 tol802, is not within the scope of this memoir.
It certainly was not smooth sailing at any time, but there
was a period when his efforts were embarrassed in the most
exasperating way by subordinates in the War and State De-
^St. Clair in letter to Secretary of State, December 14, 1794.
192 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
partments. In the former, Hodgdon, the Quartermasterr
General, who had been largely responsible for the results of
the Indian campaign of 1791, seemed to have a controlling in-
fluence ; and after Mr. Jefferson left the State Department,
that baleful influence was mysteriously extended. But for
his regard for General Washington, St. Clair would have
sent in his resignation. He finally stated the facts to the
President in a private letter, and there was a speedy inter-
ference for his relief from headquarters, and it was so im-
perative that during the remainder of Washington's admin-
istration and the administration of Adams, he was treated
with the respect to which he was entitled.
The unfortunate French who had been led to seek for a
new paradise on the banks of the Ohio; the destitute in-
habitants of the ancient posts on the Wabash and Missis-
sippi, and the settlements of the Revolutionary soldiers,
caused St. Clair the greatest anxiety, and required efforts
for their relief and protection that were almost superhuman.
He made repeated journeys from one part of the Territory
to another, sleeping upon the ground or in an open boat,
and living upon coarse and uncertain fare. At one time he
traveled in this manner a distance of five thousand miles,
without the means of protection against inclement weather,
and without rest. These hardships proved a severe strain
upon his constitution, and attacks of the gout were more
frequent than formerly. In the winter of 1794-95, he was
prostrated with a fever which brought him within view of
the silent land. And yet the exigencies of his oflice did
not permit him to omit any personal attentions.
After the treaty of Greenville, the tide of emigration was
to the North-west. New settlements appeared upon the
Muskingum, the Scioto, on tlie Miami even as far up as
the Mad River, on the Wabash, on the Illinois, and the Mis-
sissippi. In the north-eastern part of the territory a new
light appeared. The 4th of July, 1796, was celebrated on
Conncaut (Conneaught) Creek, in New Connecticut land, by
General Moses Cleveland and companions, who had come
from the rugged liills of Old Connecticut to survey that
part of her Western Reserve lying cast of Cuyahoga River.
Life and Public Sercices of Arthur St. Clair. 193
They were tlie first English-speaking people to take posses-
sion.* Connecticut had, with characteristic [nudence, when
the cessions of hinds were being made by tlie States, reserved
to herself a large section west of Pennsylvania. The west-
ern part of this, to the extent of half a million of acres,
was granted to those of her citizens who had suffered by
depredations of the British during thelievolutionary War,
and the remainder, supposed to contain about three million
acres, w\is sold. General Cleveland ni»peared as the general
agent of the Connecticut Land Company, and conducted
his operations from the east bank of the Cuyahosra, near
Lake Erie.' The purchase of General Samuel IL Parsons,
near the Mahoning River, known as the *'Salt Spring Tract,"
made in 1788, also attracted the attention of the settlers.
This progress of civilization required the extention of the
Government, and new counties were erected as rapidly as
consistent with the public welfare.
In 1795, Governor St. Clair issued a proclamation for di-
viding St. Clair county, which was too large for the trans-
action of public business. The part lying south of a line
running from the Mississippi through New Design due east
to the Wabash was designated as the county of Randolph —
a graceful compliment to the distinguished statesman of
Virginia, who had given the weight of his support to
the Federal Constitution at an imp«»rtant crisis, and who
was a member of Washington's cabinet.
Upon the surrender of the [losts on the lakes by the Brit-
ish, the Detroit country was set apiirt as the county of
Wayne — being appropriately named after the victorious
general who had won peace from the Indians, and forever
extinguished the hopes of the British commanders of a new
confederacy which should embrace Canada and the North-
west. Adams, Jefferson, and Ross were soon after formed in
the same manner, the first and third embracing all of theSci-
' Whilltesey'a Ear It/ History of Cleveland, p. 181.
'The Connecticut Company controlled the soil of the Western Re-
serve until 1809. See WhiUksejf, p. 108. The work in an interesting and
important contribution to the history of the North-west.
13
194 Life and Public Services of Arthur Si. Clair.
oto country, in which great numbers of settlers were locating
lands, and the second the section between Pennsvivania and
a line extending from the mouth of the Cuyalioga to the
Muskingum. It will be observed that Governor St. Clair,
in making choice of names and recognizing eminent char-
acters, was equally happy in exhibiting a spirit of magna-
nimity and paying a tribute to friendship.
At last, St. Chiir was moved to undertake a land enter-
prise, and, in 1795, in company with Senator Jonathan
Dayton and Israel Ludlow, of New Jersey, and General
James Wilkinson, contmcted witli Jolin Cleves Svmmes
for the purchase and settlement of the seventh and eighth
ranfifos. between Mad River and the Little Miami. The
survey was completed after much trouble, and on the 4th of
November Israel Ludlow laid out a town, which was called
Dayton, from the name of one of the proprietors. Judge
Svmmes being unable to complete his payments and make
title to what he had sold, the land reverted to the Gov-
ernment, and St. Clair did not profit by his undertaking.
Daniel C. Cooper, who had assisted in making the survey,
partly by the acquisition of pre emption rights, and partly
by agreement with the settlers, became the titular proprie-
tor of the town.*
Tlie act which permitted the holding of the Supreme
Court by a single judge was productive of many unpleas-
ant complications, which taxed the address and pntience of
the Governor sorely to adjust. Congress had made no pro-
vision for the payment of the expenses of the officers and
to carry out the provisions of the Ordinance for the estab-
lishment of the government over so vast a territory, and
the instructions of the President for the relief of the French
inhabitants, would consume, in traveling expenses alone.
* Cunr.ns >>k<frh, p. 11. Ninetoon fnmilios removed from Cincinnati
and fornu'd llic settlement of Dayton. Among these settlers wore
Benjamin and William Van Clove, and the three brothers McClure,
James, Jolm, and Thomas.
Tlie failure of Svmmes and the transfer to Cooper led to a good de;.I
of litigation, in which Dayton, Ludlow, St. Clair, and Cooper were par-
tiea
Life and Public Services of Artn.ir St. Clair. 195
their salaries. The first Judges declined to go with tiie
Governor and Secretary to the Far West, and St. Clair was
never able to secure at any point beyond Cincinnati a full
court. He met the emergency well and prudently, but the
responsibility was irksome, and it required a sacrifice of
time and strength he should never have been called on
to make at his time of life.
Judge Turner, who was arrogant and dictatorial in the
extreme, succeeded, both at Post Vincennes and Kaskaskia,
in putting every bo«ly by the ears, and necessitated the active
interference of the Governor to quiet the storm. lie pur-
posed having Henry Vanderburg, judge of probate and
justice, impeached for some informality in the administra-
tion of office; and in the Mississippi country he removed
William St. Clair, clerk of the court of St. Clair county,
for presuming to keep the records of the court at Cahokia
instead of Kaskaskia. The Governor, in order to accom-
inodate the inhabitants, had provided that the courts should
be held at stated periods, at three different places, and the
clerk of the court, in the same spirit, kept the books of
record at Cahokia, where they were accessible to the great-
est number of land-owners. But Judire Turner, without
authority, directed that Kaskaskia should be the only county-
seat, and, without waiting for an explanation, in the most ar-
bitrary manner, commanded the clerk to produce the books,
within twelve hours, at that place. He also, without au-
thority, appointed a Mr. Jones assistant clerk, and placed
tiie books in his possession. The Governor required Wil-
liam St. Clair to assert his rights, and rebuked Judge
Turner for his high-handed proceedings. Subsequently,
the inhabitants of the Mississippi country preferred charges
of oppression and corrui)tion against the Judge, to the Sec-
retary of State, which, in due course, were referred to Con-
gress for proceedinii^s in impcjichment. The committee, to
whom the matter was referred, reported that, on account of
distance and difficulty in commanding the attendance of
witnesses, it would he better to have the investigation con-
ducted within the Territory. Accordingly, the papers were
196 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
sent to Governor St. Clair, with iiKstructions to make in-
quiry, and report.*
Anotlier enibarrnssment arose in tlie Governor's inability
to find a competent lawyer to accept of tiie office ot" At-
tornev-General for the Territory. The remuneration was
so precarious no fit person practicing before the courts
could be induced to undertake it. There was necessity for
such an officer, and, in the emergency, the Governor, in
1796, preyailcd on Ijis son, Arthur St. Clair, Jr., a promis-
iiig y<^ung attorney at Pittsburgh, to remove to Cincinnati
and take tlie office. This was an unfortunate step, as it
was at great personal sacrifice on the part of the son, and
subjected the Goyernor to unjust criticism, some years
later, when party passions were aroused in an effort to ob-
tain political control. Young St. Clair directly gained a
a position of prominence and influence in the Territory,
due entirely to sujierior abilities and an agreeable address.
In contemporary correspondence and publications he is re-
ferred to in terms of respect.
A subject, which attracted some attention during these
formatiye years, was tlie extending of excise duties on
spirituous liquors of domestic production to the Territories
as a part of the United States. Persons selling foreign
liquors were required to take out a license. This was ex-
tending the revenue system to the Territories, and was
taxation without representation. It met with little other
opjiosition than harmless criticism, but tliere ^vere not
\vanting eyasions. The Attorney-General supplied the
Secretary of the Treasury with an opinion that the Fourth
Article of Comjiact of the Ordinance extended all of the
acts of Con2:ress to the Territory. St. Clair, in a letter to
Oliver Wolcott, controyerted this view. He took the
ground that the Fourth Article was intended to apply to
the States that should he formed out of the Territory
%yhen admitted into the Union on an equality with the
^Ainoriciin State Papers. Annals of Congress.
Ju<lg<» Turner himself went to Philadelpliia and asked to be heard,
but liis petition was laid on the table. The matter was referred back
to the Territory, but was never heard from again.
Life an J Public Scrcices of Arthur St. Clair. 197
origiual States, and not while in a territorial condition ;
that, if intended otherwise, the people would have been
given a representation, a participation in the benetits of the
general government, and that the judicial powers of the
government would have been extended over the Territory.
The attempt in the Congress of 1792-93 to extend tlie law
imposing a duty on s|»irits distilled within the United.
Slates to the Territory North-west of the river Ohio, failed,
notwithstanding it was earnestly pressed by the adminis-
tration.* In 1794, an act was pass- d authorizing the Presi-
dent to erect revenue districts and appoint collectors
therefor "in the Territories Korth-west and South of the
river Ohio," in order to facilitate and secure the collection
of revenue on distilled spirits and stills. It extended the
jurisdiction of the ^'judicial courts" of the Territories to
all cases originating under the act.^
For several years after the passage of the Ordinance, the
country lying west of the Alleghany range had an uncertain
status. The three leading Euroi>ean powers re^rarded it by
no means desirable or essential that it should become a
part of the Kepublic, and th'»y intrigued to prevent that
consummation. We have seen how the British retained the
posts, and encouraged Brant in his efforts to form an In-
dian confederacy whose eastern limits should be the Ohio;
and how, growing bolder, Mr. John Connolly was dis-
patched by the Canadian authorities to Kentucky to per-
suade the people that they were being sacrificed by the
people of the East, and that their darling object — the free
navigation of the Mississippi — could be best secured
through an alliance with His Britannic Majesty. Mr. Con-
nolly's visit was well timed — as he supposed. It chanced
that the inhabitants south of the Ohio, in the exercise of
that freedom believed to be a part of the inalienable rights
of American citizens, fancying their interests w^ere being
neglected by the general government, talked a great deal
and threatened dire consequences if something were not
' Marshall s Life of Washington, Vol. V., p. 379.
' A itn lis of Congress.
198 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
immediately done to secure unrestricted commerce on the
inhind waters. Mr. Connolly found out how much im-
portance should be attached to such popular gasconade, for
directly lie hinted the. nature of his mission, he was invited
to leave for Canada by the shortest route.
But Spain attempted a bolder stroke. That government
formed the design of detaching the Western settlements
from tlie Union, and erecting them into an independent
state, under tlie protection of the Spanish King. The in-
ducement lield out was the free navigation of the Missis-
sippi. To promote the scheme several influential citizens
of Kentucky were pensioned, and settlements on the banks
of the Misaissi[ipi were promoted by donations of land.
The corres| ondcnce of the day shows that many Americans
were attracted by these advantageous offers, and the occu-
pation of the land north of the Ohio was greatly retarded
tliereby. But the emigrants did not take kindly to Span-
ish domination, and uuiuy of them removed to the North-
western Territory or to Kentnckv. The settlement at New
Madrid, which was, perhaps, the most prominent, was
abandoned early.
This Spanish intrigue is traced to the year 1787, wMien
the Kentuckians became greatly alarmed at a report that
Mr. Jay had ]>roposed to concede the exclusive CMUitrol of
the Mississipi»i to Spain for a series of years. A delegate
meeting was called for the following year. It was held as
advertised, and an address to Congress issued in which the
natural right of the people to navigate the Mississippi was
asserted, and a demand made for tie forcible protection of
that right, if necessary. Prior to this, in February, 17"8,
Kentucky had petitioned for admission into the Union and
had been refused. It was while the people were thus ex-
cited that the suggestion was insidiously made for them to
act in(le[»endently, and receive from Spain the privilege of
conducting an unrestricted comnu'rce down the rivers to the
Gulf. Hon. John Brown, a member of the old Continental
Congress, had been selected to present this petition, and on
making a report of his failure to the convention above
referred to, sitting at Danville, he did not speak confidently
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair, 199
of the future prospects of Kentucky. In a letter to Judge
Muter, he said he did not think that the Eastern States
would ever assent to the admission ot Kentucky ir.to the
Union as an independent State, unless Vermont or Maine
were brought forward at the same time; that there was a
jealousy of the ghowing importance of the West; and that
it was generally expected that the district would declare its
independence, and proceed to frame a constitution of gov-
ernment, lie then added : **This step will, in my opinion,
tend to preserve unanimity, and will enable you to a<lopt,
with effect, such measures as may be necessary to promote
the interest of the district. In private conversation with
Mr. Gardoqui, the Spanish minister at this place [New
York], I have been assured by him in the most explicit
terms, that if Kentucky will declare her independence, and
empower some person to negotiate with him, that he has
authority, and will engage to open the navigation of the
Mississippi for the exportation of their produce, on terms
of mutual advantage. But that this privik^ge can never be
extended to them while part of the United States, by reason
of commercial treaties existing between that court and
other powers of Europe." ^
There was strong temptation in this. The Union was
little more than a rope of sand. What could it do for a
people isolated as were those of the West ? If independent,
what could tliey not do for tliemselves? Tlie situation was
afterwards graphically described by General Wilkinson:
" The people of the West were open to savage depredations ;
exposed to the jealousies of the Spanish government; un-
protected by that of the old confoderaticm ; and denied the
free navigation of the Mississippi, the only practicable
channel by which the products of their labor could find a
market."^ Thus situated, there was a free expression of
opinion at the Danville meeting not at all inconsistent with
their attachment to a republican government, but which
has, since the blessings of the Union became fully realized,
' See Butler's History of Kcntuchf, p. 172. American State Papers.
' WilkinsorCa Address^ Memoirs^ Vol. II., P- ^19-
200 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair,
been magnified into something more serious, for partisan
designs. The purpose of the Spanish government is clear
enough, but it is quite as certain that only a very few
Americans sympathised with that purpose.
It would seem that the communication thus opened im-
proved the business interests of the Kentuckians. One of
the first persons to attempt a mercantile venture at this
time was General James Wilkinson. He shipped a cargo
of tobacco to New Orleans, and by his address secured a
contract with the Spanish Governor for a regular supply,
not only of this product, but of flour and bacon, the gov-
ernment to be the purchaser of all he might send.
Wilkinson had settled in Kentucky after the close of the
Revolutionary War, and established himself as a merchant.
His agreeable manners and superior talents placed him in
the front as a leader in all public afltairs. " Was an address
to be written, which should pour forth the feelings of Ken-
tucky, a debate to be opened on her vital interests, Wilkin-
son was equally the author of the one and the speaker of
the other. So varied, rich, and polished were the powers
and acquirements of this singularly versatile person, that
whether in the field of Saratoga, the cabinet of Governor
Miro, or in the conventions of the backwoodsmen of Ken-
tucky, he drew all eyes upon him, and was looked up to
as a leader and chief." ^
Wilkinson's mercantile expedition was a fortunate one for
Kentuckv. ** Previous to that time all those who ventured
on the Mississipj)! had their property seized by the first
commanding oflScer whom they met, and little or no coui-
municaiion was kept up between the countries."* The
military reputation of Wilkinson carried his projierty be-
yond the petty ofticers to Xevv Orleans, where, although at
first Fcized by the Intendant, it wjis permitted to be sold
without j>ayment of duty. Wilkinson had followed his
property clovsely, ami he so played upon the fears of (tov-
ernor Miro, that advantas^eous terms of trade were ac-
^ B'i//t',\s fl'sforj/ of Kentucky, p. \1').
'Clark's relation to T. Pickoring. WUkinaon s Memoirs^ Appendix 2.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 201
corde'l. "This changed the face of things, and was pro-
ductive of a new line of conduct on the part of the Span-
iards." ^
But this success came near wrecking Wilkinson's future
prospects. lie was accused of being a party to the Spanish
intrigue for a separation of Kentucky from the Union; but
no distinct proof in support of tlie charge was ever ad-
duced,^ and we may fairly conclude that the accusation had
its origin in jealousy and party policy. When the at-
tempts of the Spaniards were renewed later, Wilkinson
was in command of the United States forces in the North-
western Ti'rritory, and although he received communica-
tions from below, his conduct was strictly in the interest
of the government.
In 1793, Citizen Genet, besides other extraordinary
things, attempted to enlist an army in the Western country
forthe invasion of Louisiana, and, which is not the least
remarkable of the events of this period, he obtained the
consent of George Rogers Clark to command the expedi-
tion as "a Mujor-General in the Armies of France, and
Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Legions on the
\lississippi." The French Government not doubting that
the American Republic would make common cause with
France, provided Genet with blank commissions, which
were to be filled tip for those officers who would join the
army. The President had issued a proclamation of neu-
trality, but nothing daunted. Citizen Genet addressed him-
self directly to the real sovereigns of America, lie met
with hearty sympathy from a small number of prominent
politicians, including Mr. Jefferson, Governor Mifflin and
Chief Justice McKean,^of Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia
a ''Democratic Society" in imitation of the famous clubs
of Paris, was formed. Fresh from this source of inspira-
^ Clark's account, American State Papers.
^Ilildreth, Vol IV., p. 135.
Also see Mavn Butlrs J/i.ston/ of Kentucky for a fair and honorable
presentation of the facts. The savage attack of Marshall, in his history,
on Wilkinson and others, can only be explained on the ground that
partyism is unreasoning and unfair.
202 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
tion, the zealous agents of Genet repaired to the Western
country to spread the true democracy. A society was organ-
ized in Lexington, and Kentucky was soon filled with
enthusiasm for the Frencli cause.
J^resident Wasliington early advised Governors St. Clair
and Shelby of the projected movement, and communicated
to them the names of the agents^ dispatched from Phila-
delphia by the French Minister to put his plans into execu-
tion. These men found no such sympathy north as south
of the Ohio. Governor St. Chiir promi»tly issued a pro-
clamation, informing the citizens of the contemplated
invasion of the Spanish territory, and warning them of the
dangerous con.<equences of participating in it. Goven.or
Slulby tot)k no public recognition of the communication
of the President, and when advised by Governor St. Clair
of the movements of General Clark and the French agents,
did not attempt to interfere. To Mr. Jefterson, Secretary of
State, he expressed this sympathetic opinion: "I have
great doubts even if tliey attempt to carry this plan into
execution, provided they manage their business with pru-
dence, whether there is any legal authority to restrain or
to punish them; at least before they have actually accom-
plished it.'' ^
In the same paper in which was published Governor St.
Clair's proclamation, appeared the call of General Clark
for recruits, but the latter was careful to keep beyond tlie
official reach of the Governor. Quite a number of venture-
some ch:iracters crossed over the river and joined the
French army, which, however, was destined never to draw
* Cliarles Delpeiiu, Matiirin, La Cliaiso, ami Oigiioux. It surprised
Citizen (ienet thac it should bo considennUan ollt'ii.se for tlieso men to
engage Anieriean citizens in a war against another power with which
the Unite<l States were at peace; or for Americans to enlist in thrt
armies of France. " Do not," said he to .Jefferson, "punish the bravo
individuals of your nation, who arrange themselves under our banner,
knowing j)erfectly well that no law of the United Stati's gives to the
Government the pad i)ower of arresting their zeal by acts of rigor.
The Americans ar«» free; they are not attached to the glebe like the
slaves of Ku.-sia; they may change their situation when they please.'*
^American State Pttpcrs,
Life and Public ISeroiccs of Arlhur Hi, Clair. 203
Spanish blood. In tlie following year the President issued
a proclamation, warning the officers of their peril in enlist-
ing men to make war on a nation with which the United
States were at peace ; and soon after instructed General
Wayne to send " a detachment to take post at Fort Massac;
and to erect a strong redoubt, and block-house, with some
suitable cannon from Fort Washington/' Major Thomas
Doyle was intrusted with the execution of the order, which
was carried into effect in the spring. Congress passed an
act covering violations of neutrality, and, discouraged by
such obstacles, Genet abandoned the projected invasion of
Spanish territory.
Thus, unforeseen events prevented two thousand brave
Kentuckians, in the language of Monsieur La Chaise, from
taking from the despotic usurping Spaniards by force, under
the flag of the French republic, the empire of the Mis-
sissippi, breaking the chains of the Americans and their
bretaren, the French, and laying "the foundation of the
prosperity and hapi>ines8 of two nations, destined by nature
to be but one, the most happy in the universe."
Out of this attempt of the French minister to violate the
neutrality of the United States, grew the most violent party
divisions. There had been a strong Gallican spirit mani-
fested in opposition to a treaty with Great Britian, but it
broke out now wnth redoubled fury. This feeling extended
to the AVest. On the 24th of May, 1794, a numerously-
attended meeting at Lexington adopted resolutions, ** ex-
pressive of unqualified censure upon the administration of
Washington, mixing all the difficulties and perplexities at-
tending the Iiidiiin war, British outrages, and S( anish pro-
crastination, in one mass of condemnation.^ " Although the
people of the Xorth-west were closely associated with those
of Kentucky in many w^iys, yet the prevailing sentiment
was iu 8U[)port of the administration. The feeling of oppo-
sition was intensitied by the course of Great Britain in sub-
jecting American vessels to search. When, however, an
understanding was reached with that Government, France
^ Butlef'6 History of KentuLcky^ p. 234.
204 Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair.
cliarged the United States with a breach of friendship,
an abandonment of neutrality, and a violation of engage-
ments, and, thereupon, concluded an alliance, offensive and
defensive, with Spain.
Out of tins grew new trouble for the West. At the in-
stance of France, Spain complained to the American Gov-
ernment tliat the British treaty had sacrificed her interests
as we-1 as those of France, and made this a ground for de-
laying the running of a boundary line and the delivery of
the i»osts on the Mississippi, as stipulated in the treaty of
1795. In July of that very year, Thomas Power, an agent
of Governor Carondelet, delivered a letter to Judge Benja-
min Sebastian, of Kentucky, wliich contained the inform-
ation that the King of Spain was "willing to open the
navigation of the Mississippi to the Western country, and
desirous to establish certain regulations, reciprocally bene-
ficial to the commerce of both countries," and an invitation
to appoint agents to conduct negotiations at New Madrid.
Subsequently, Judge Sebastian met the Si)ani8h commis-
sioner, as agreed upon, but before the business was conclu-
ded, word was received from Havana that a treaty liad been
signed, which put an end to the business. Tliis, however,
did not end the Spanish intrigue, which was rene\ved after
the alliance with France.
Early in 1797, there was great activity noticed among the
Spaniards at their upper posts on the Mississippi, which
Governor St. Clair reported to the Secretary of AVar. The
Indians were being tampered with, and inducements held
out for them to desert the Americans and join the interests
of Spain. In June, Thomas Power again appeared on the
scene as a bearer of a letter from Governor Carondelet to
General Wilkinson, who was found at Detroit. This letter
asked the General to delay the march of the American
troops for the posts on the Mississippi until the adjustnwwit
of certain questions which were then pending between the
governments of the United States and Spain. General
Wilkinson declined to comply, and sent Power back to
New Madrid in care of Captain Shanmburgh. The emissary
said in a letter to Don Manuel Gayoso, Spanish Governor
IJfc and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 205
at Natchez, that Wilkinson declared that the project was
chimerical ; that tlie inhabitants of the Western Statics hav-
ing obtained all they desired, would nnt wish to form any
other political or commercial alliances; and that they had
no motive for separating themselves from the interests of
the other States of the Union, even if Franco and Spain
should make them the most advantageous oflcrs."
S[)ain professing to fear that Great Britain would semi an
expedition from Canada tlirough the Xorth-we«itern Terri-
tory against the province of Louisiana, Pre^iident Adams,
February 4, 1798, instructed General Wilkinson to employ
the force under him to oppose the British or other foreign
nation "who should presume to attempt a violation of the
"territory of the United States, by an expedition through it
against their enemies." All pretexts for delay being ex-
"lausted, Spain now reluctantly carried out the provisions
of the treaty, and on the 5th of October, 1798, General
^Wilkinson established his headquarters at Loftus' Heights,
^)n the left bank of the Mississipj)i, six miles north of the
thirty-first degree of north latitude. Here he erected Fort
—Adams, which com[>letely commanded the Mississippi.
"Thus the free navigation of that nnghty stream was se-
<2ured to tlie people of the Nortii-west, and the first step
'taken towar^ls its complete possession.
The further remark may be made in this connection, that,
t:hrough these events and the retaliatory measures adopted
l>y the American Government, party divisions were estab-
lished in the North-western Territory, and political discus-
sions became as violent and party methods as objectionable
mi in the more populous East. We shall see to what extent
they were carried, and shall have abundant leisure to mor-
lUize on the uncertainty of political ties. Meanwhile the
•Tl'erritory was strongly for the administration.
The question of slavery proved to be one of great em-
barrassment in the admin'stration of the Government. The
Sixth Article was reijarded as a menace by the ancient in-
habitants at Post Yincenncs, as well as in the Illinois
country, and quite a number, as has been seen, removed to
the Spanish territory wMth their slaves. Those that re-
206 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
niained behind presented a statement of tlic situation to
Governor St. Glair, and asked his opinion.
The Governor declared it to be his opinion that the Sixth
Article of the Ordinance was not retroactive ; that it was " a
declaration of a principle which was to govern the legisla-
ture in all acts reRi»ecting that matter, and the courts of
justice in their decisions in cases arising after the date of
the Ordinance." Retroactive laws were repugnant to free
governments, and in most of the United States were for-
bidden. If Congress had intended the immediate abolition
of slavery, conij)ensatioh would have been made to the
owners; but "they had the right to determine that prop-
erty of that kind afterwards acquired should not be pro-
tected in future, and that slaves imported into the Territory
after that declaration miijht reclaim their freedom."
This opinion was accepted as the true interpretation of
the Ordinance in the different stages of government.
To many of the present day this may savor of extreme
conservatism, and seem to disre2:ard that hi2:her law which
refuses to recognize property rights in human beings. But
an official charged with a trust, must execute it according
to the letter and in the spirit of the law. This is whjit
St. Clair did in the case of coniplications arising under the
Sixth Article of compact. When the time came for chang-
ing the form of government for the eastern part of the Ter-
ritory, he became the leader of the opposition to the move-
ment to secure a suspension of the Sixth Article, and its
defeat was largely due to his eloquent protests in public
a<ldresses.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 207
CHAPTETl IX.
179S-1802 — Advakcemext of WixTnROPiS.\RGi-XT— William TTexrt TTarri-
Box appointed Secretary — New Stacik ix the Territorial Govern-
ment— Popular Election op Leg.slatuue— Arsolute Veto op the
Governor — Uiqiit to Erect New Counties in Dlspute — Popllarityop
St. Clair — His Efforts to Preserve the Rights of the People —
The Common Law — Important Services op Jacob Burnet — Influ-
ence of the Gkeat Land Holders — Attempts to Introduce Slav-
ery— Kentucky Claims Jurlsdiction over Ohio River — Address to
President Adams— Division of the Territory — Harrison Governor
OK Indiana Territory — The Virginia Colony in the Scioto Valley
— Political Schemes — Antagonism to Governor St. Clair — His
Ability as a Leader and Strength with his Party — Intrigue to Se-
cure his Removal Defeated — Reappointed Governor by President
Adams — Movement for a State Government — Counter Movement —
Bitterness op Poutical Divisions^-Colonel Wortuington in Wash-
ington— Triumfh of the State Party — Attkmpt to Secure the
Removal of St. Clair through Jefferson, and its Failure — Con-
vention to Form a State Constitution — Addre.ss of (ioVERxoR St.
Clair AND its Consequences — True History of the Intrigues against
Him AND His Removal.
In 1798, Winthrop Sargent, having been appointed Gov-
ernor of the new territory of Mississippi, resigned the
office of Secretary, and was succeeded by William Henry
Harrison. The loss of his Secretary w«s keenly felt by
Governor St. Clair. Although tlioy differed widely in
temperament and character — the one biding ostentatious,
reserved, and formal : the other, " plain and simple in his
dress; open and frank in his manners; nnd accessible to
persons of every rank''^ — yet they liad been friends on
the tented field and in civil life, and Sargent, admiring the
talents and courage of his chief, had jilways been faithful
to his interests. On the other hand, St. Clair stood loyally
by his friend, although sometimes he felt severely his want
of tact and prudence. Between the Governor and the new
Secretary there were no such ties — no bond of sympathy.
^ Burners NoUs, p. 375.
208 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
Tliey belonged to opposite schools. The one was growing
gray; was acenstomed to deference from others ; and hehl
tenaciously to the political opinions formed amid tlie surg-
ing elements of revolution in the camp of Washington.
The other, young and ambitious, was ready to sympathize
with any movement that had for its object the changing of
the old for a new order of things. Hence, it soon came to
pass that the Secretary formed plans about which he did
not consult tlie Governor.
It having been ascertained that the Territory contained a
population of five thousand white male inhabitants, and
was therefore entitled, under the provisions of the Or-
dinance, to a change in the form of government. Governor
St. Clair took the necessary action to eiTect it. He issued
a proclamation calling on the legal voters to elect Repre-
sentatives to a General Assembly, and designating Cincin-
nati as the place of meeting. Under tlie Ordinance, only
freeholders, in fee-simj le, of fifty acres within the Territory,
had the right to vote ; and their selection of Representatives
was restricted to freeholders of two hundred acres. The
Representatives convened at the appointed place on the 4th
of February, 1799. Their duty at this meeting w^as the
selection of ten freeholders of five hundred acre?, to be re-
turned by the Governor to the President of the United
States, from whom were to be appointed, in th(5 manner
prescribed in other cases, five persons to constitute a legis-
lative council. After this form was complied with, the
Representatives adjourned to meet at Cincinnati on the
IGth of September, and the G(»vernor transmitted the ten
names to the Pri'sident, who in duo time appointed and
commissioned the five to be members of the Council.
By this chani]^e the authority of the Governor was
strengthened, lie retained his general executive control,
the right to make appointments of subordinate oflicers,
and had an absolute negative on all legislative acts; while
before he rightly claimed that the Governor must be one of
the majority adopting laws, yet as that view was contro-
verted by the Judges, he acquiesced in legislation that did
not meet his approval. But under the new form of gov-
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 209
ernment the Ordinance clothed him with an absolute
veto.
On the day appointed there was not a quorum present,
and it was not until the 24th of September that the two
houses were organized and ready to proceed to business.
On the following day Governor St. Clair met them in the
Representatives* Chamber, "and in a very eloquent ad-
dress^" referred to the change in the form of government,
and the subjects which would claim their attention. His
opening words captured all hearts: "It is with much
pleasure," said he, "that I meet you now in Qeneral As-
sembly, an event that has been looked forward to by the
people with some anxiety, and not without Reason, having
been hitherto governed by laws adopted or made by per-
sons in whose appointment they had no participation, and
over whom they had no control ; the wish to be withdrawn
from under that authority, and that the'laws which were
to direct their conduct and protect their property should be
made by their own representatives, was very natural, and
I congratulate them and you, gentlemen, that you are now
met for that purpose." Nevertheless, he expressed his con-
viction that the system which had been superseded was
** full of wisdom and benignity," and adapted to the origi-
nal circumstances of the Territory.
He therf proceeded to lay before them a full description
of the condition of the Territory, and " recommended to
their attention such measures as he believed were proper to
advance the prosperity and happiness of the people." He
pointed out the defects of the system of laws that had been
adopted, and advised legislative action for their amendment
or confirmation. The necessity for meeting any expense
incident to the change, called for the early enactment of
revenue laws ; an efficient military law was essential to the
order and protection of the people ; and as " the benefits
that result from early education and due instruction in the
principles of religion are of immense value to every coun-
try," he urged that action be taken to make available the
* Burners Notes, p. 300.
14
lliO Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
generous provisions for them set apart by Congress, whicli,
he said, "might be done through trustees empowered by
Congress to dispose of the lands." In the same spirit, he
called attention to the importance of restraining the traflSc
in intoxicating liquors; of prohibiting usury; of carrying
out that provision of the Ordinance requiring the Legisla-
ture to pass laws founded in justice and humanity for pro-
tecting the Indians in their property, rights, and liberty ^and
for preventing wrongs being done to them; and providing
for the local administration of the laws. A delegate to
Congress should also bo chosen. lie introduced his fa-
vorite topic of the common law in the following words:
"The statute laws of England that were in force in the
American colonies of a later date than the fourth year of
King James I. have not been adopted here, whereby the
people are deprived of many excellent regulations in use
in the United States, and praticularly of the celebrated Writ
of Habeas Corpus^ which was not brought into practice
until the reign of Charles II., and is justly considered as
the best security against illegal and oppressive imprison-
ings that was ever invented. It may be proper that all of
them, down to the time of the Revolution, which are not
inconsistent with the principles then embraced, should be
clcclared to be laws in the Territory."
He concluded in the following language, which rises to
the importance of the theme, and has seldom been excelled
in state papers : "The providing for and the regulating the
lives and morals of the present and of the rising generation,
for the repression of vice and immorality, and for the pro-
tection of virtue and innocence, for the security of property
and the punishment of crimes, is a sublime employment.
Every aid in my power will be afforded, and I hope we shall
bear in mind that the character and deportment of the peo-
ple and their happiness, both here and hereafter, depend
very nnich upon the genius and spirit of their laws.'*
The General Assembly cordially responded to this ad-
dress, and transacted the business of the session in the
same spirit. The views of the Governor were fully carried
out, as the legislation of the session shows. How this wub
Life and Public Services of Arthur JSt. Clair, 211
done, deserves to be more fully related. It is au interest-
ing fact (and mentioned here because we are describing the
beginning of government in the North-west), that, although
the General Assembly was composed of men of ability,
8ome of whom had been well, if not thoroughly educated,
yet the work of framing the most important of the laws
devolved almost entirely on Jacob Burnet, a member of the
Council. Mr. Burnet was of Scotch descent, a native of
New Jersey, and a graduate of Princeton College. He
was thoroughly read in the law, and had acquired a large
practice in the Territory. He possessed a judicial mind,
and expressed himself with perspicuity. Now, after nearly
a century has elapsed, and the work is passed in review, it
must be regarded as a happy circumstance that Jacob Bur-
net was a member of that first Legislature.
Not only were laws passed on the important subjects
mentioned by the Governor and the territorial code of the
first stage confirmed, but a deficiency — provisions for the
partition of real estate ; assignment of dower ; relief of insol-
vent debtors; settlement of disputes by arbitration ; divorce
and alimony ; equitable set-off*, and execution of real con-
tracts— was supplied.^ Two notable memorials were re-
ceived and acted on during this session : One from the
French inhabitants of the Wabash and Mississippi, setting
forth the difliculties growing out of the early custom of in-
closing their small farms by a common fence, and asking
legislative relief. A law was passed to regulate the inclos-
ing and cultivating of common fields. The other memorial
was from Continental officers of the Virginia line, for whom
a district had been reserved between the Scioto and Little
Miami rivers, asking to be permitted to remove to their
lands with their slaves. The petition was rejected. Hap-
pily the Ordinance stood in the way of the granting of any
such privilege. But we are assured by Judge Burnet, that,
even without the compact prohibiting slavery, such was the
public feeling, the request would have been denied by the
legislature by a unanimous vote. *' They were not only
opposed to slavery on the ground of its being a moral evil,
* Jaumal of Legislative Council.
212 Life and Public Services of Arthur St Clair.
in violation of personal right, but were of opinion, that,
whatever might be its immediate advantages, it would ulti-
mately retard the settlement, and check the prosperity of
the Territory, by making labor less reputable, and creating
feelings and habits unfriendly to the simplicity and industry
they desired to encourage and perpetuate.*'
Very decided action was taken on the question of juris-
diction between the Territory and the State of Kentucky,
to which Governor St. Clair had early called the attention
of the President. Kentucky, from the organization of the
North-western Territory, had claimed jurisdiction on the
north side of the Ohio to high water mark, on the ground
that the deed of cession from Virginia was for the lauds
north of the river. The claim even went further ; that when
the river, at a high stage, passed a portion of its water
through a bayou, or over low ground, into the main stream
below, the ground so separated was an island, within the
meaning of the act of cession, the jurisdiction and soil of
which was vested in Kentucky. Hence persons " arrested
by territorial officers for crimes committed on board of boats
lying at the north shore, were released on habeas corpus^ or
discharged on pleas to the jurisdiction of the Territorial
Courts." This conflict led to great embarrassment and the
constant defeat of justice. To meet this, a bill was passed
by a unanimous vote and approved of by the Governor, af-
firming the right of concurrent jurisdiction, and legalizing
the services of process, civil and criminal, on any river,
or water-course, within, or bounding the Territory. While
this relieved the courts it di<l not settle the question. Some
years later Kentucky revived the dispute. An examination
was then made of the entire legislation of Virginia by Mr.
Burnet. He found that Virginia in 1789, in authorizing
the district of Kentucky to form a separate government,
had i)rovided in one of the compacts of the act, " that the
State to be formed in the district, should never claim the
exclusive jurisdiction on the Ohio river; but that it should
be forever common to them and to the people and States
on the opposite side." These conditions were agreed to by
the people of Kentucky and embodied in the State Consti-
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 213
tion. Thus it was found that Virginia had treated alike
e territories north uud south of the river. Tliis same
retense of exclusive jurisdiction, was made to do service
ars afterwards wlien the Fugitive Slave Law was being
1-3 forced.
Towards the close of the session, the General Assembly
dopted a hiirhly eulogistic address to President Adams.
was the production of the pen of Mr. Burnet, and con-
ined strong meat for those of the new party, five of whom
ere found to vote against it in the House. It contained
18 allusion to the treaty of 1783, and to the Territory
orth-westof the Ohio: -'to your firmness we attribute the
iijoyment of the rich country we now inhabit." And this
his administration: "Permit us, sir, to assure you, that
e are duly impressed with a sense of the wisdom, justice,
d firmness with which you have discharged this impor-
"tant trust;" and, " We believe that, regardless of the voice
of party spirit, which has striven to destroy our National
Oounsels, you have kept the honor and happiness of the
TJnited States constantly in view; and we ardently pray
tliat the wise Ruler of Nations may preserve your health
and life."
To Governor St. Clair was assigned the pleasing task of
communicating this address to the President. He per-
formed his part in his usual graceful manner:
" In that. Sir," wrote St. Clair, " they imposed a very
agreeable duty upon me: for the sentiments appeared to be
Buch as were proper for them to express, and having pub-
licly expressed them, the individuals will find themselves
prompted (had they no better motives, and I hope and be-
have they have many better,) by the desire so natural to
men of leading others to think as they do, to propagate them
among their constituents ; and nothing can be more agree-
able to me than being made the channel through which the
testimonies of confidence and respect, and of attachment
toward you are conveyed. I trust a short time only will
elapse before they are common to the whole American
people." ^
* St. Clair Correspondence, for 1799 and 1800. Vol. II.
214 lAft and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
A wish that must have gratified John Adams; but the
five members of the House who did not approve the
sentiments formed the leaven that changed the politics
of the North-western Territory, and, in due season, sent the
Governor back to the hills of Pennsylvania.
Notwithstanding the personal relations between the
Governor and the members of the General Assembly were
of the most cordial nature, yet they diftered as to where
the power was lodged for the erection of new counties,
and the establishment of county seats. St. Clair held that
the Ordinance had placed it exclusively in the Executive.
The others, that in case of new counties to be formed from
those originally erected by the Governor, it belonged of
right to the General Assembly. Bills for the erection of
six new counties had been passed by the Legislature and
vetoed by the Governor. This action provoked a remon-
strance, addressed to Congress, against the unqualified veto
given to the Governor, and led to an unhappy contro-
versy, which ended only when the Eastern District was
admitted as a State.
Before being prorogued by the Governor the General
Assembly issued an address to their constituents, in which
they reviewed their labors; referred to the provision made
by Congress for education, and concluded with this incite-
ment to moral duty : *' * Religion, morality and knowledge
are necessary to all good governments.' Let us, therefore,
inculcate the principle of humanity, benevolence, honesty
and punctuality in dealings, sincerity, charity and all the
social aftections.*"
The election of a Delegate to Congress resulted in the
choice of William Henry Harrison, by a vote of eleven to
ten cast for Arthur St. Clair, Jr. The office of Secretary
of State again became vacant, and was filled by the appoint-
ment of Charles Willing Byrd, on the 30th of December.
Mr. Harrison made an active representative in Congress.
He secured the adoption of a resolution to subdivide the
surveys of the public lands, and to have them ottered for
^ Journal Legislative Council, 1799. Vol. 11., post.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair, 216
sale in small tracts — a measure of vital interest to the set^
tiers, many of whom under the system which left the
retailing of lands to the control of speculators, had been
unable to obtain homesteads, and were excluded from the
privilege of participating in the political affairs of the
Territory. He also secured an extension of the time of
payment, for those who had obtained pre-emption rights
to lands previously bought of Judge Symmes, lying north
of his patent.
Mr. Harrison was made chairman of a committee to re-
port a plan for a division of the North-western Territory.
On May 28, 1800, Governor St. Clair addressed him a letter
recommending that the division be made into three districts
— ^the first with the Scioto as the western boundary, and
Marietta as the seat of government; the second, whose west-
ern boundary should be a line drawn from that part of the
Indian boundary opposite the Kentucky, with Cincinnati as
the capital ; and the third, all of tha Territory lying west of
the Middle District, with Post Vincennes as the seat of
government. This division to be only temporary until
there should be a population sufficient to cary out the pro-
visions of the Ordinance for the erection of states. But it
was objected that this would delay the formation of a State
from the Eastern district, and, Mr. Harrison being in the
interest of the State party, the division was made into two
districts. The new district known as Indiana Territory,
was organized with Mr. Harrison as Governor, and Colonel
John Gibson, of Pennsylvania, as Secretary. With the
organization of this Territory, Governor St. Clair's con-
nection with the Wabash and Mississippi country terminated.
William McMillan was chosen t* iill the unexpired term
of Mr. Harrison as delegate in Congress, and Paul Fearing
for the new term. These changes required the election of
new men to fill the vacancies in the General Assembly.
The most notable one was the appointment of Solomon
Sibley, of Detroit, to take the place in the Council of Henry
Vanderburgh, who bad been excluded by the division of
the Territory. This occurred in December, 1800.
Since the advent of Moses Cleveland and associates in
216 Life and Public Services of Arthur Hi. Clair.
the Territory, Governor St.* Clair had been somewhat em-
barassed in the administration of government in the North-
eastern District, as it was known that the jurisdiction of
the United States there was regarded with a jealous eye. The
settlers did not recognize the Territorial Government, and,
of course, took no part in the affairs of Washington County,
in which they had been included by Governor St. Clair's
proclamation. They petitioned Congress for relief, and
failing there laid a statement of their grievances before the
General Assembly of Connecticut, in 1798. In 1800, on
account of losses and delays in their enterprise, due to a
lack of civil government, the Land Company asked the
State to abate the interest due upon their payments. ^ Hap-
pily the difficulty wns removed this year by the transfer of the
State claim of jurisdiction to tlie United States, and through
the President the fee of the soil by patent to the Governor
of the State, for the use of grantees and purchasers, claim-
ing under her. ^ This district was immediately erected into
a county by Governor St. Clair, who gave to it the name of
Trumbull, and established the county seat at Warren. lie
issued a proclamation for the election of a Territorial
Representative.^
Governor St. Clair heard of the death of Genernl Wash-
ington while he was at Cincinnati in January, 1800. The
loss of this most eminent man and best of friends, affected
him deeply, and he withdrew from the juiblic to commune
with his own heart. Let no pen offend the sacredness of
that retirement by attempting to describe the grief of St.
Clair as he recalled the past, and the tender, confiding
friendsliip of the departed hero. Saturday, February 1st
^ Whittlesey s Hist. Cleveland, p, 354.
* See U. tS. Land Ixiivs, 1 04.
'"The mannor of conducting tho election was after the English
mode. That is, tho Sheriff of tho county assembled the electors by
proclamation, presided at the election, and received the votes of the
electors orally, or vha voce." At this election, whicli was held on the
second Tuesday of October, all Trumbull County, that is, the Western
Reserve, cast 42 votes. Of this number General Edward Paine received
3S votes. — See Whittlesey, p. 358.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 217
was set apart for the purpose of paying the most solemn
funeral honors to the memory of the man who was "first
in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his country-
men/' at the military posts. St. Clair took part in the
ceremonies -at Fort AVashington, which were arranged by
the commandant.
Through the influence of the Virginians who had taken
possession of the Scioto district, the act which divided the
Territory also removed the seat of government from Cin-
cinnati to Chillicotlie. Accordingly, the second session of
the Territorial General Assembly, which began on the
first Monday in^Jfovember, 1800, was held at that place.
Governor St. Clair's address on this occasion, as on that of
the opening of the first session, was replete with important
suggestions as to legislation for the perfection of the govern-
ment, and the general good. He assured the members of
the General Assembly that it would aflford him pleasure to
join with them in every measure that would benefit the
people, and by carrying them faithfully into execution, to
give to them the eft'ect desired.
Among the topics mentioned were, education, taxation,
justice to the Indians, and the purity of elections, in the
discussion of which he displayed the broadest and most
enlightened statesmanship. For the full text of this able
state paper the reader is referred to another part of this*
work. I refer here only to a sentence or two relating to
the Indians and elections, to aid in more clearly bringing
into view the character I am portraying:
"To act honestly, fairly and justly, and to perform our
promises to Indians with whom the nation is at peace," said
he, '* is as much or more a duty than to those who are in the
highest state of civilization, and it is within the sphere of
your legislative power to compel it. It has long been a
disgrace to the people of all the States bordering upon the
Indians, both as men and as Christians, that while they
loudly complained of every injury or wrong received from
them, and imperiously demanded satisfaction, they wore
daily oftering to. them injustice and wrongs of the most
218 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
provoking character, for which I have not heard that any
person was ever brought to due justice or punishment."
On elections;
" The freedom and purity of elections are the very soul
and spirit of representative governments. K the electors
are under any undue influence, though they may give their
votes, they do not make their choice; and if they are cor-
rupted, the wholesome stream which should flow through
the whole body politic is poisoned at its source, and must
carry that poison with it through all its ramifications."
The Governor then pointed out in what manner the law
for the election of Representatives should be amended to
prevent bribery, and alluded to a greater danger which
threatened the electors:
" The lands in this country have been generally held at
first by a few indivifluals in very large quantities, and sold
out by them in parcels on credit. Hence, it happens that,
in some ot the counties, the greatest part of the people are
their debtors, and in the existing scarcity of money were
the payment of those debts to be rigorously exacted they
would be exceedingly distressed. A demand of the debts,
accompanied by the slightest hints that in case oif voting
for a certain candidate further time would be given, would
have a certain, perhaps, a more certain influence than a
direct proposal to buy their votes. Hence, a few persons in
the different counties combining would have it in their
power to influence the whole elections in the country, and,
instead of a representation of the people, we should have
a representation of the great landholders only, who, no
doubt, would serve their interests in preference to those of
the whole people. It may, therefore, be not improper for
you to consider whether the mode of election by ballot
should not be substituted for that now used, viva voce, as
the best way of guarding against that not improbable evil;
for, though it be true that the mode by ballot is liable to
much deception and intrigue, it is free from ihut kind of
influence I have mentioned. No measure can of itself be
simply good ; the circumstances of the case to which it is
to be applied determines its propriety."
lAft and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 219
The recommendation of Governor St. Clair was not car-
ried out until after the change from Territorial to State
government.
Having disposed of the public business, the Governor
concluded his address with a vigorous reference to his
enemies.
** My term of office, and yours, gentlemen of the House
of Representatives, will soon expire. It is, indeed, very
uncertain whether I shall ever meet another Assembly in
the character I now hold; for, I well know that the vilest
calumnies and greatest falsehoods are insidiously circulated
among the people, with a view to prevent it. While I re-
gret the baseness and malevolence of the authors, and well
know that the laws have put the means of correction fully
in my power, they have nothing to dread from me, but the
contempt they justly merit. The remorse of their own
consciences, will one day be punishment sufficient. Their
acts may, however, succeed. Be that as it may, of this I
am certain — ^that, be my successor who he may, he can
never have the interest of the people of this Territory
more truly at heart than I have had; nor labor more
assiduously for their good than I have done. I am not
conscious that any one act of my administration has been
influenced by any other motive than a sincere desire to pro-
mote their welfare and happiness."
This was public notice that the Governor was inclined
to change his policy, and might no longer pass by in
silence those who reviled him. Heretofore, throughout a
long life passed in the public service, his command of tem-
per had been exemplary. He had early schooled himself
in the principles so admirably expressed by John Quincy
Adams, in 1805, in his Diary: '*In public affiiirs, it ap-
pears to me, there is no quality more useful and im-
portant than good humor, because it operates continually
to soften the asperities which are continually rising
in the collisions of adverse interests and opinions." But
now, when one's enemies, regardless of long public services
and white hairs, presume on this forbearance, may not one
doubt his own philosophy, and give as well as take blows?
220 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
To this personal allusion the Council, in their reply, re-
sponded in this sympathetic manner:
" It is with real concern and indignation that we view
the malicious attempts w^hich have been made to asperse
the character of your Excelleucy ; and though the provis-
ions of the law might subject the authors to punishment,
yet we agree with you, that attempt* so despicable and
wicked deserve no other notice than contempt. Believing
that your general conduct, as chief magistrate, has been
dictated by a pure desire to promote the interests and wel-
fare of the people of this Territory, the Legislative Council
feel it a duty incumbent upon them, at this time, to express
their confidence in your administration, and their wishes
for its continuance."
The address of the House of Representatives was hardly
less complimentary :
"We regret, sir, that calumny and falsehood should be
resot'ted to in order to render your administration unpopu-
lar among the good i)eoplc of this Territory; but, we trust,
the services you have rendered heretofore in the cause of
liberty and your country, together with the manifest purity
of your intentions since you have been entrusted with tho
dignified oflice you now fill, will be a sufficient shield to
guard you against the unprovoked attacks of the wicked
and malevolent."
The unfortunate difterence of opinion as to where was
lodged the power for the formation of counties, which had
been the only one to disturb the harmony of the relations
between the Governor and the General Assembly at the
first session, again obtruded itself. He had given his rea-
sons for refusing to approve of the counties they had formed,
which the reader of to-day will declare to be forcible, and
should have been satisfactory then ; but they were vot
satisfactory to many members of the Legislature. They
insisted that, "after the Governor had laid out the country
into counties and townships, as lie had already done under
the first grade of government, it wus competent for them
to pass laws, altering, dividing, and multiplying tliem at
their pleasure, to be submitted to him for his approbation ; "
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 221
that "when the Territory had been divided into counties
by the Governor, his exclusive power was exhausted, and
any alterations thereafter required, were to be made by
the Legislature, with his assent.^" This view was subse-
quently sustained by Congress, but as that was in the midst
of a political contest, the action had no value in determin-
ing which opinion was more nearly in keeping with the
letter and spirit of the Ordinance.
The Governor's opinion of the power of the Executive
under the clause of the Ordinance relating to this subject,
was succinctly stated in a communication to the General
Assembly in 1799 : " It appears to me that the erecting new
counties is the proper business of the Executive. It is,
indeed, provided that the boundaries of counties may be
altered by the Legislature, but that is quite a different
thing from originally establishing them. They must exist
before they can be altered, and the provision is express that
the Governor shall proceed from time to time, as it may
become necessary, to lay them out. While I shall ever
most studiously avoid encroaching on any of the rights
of the Legislature, you will naturally expect, gentlemen,
that I will guard, with equal care, those of the Executive.'*
There was another reason for his conservatism in this
matter, which I have obtained a glimi>se of in his papers:
The greed which characterized the transactions in land ac-
tuated those who were speculators to seek to control the
establishment of county towns. They hoped thereby to in-
crease the value of their lands, as the public improvements
dn the way of buildings and roads, and superior school
^vantages incidental to a county seat, would attract the
T)etter class of settlers to such neighborhoods. Hence, the
lot strife over this business. A striking illustration was
^ifforded in the case of the county of Adams. Nathaniel
J^assie and associates, who, at great hazard of life, had, in
~i790, established a station on the north bank of the Ohio,
"tiwelve miles above Maysville, sought to have their town,
^ Burners Notes, p. 321. Mr. Burnet, being a member of the Council,
^is statement of the opinion of the Legislature is valuable.
222 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
known as Manchester, made the county seat of Adams
county. In the absence of the Governor, Secretary
Sargent, upon the petition of other inhabitants, appointed
commissioners, who reported in favor of locating it at Ad-
amsville, on Brush Creek. Great contention grew out of
this, and when the Governor returned, he found it neces-
sary to take such* action as should bring peace to the
diflerent communities. At great personal inconvenience,
he visited that section of countrv, which he examined
thoroughly, accompanied by two citizens of Manchester.
It was agreed by these that the most eligible place was at
the mouth of Brush Creek, where the town of Washington
was laid out, and the first Court was held in 1798. But
this action, intended for the interests of the greatest num-
ber, incurred the opposition and enmity of the property
owners of Manchester. And Colonel Nathaniel Massie af-
terwards got in his revenge, as the sequel will show.
The Governor was at last aroused, and he refused to be
bound hand and foot, as had been proposed by those who
had schemed to defeat or delay his re-appointment. As his
term of office expired early in December, advantage was to
• be taken of the failure to appoint promptly, and Charles
Willing Byrd, the Secretary, who was unfriendly to the
Governor, was to become acting Governor, and proceed to
carry out the views of the junto. But the Governor re-
sponded with a coup dC etat, which completely surprised and
discomfited the intriguants. During the absence of Mr.
Byrd from the Territory, on the 2d of December, he in-
formed the General Assembly, by written message, that on
Thursday, the 9th of the month, an end must be put to the
session of the Legislature, as on that day his term of ofiice
would expire, and it was not a case provided for by law, in
which the place of the Governor could be supplied by the
Secretary.
Of course, this action was criticised, and it occasioned a
feeling of disquiet to some of the Governor's best friends.
However, soon after the Legislature was prorogued. Gover-
nor St. Clair received his re-appointment from President
Adams. This re-nomination was singular in that the Ex-
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 223
ecutive, in recommending the re-appointment, accompanied
his message to the Senate with the protests of those in tlie
Territory who opposed St. Clair's administration. The
friends of St. Clair were a good deal alarmed, bat need-
lessly BO, as, after a thorough discussion, and the vote was
-taken, it was found that there were very few opposed to
<!onfirmation. This pleasing intelligence was communi-
<;ated to him by his friend, Senator Ross.
When the new Legislature, agreeably to the proclama-
ination of the Governor, convened, on the 24th November,
T1I801, the friction between the House and the Executive was
'mncreased. Although the county question was dropped, by
:xmQtual consent, yet the Representatives sought a petit re-
■"^7'enge by withholding from the Governor printed copies of
he bills as they were introduced. This provoked a sharp
eprimand — well deserved, it must be confessed — ^which
eightened the feeling.
The business transacted this session was of an uniterest-
ng character, but none the less important. The Gover-
or's views, expressed in an address to both branches of the
egislature, assembled in the hall of the House on the first
y of the session, were carried out in the legislation ot the
^ssion. He recommended that those citizens who were con-
cienciously opposed to war be exempt from military duty,
nd from fines provided for in the militia law — intended to
fiTord relief to the Quakers who were settling in the Ter-
itory in considerable numbers; that, as it was important
^hat articles sent to foreign markets should be of the best
equality, a law be past for the inspection of articles of ex-
port; that the criminal laws be revised; that the delegate
in Congress be instructed to obtain such legislation as
Tvould secure to the Territory the township of land prom-
ised but not furnished by Judge Symmes for the support of
an academy, and make available the lands set apart for the
maintenance of schools and religion ; and that a more re-
liable provision be made for a revenue for the support of
Government.
Acts were passed during this session to incorporate the
towns of Cincinnati, Chillicothe, and Detroit; to establish
224 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
a university in the town of Athens, on land granted by
Congress for that purpose ; a' id to change the seat of Gov-
ernment from Chillicothe to Cincinnati.
An act was also passed declaring the assent of the Ter-
ritory to an alteration in the Ordinance for the government
thereof, the object of which was to effect a change in the
boundaries of the three States first to be formed in the
Territory. This was a political move and caused a flutter
among the supporters of a State government. It received
an almost unanimous vote in the Council, but in the House
there was sharp opposition. The division was as follows:
Ayes — Cutler, Joncaire, Kimberly, Ludlow, McDougall,
Miller, Paine, Putnam, Reeder, Schieffelein, Smith and
White.— 12.
Nays — Darlington, Dunlavy, Langham, McCune, Massie,
Milligan, Morrow and Worthington. — 8.
Political excitement was now at fever heat, and personal
collisions were threatened daily. A mob, inspired by the
violence of the advocates of a State government, and aided
by citizens of Chillicothe, who were offended on account
of the proposed removal of the seat of Government, took
possession of the town for two nights, and threatened those
members of the Legislature who had been most outspoken
in opposition to the political views of the State party. They
forced the door of the house in which Mr. Schieffelein and
the Governor boarded, but fled before the former, who met
them in the hall with a brace of loaded pistols.^ Governor
St. Clair sent a special message to the Legislature on the
disgraceful proceedings, and wrote to the Secretary of State,
giving a circumstantial account of the affair.
The members of the Legislature who had voted against
the act providing for a change of boundaries, entered a for-
mal protest against it, issued an appeal to the people to aid
in obtaining the authority of Congress to erect a State gov-
ernment within the bounds assigned in the Ordinance to
the first State. These papers, wnth others of a confidential
nature, w^cre placed in the hands of Thomas Worthington,
' aS^^ Clair Correspondence. Also Burnet, p. 333.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair, 225
was dispatched to Philadelphia to secure the much-
red legislation.*
he parties, who had been skirmishing through the press
in pamphlets, were now bronglit face to face in a deadly
■ SS^^' '^^ enable the reader to understand the situation
^-e clearl}^ we will go back a few months. Some of the
ing citizens of Marietta had issued a calm address
list a change from the Territorial to a State govern-
t, which pi'^^ivoked a whole broadside from the pro-State
lie. I find in a number of the Scioto Gazette, October,
, the most reasonable statement of that side of tlie
, and inehide Us pcunts in my sketch. The writer
ted the future iu bright colors, but he set out to catch
opulace. It n\ay be remarked that the Ordiiiance of
was not held then by the pro-State jairty in such rev-
<e as it is by the people of the North-west in the year
M le writer in the Scioto Gazette considered that the Ter-
:"• lal Government was ill-adapted to " the genius and
v.igs of Americans;" it only being necessary to direct
■ Btion to the Ordinance of Congress for the government
le Territory, to convince one of "the utter impossi-
of a government conducive to national happiness in
inlightened day being administered under it, ' unless
person more than mortal.' This government, now
iressive, was prescribed by the United States, at a
wiien civil liberty was not so well understood as at
lit, and when it could not be contemplated but for the
r'ument of a few.
t; is added by the remonstrants [Marietta], Mhat no
C^^^ ^^>»"m J ought to wish to emerge from this State unless there
V^ cl singer that the paramount government will infringe its
'^^S*^^e,till it has made a comfortable provision forits wants,
^^^^^ it: has made considerable progress in its improvements,
^Y ^ t; has made its necessary arrangements for education,
wV it has, in some measure, consolidated its social system;
^^orthington Papers.
15
i
226 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
in a word, till it has not only become able to bear the
weight of its own independence, but als?) to preserve its
liberty by the force (»f its principles.' It is then asked,
*Is this our situation? Where are our improvements?
What is the state of our agriculture? Our commerce? Our
manufactories, etc., etc.?' To all of vvliich I would answer,
that, ill my <)})inion, a state government is the only proba-
ble way to produce such a desirable situation. To talk
about our rights being infringed by the paramount govern-
ment when we enjoy none, is like the moral to the fable
wliich concludes the Marietta address, 'it is all sound, no
substance.' . . . We entered into the second grade of tliis
government without a cent in the public treasury and much
in debt; recourse was had to paper. This year's revenue
will redeem it all and furnish cash for tlie present year's ex-
penses. Considerable proiizress in improvements and neces-
sary arrai'gements for education are making, but can not,
in the nature of things, be perfected in our present situa-
tion. It must be well known that men of wealth and in-
dependence of sentiment are deterred from migrating to
theTerritorv because thev can not brook the idea of livin<r
under a government like ours. But let a change take
place — let a government congenial to Americans be adopted,
and it will be like opening the floodgates to a mUK wealth
will flow in upon us, im[)rovenients jmd agricu'Uire will
adorn our lands; the creeks and rivers emptying into the
Ohio will roll along to the Mississippi, conveying tood to
thousands sufl'ering from want ; manufactories will spring up
in the wilderness; proi)er arrangements for education will
be perfected; a now Athens, with other seminaries of learn-
ing, will discover their towering steeples above the loftj'
oaks, and soon send forth into the world vouths ornamental
to human nature. Our prolific plains covered with herds,
our farms, loaded from the lap of j'lenty, gladdening their
owner's hearts, and our government, like the tree of lib-
erty, extending its l)enign branches over all our citizens,
and, with a paternal care, sheltering an<l defending them
from tyranny and oppression, will cause the astonished
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair, 227
veler to contemplate our rising greatness with amaze-
nt, and cry out, in the language of the venerable Frank-
, 'Here dwells liberty; here's my country.'"
t was shown that the only pecuniary aid received from
general government was the sum out of wliich w-ere
d the salaries of the Governor, Secretary, and Judges,
ic $5,500; and that to pay the officials and miscellaneous
)en8es of a State government, only about $15,440 per
3um, would have to be raised. To meet this, the Tcrri-
al tax on real property — fifty-five cents on each hundred
^8 of first-class, thirty-five cents on second-class, and
— enteen cents on third-class — was estimated to vield
926.90 for the year 1801. In the Territorial officers and
able citizens of Marietta, would be found sufficient
nt to form a constitution and put in successful opera-
a new government.
"Hamilton Farmer" looked upon the scheme for a
0 government with misgivings. Ho believed it was
to furnish offices for the Chillicothe gentry — the am-
U8 and the wealthy at the expense of the poor, and
well enough should be let alone. There had been the
e pother in Kentucky, the same promise of advantages
orae. *' But how did it turn out? Why, the gentle-
got the places they were looking for, to be sure, but
_ jieople have been keiit witli their noses to the grind-
e ever since to make up the taxes, and are not able to
*€, and now they are coming in shoals every day to this
of the river to avoid them. But where shall we go
^^oid ours, unless we turn Papists and go to the Span-
I, and that would be jumi)ing out of the frying pan
the fire. God knows we find the taxes heavy enough
^^e are, and where is the money to come from ?"
dt why expect such plain and practical opinions to pre-
sgainst the cry that the liberties of the people were
ngered by the Territorial government, and that a phm
'^^^ been formed to perpetuate the Colonial system, with a
N'^^^^r of continuing the influence of a few individuals in the
c^y^iicils of the General Government, and in the manage-
228 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
nicnt of the Territory?* Tlic pro-State party had gone in
to win. In one respect alono, that of the nuiltiplication of
officers and a more general participation in public affairs
under a State, they had an advantage that more than offset
all that could be said on the other side.
Mr. Worthington met with few ol)Staclos at Washington.
There had been a change of administration, and the new
party was in ])ower under Thomas Jefferson. The influence
of the administration, for reasons that will appear here-
after, was with Mr. Worthington and against a continuance
of Territorial government under a change of boundaries.
The provision of the Ordinance requiring a population of
sixty thousand before the Eastern District could be admitted
as a State was no obstacle to politicians who felt there was
a necessity for increasing the number of Republican States.
The census, which was taken during the previous year
showed a population of forty- five thousand three hundred
and sixty-five. Could not a State be formed as well with
forty-five as with sixty thousand ? But in this census were
included the inhabitants of Wayne county, who were
opposed to the scheme. These sturdy Federalists united
with those of Washington and Hamilton counties, might
make it difficult to give a Republican party-caste to the new
State; or miglit reject the law of Congress, and prevent
the formation of a State government. What should be
done ?
The managers at the National Capital were equal to the
emergency — cut oft' Wayne County. Xo sooner said than
done.
The act as passed contained two provisions, which the
opi>osition party tliought humiliating, and as altering the
Ordinance which declared that the States formed from the
North-western Territory should be admitted into the Union
on equal terms with the original thirteen States. These
were: the reservation of the rii^ht of Congress to dispose
of the jurisdiction of the Territory lying east of the lino
drawn east and west through the southerly extreme of
^See i?«rnt'^ p. 341. Also files of Scioto Gazette for 1801-2, and St.
Clair Papers.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 229
Ijim 1^^ ^ Michigan, when the Ordinance had declared it should
ro r^:* ^^^n a part of the territory south of it until its inhabit-
ai 1 1: ^* numbered sixty thousand ; and tlnit hmds sold by Con-
gi-c3£^^ should be exempt from taxation for the terra of live
y^a^^M^ m^a* from and after the day of sale.
H 't- Arvas iiehl that a wrong was done to the people living
wit 1 0^1 11 the district of AVayne, who desired to remain under
tW^ ^^ovcrnment of the country south; and to the peo}jle
of* <ZZ>l:iio, by depriving them of all the benefits they would
^i^^"^"^<ii derived from the poi)ulation and wealth of that rich
^•^ « ^ oxteusive district.^ And in the second case, that " the
X^d^-crz^ ]t_^'® ^^ Oliio suffered an immense loss by giving up that
ion of their sovereignty which authorized the State to
nd her tax laws to every species of property within
limits, without inquiring to whom it belonged, or by
m it was claimed."^
Mie most important fact connected with this whole bnsi-
is, that the only organized body representing the
le, and the people as a whole, had no part in it. The
me for making a new State had a purely political oriiiin.
c(mtest in the election of the last President was so
erately close, and the result in doubt so long, that it
deemed essential to the future power and control of the
iblican party that new electoral votes should be secured
e admission of a new State before the next Presidential
ion should occur. This strens^th could onlv be obtained
the North-west. The Kepublican leaders of that day,
were able, shrewd, and far-seeing, were not likely to
look a point having such a direct bearing on their cause.
of the most active promoters of this scheme was
^ Breckcnridsre, of Kentucky,^ Mr. Jefferson's faithful
tter of Solomon Sibley.
met, p. 339.
•"Near Lexington, 30^?/^. 1803.
'fVel much pride and pleasure in yr State since she has become
^^^T>^blican State; not only because she will and ought to bo our
wfti'^^^Y'Qil friend, but because I had the honour and pleasure of contributr
V>fe ic^c^y small mite to relieve her from a corrupt territorial pupilage,
i •i
230 Life and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair,
friend, and in political management, the ablest of liis lieu-
tenants.^ To Hon. Wni. B. Giles, of Virginia, was entrusted
important committee work, and nearly all of the niembera
of Congress of both Virginia and Kentucky were active in
support of the movement. The Virginia colony in the
North-western Territory constituted the pioneer corps in
the work in hand, and their zeal never flagged. If objec-
tion is made to their method, excuse is found in that prac-
tice which has obtained in the politics of this country, of
charging opponents with being the enemies of society and
good government. The active leaders were Colonel Na-
thanial Massie, Colonel Thomas Worthington, and Dr. Ed-
ward Tiffin. Colonel Massie was an older but not an abler
man than Colonel Worthington.^ He was not ambitious
of political jireferment as was the younger man, but gave
his aid and counsel in advancing the cause espoused by the
and elevate her to the dignified station which her conduct since has
evinced she was justly entitled to. Considering the difficulties you
had to encounter with your political adversaries, you have succeeded
beyond all expectation; and you seem to move on in your arrange-
ments with as much order and steadiness as if you had the experience
of a dozen years. It gives ns much pleasure and cause of triumph
here; but to none more sincerely than to
** Your friend and very humble servant.
"John Bkeckenridge."
Fn^m M.S. among the Worthington Papers,
' Mr. Breckenridge was consulted by Mr. Jeffei^son as to the mo.st
advi.«*able course to take to counteract the political policy Bhadf)we<l
forth in the Alien and Sedition laws, and he carried with him to Ken-
tucky the famous resolutions of 1798, which were adopted by the
Legislature of that State. He is understood to have been the author
of the nullifiying resolution of 17*J*.), which took a more advanced step
than Mr. tJefferson in the resolutions of the 2>receding year.
* " !Mr. Worthington is a man of plausible, insinuating address, and
of in<lefatigable activity in the pursuit of his jiurpose. TFe has seen
sorn«'thing of the world, and, without much education of any other sort,
has nc<iuire<l a sort of pr)lish of m inners, and a kind of worldly wisdom,
which may perhaps more properly bo called cunning." — John CJuincy
Adatns, in ISO'). — Menioirs, p. 377.
* (tovernor Worthington was a mati of vigorous intellect, great in-
dustry and force of character, an<l he left a favorable impression when
he retired from public life." — MS. Letter of lion. Thomas Ewing.
lAfe and Public Services of Arthur S(, Clair. 231
. They were all on confidential terms with the states-
of Virginia. Colonel Worthington and Dr. Tiffin
lardly been in the Territory a year when they formed
csign of driving Governor St. Clair out and affecting
l^tical revolution. This will appear more clearly as we
■ess with our relation. They were assisted hy William
hton and Samuel Finley, of Ros^ ; Mr. Darlington, of
; Judge Symmes, John Smith, Wm. Goforth, and
L-13 Dunlavey, of Hamilton, and Return J. Meigs, Jr.,
ashington. Jeremiah Morrow and others joined later
lie first- named were the active spirits in Republican
i^ement.
order that nothing may be omitted calculated to throw
Ii^5*l m ♦; on this interesting political movement, which embraced
irk. ^ ^s designs the control of National affairs, I shall
q !.:■.<::> it^ at some length from manuscripts that have never
I>^<^'«-B. j»ubli»hcd, found in part among the papers of Gov-
Thomas Worthingt()i>. But first, let us present so
-r la of the contem[>orarv account of Judge Jac'»b Burnet,
as a leader of the Federalist party, as bears on the
^'^^^ I 35fc^l.C3na of Governor St. Clair to the politics and the con-
^^^ »"^ tr i ons of parties in the Territory. It will be found to be
^•" ^-'" ^-■. 1 rxi and impartial statement :
lie Governor was unquestionably a man of superior
ts, of extensive information, and of great Ujirightness
virpose, as well as suavity of manners. Ilis general
s^, though in the main correct, was, in some respects,
^^^J ^^ **iou8 to his own popularity ; but it was the result of an
*^*=*''^'*- exercise of his judgment. He not only believed
"^^^*"- t^lie power he claimed hehmged legitimately to the
native, but was convinced that the manner in which lie
oised it was imposed on him as a duty by the Ordi-
^^^^^^^, and was calculated to advance the best interests of
lu^ Territory. It was admitted that he placed too high an
^^^"^^^ate on the powers of his own mind, and on the gen-
^^'^•^ ^correctness of his judgment ; and, though modest and
^^^^^Buming in his ordinary intercourse with society, he
^^^y rarely yielded his opinion, when deliberately formed,
V^'^ever erroneous it might be in the estimation of others.
282 Life and Public Services of Arlhur St. Clair.
" He had been accustomed from infancy to mingle in the
circles of taste and refinement, and had acquired a polish
of manners, and a habitual respect for the feelings of others,
which might be cited as a specimen of genuine politeness.
It seemed to be his desire that persons of every grade
should feel at ease when in his company. And it may be
said, with great truth, that at the time he addressed the
first Territorial Legislature, in 1791), he possessed as great,
if not greater, share of the confidence and respect of the
people of the Territory than any other individual residing
in it.
" When the proposition to form a State government was
warmly agitated, and i>arty spirit carried to unusual
lengths, he expressed himself freely in opposition to tlie
measure ; and, although he did not take an active part in
the struggle, yet the more expression of his preference
identified him with the party opposed to the change; and
not onl}' so, but the influentiabstation he occupied in the
community, and the pr«>bable result of his communications
to Congross on the subject, rendered him an opponent
greatly to be feared ; hence, the most strenuous efforts were
made to weaken his influence, at home and abroad. To
accomplish that purpose, the fcubles and faults of a long
life were collected, exaggerated, and proclaimed through-
out the Territory. False constructions were put on the
most unexceptionable actions of his life. Kidicule as well
as falsehood, was employed against him to such an extent
that strangers to his true character might naturally con-
clude that he possessed neither talent nor integrity. The
free use he had made of the veto power, and the collisions
w hich had occasiouidl}' taken place between him and the
Legislature, though their intercourse had generally been
harmonious and agreeable, were urged against him with
great efiect.
" It was believed by every person who witnessed the
chani^e of treatment received bv the Governor from the
advocates of a State Constitution, before and after the airi-
tation of that subject commenced, and who had noted the
circumstances attending it, that his opposition to their pro-
Ltfe and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 233
je<_r "fc "v^a£ the chief ground of their opposition to him ; and
th &A.^ 9 if he had united with them on that question, the dif-
fei*^ »_:». c_?es of opinion, and the occasional collisions which had
0(*<:5i^'m m^x'cd during his administration, would have been fi)r-
1, or remembered only as unimportant errors in judg-
not afiecting his wisdom, integrity, or patriotism.
at as it m»y, one thing is very certain ; that, as the
ssion of that pr(»ject i>rogresscd, his supporters were
^leserting him, and, before it closed, a majority of the
lis who had been his friends and admirers, were asso-
<1 with Ilia most active 0|>ponents, and seemed to have
tten that they had ever believed him to possess a
e virtue.
lie eti'orts made to injure his character, and weaken
^ ^ '^^^ ^ Bifluence, were attributed by himself and friends to un-
by motives. Some alleged that the hostility of his
>nents proceeded from a belief that it was necessary to
irate liira to accomplish their own political views,
on a cahn review of those party conflicts, after a lapse
lore than half a century, many circumstances, over
-sh the mantle of oblivion has been thrown, might be
vered, which would account for the conduct of the
irs of both parties, without ascribing to them more of
nterest or less of honesty of purpose than falls to the lot
I Bose who were not called consistent politicians. Some
of the Governor's conduct was condemned by his best
<l8, and was well calculated to excite a warmth of feel-
Mi his opponents which might have led upright men be-
tho limits of moderation and even of justice.
'ho Governor had many fast friends remaining in the
tory, who received a full share of the abuse in wMiich
^mrticipated so largely, and who were not slack in their
*^ Irs to sustain him ; but the most successful defense of
^^Tiactater came from a distant and unexpected quarter.
•^ dJharles Hammond, a young lawyer of Wheeling, then
V ^^^ admitted to the bar of the Territory — unknown to
^^>-o, and scarcely heard of beyond the little circle in which
^ "^^love^l, but whose talents, subsequently, raised him to
^^ liigbest elevation in his profession, and whose course of
234 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
life identified him with the history and politics of Ohio,
was induced to commence a series of numbers in the Sciofo
Gazette^ jiublished at Chillicothe, in which he defended the
Governor wiih great ability.
"At the time he engaged in that defense, he had no per-
sonal acquaintance with the Governor — had never been in-
troduced to him, and knew him only as he did other dis-
tinguished men, from his life, public conduct, and writings.
The journals of the day had given him a knowledge of his
military services in the French war and in the war of the
Revoluti<m, and also of the manner in which the govern-
ment of the Tcrritorv had been administered; from which
he had no doubt of the fact that he was a misrepresented,
persecuted man. The publication of that defense placed
his character and conduct in a fair jxunt of light — refuted
the most serious charge alleged against him, and elevated
the youthful writer to a high stand in public estimation." ^
Judge Ihirnct did not understand the opposition to the
Governor so clearly as he would if he could have looked
in upon the Chillicothe committee on political manage-
ment when in session, devising ways and means for the
overthrow of St. Clair. Even if the latter had acquiesced
in the movement for a State government, there could have
been no union on political principle. St. Clair, like most
other licvolutionary soldiers closely associated with W"ash-
iuirton, came to bo an ardent Federalist. lie was in cor-
rcsi)ondcncc with Hamilton, and on friendly terms with the
members of the Adams administration. AVe have seen
how heartily he approved of the address to the President
in 1701). lie even entered the lists in public discussion, and
printed a pamphlet in defense of the administration after
the political blunder of the Alien and Sedition Laws, and
sent it to Mr. Adams, with his compliments. The latter
made a gracious acknowledgment. '* I have read the
pamphlet," said he, "with great pleasure, as a masterly
refutation of its antatronist, in the stvle and manner of a
gentleman, and seasoned with no more tlian was useful and
agreeable of Attic salt. na])py am I to find such just
^Burnds yotcs, pp. 378-o81.
236 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
" The Press and its Martyr, Duane ! — May some angel
in Jefterson's form knock off his fetters and unlock his
prison."
This spirit entered into political affairs ir4 the Territorjr,
and dominated the movement in behalf of a State govern-
ment.
As early as 1800, Worthington threatened to prefer cliarges
against St. Clair through the Legislature, but that body was
found to be less complacent tliun was supposed. James
Ross attempted to pour oil on the troubled waters, in a
letter to Colonel Worthington he expressed regret at the
feeling against the Governor, and added this (to Colonel W.)
encouraging prediction: "This fermont, and the measures
taken in consequence, will result in your having a new
State,"* and then proceeded to show it w^ould be a misfor-
tune to the people.
When the Territory was divided in the year 1800, the
measure originated with these same Chillicothe managers.
The plan embraced the following objects: 1. The appoint-
ment of William Henry Harrison as Governor of the In-
diana Territory ; 2. The establishment of the permanent
seat of government for the Eastern District at Chillicothe ;
and, 3. Such alterations in the form of the Territorial Gov-
ernment as should vacate the offices. It was expected that
this would dispose of St. Clair, but the scheme met with
decided opposition in Couirress, especially in the Senate,
where it went to a committee and was relieved of its special
features. Colonel Worthington was notified of this ad-
verse action bv Senator John Brown, of Kentuckv, who
oommunicated to him the amendment. *' You will jjroba-
bly object to the provision which has been proposed for
continiiiiiiiT all thiuL's for the i»resent in the Territorv Xorth-
west of the Ohio as they now exist. The Committee of the
Senate were of the opinion that to adopt the i>rinciple of
the bill would vacate all commissions, executive and ju-
dicial, civil and military, and also for all elections for the
Leii:islature, and all this fo answer a particular oh jed in this in-
dircrt w<ni^ which maj/ he othc.noise provided for in December ^^
*• J/-5'. Worthinjtoii Papers.
Lat\ '?«'/ PMU^ Strr'u^s of Arthn- St. Chtir. 237
the 2d ^[a\^ followinar. Senator l>r\>wn wnno that, as*
two lionses had ilisasrreoil on tho bill, " a ov>ntVrvnoo was
el. auiK this mornin«r« tho nianairors on the part of the
ise of Represontativos liave iwodod fnun their dis-
^vetrmeut, and the amendment of tlie Senate, herv^tofore
^ vou. mav be consitlered as passed. 1 eonirnitnlate
ay»on tliis event, whielu in my o{»inion, will give Chil-
^he tho j»ermanent seat of government." *
'he political scheme being only partly sneeessfnl, the
j 's^m, -K. 7:]^ft. to next resolved on preventing the ri^-appointnicnt of
emor St. Clair in December. Thev sent to the Presi-
a remonstnince against the n^-appointment, backed
m account of the disagreement between the Kxecutive
the Legislature. Pr. Titfin also added personal in-
lee, by appearing in AVashington and conferring with
"Tuinent members of the Senate. This did not escape
ittention of St. Clair, as he was kept advised by Gen-
Wilkinson, who was at the capital at the time seeking
lotion." Some of the fricmls of the Administration
rested the appointnxent of Mr. Tracy, of Connei»ticnt,
^^lace of St. Clair, but the President adhered to his
Lnal purpose of making a re-appointment. The result
T)een seen. Some of the TicjKibl leans who voted to
irm the nomination were moved to explain their action
lonel Worthington : —
nator Brown said : " Under all circumstances we could
•Tell do otherwise. T/tc appliratio/ts frum the 7\rrifon/
favor tccre JuoncroKS and ecru i\spictahU\ nor inis it
bUy in case of his rejection y that a saeces.sor )roahl haee
<ippointed who wonhl hare ijieen (prater stiti.^faetlon,'*^
^neral Stevens Thomson Mason tlioutcht that St.
i i:* ought not to have been re-appointed, but *• some
'■^^Ck'bers who did not approve of the api>ointnient were
^^Viced to vote for it from an apprehension that, should
*^^ ^« rejected, some person more obnoxious might be ap-
"* •^•S. Worthfngton Papers.
St. (^ir Correspondence.
Ms. Worthington Papers,
238 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Oair.
pointed, such as Tracy, and that it wovld only be exchange
iny an old and feeble tyrant for one more active and wickedJ*^^
" I am truly sorry," wrote the venerable General Rufus
Putnam to Colonel Worthington, ** I am truly sorry that
there ever was or should he a petition presented to the
President of the United States, either against or in favor
of Governor St. Clair. It serves, in my opinion, no otlier
purpose but to create prejudice and a party spirit among
the people."^
Afterward, when the war on St. Clair assumed the most
violent phase, General Putnam took an active part in sus-
taining the Governor by letter and petition.
Failing in this, there was hope ahead in the change of
administration. If the proper ciFort were made St. Clair
miffht be removed and the wav made clear for a new Re-
publican State. The elder Return Jonathan Meigs, a few
months before, had explained the necessities of the politi-
cal situation in few words: ''They [the Federalists] are
apprehensive that if we come into a State government be-
fore the next election of President, the present adminis-
tration mav receive three votes from our then State."
ft
"The Federalists will oppose it [an increase in the number
of States], because a multii)lication of western or southern
States will multiply Republican Senators."
Altliongh Colonel Worthiuirton had gone to AVashingtou
for the ostensible purpose of defeating a change in bound-
aries, bis real mission was to secure the removal of St.
Clair and the passage of an enabling act. The work was
{•ushed with great energy. It was necessary to create the
impression that the people of the Territory lived under a
despotism, and that there was no remedy for the evils
* //'//. In contrast with General Mason's dreadful view of the char-
acter of Mr. Tiacy, it is well to read the opinion of John Qiiincv
Adams, as set down in his Memoirs in ISO,') : " Mr. Tracy shows in nil
his pul)lic conduct great e.Kperience and a thorough familiarity with
thoo/v/fvand course of U^gi^lative proceedings. His manner is pecu-
liarly acconimo(hiling and conciliatory; his command of temper ex-
emplary." But Mr. Adams was a Iriend. and not a political opponent,
and could not sre the devil behind the smiling face.
' .1/6'. Worthington Papers.
Life mid Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 239
allc:>^3^od but a radical change of government. To that end
thi.ci f>ublic mind was inflamed l»y every art known to the
poX^^icjian ; and this, again, was brought to bear upon the
acl ■ ^ ministration and Congress. Tliat staunch Repuhlican,
Ji^i^ c3. ge Meigs, had no patience with surli talk, and never
g"i^"^^^ it his Ciuintenanoe. If the Governor's negative could
^^^^ <ii ualified he thouofht tlie Territorial svstem of £:overnment
*^* * ^"^ ^ d not be oppressive in any nspect.* " We are, and
^^^^^-^^i;^^ been f«»r more than tliirteen years under the oppressive
^^ ^^•- '^ "^ ^ of tyranny," wildly exclaimed that other Republican
or, John Smith.' " We want to be free."^ " Aristo-
«," " Monarchists," were the terms usually a[»plied to
<^ove^nor'8 party.
n the 18th of January, 1802, both Dr. Tiffin and Col-
Massie wrote to Colonel Worthington that petitions,
leronsly signed, had been forwarded to him. February
Dr. Tiffin wrote: "I have used every exertion to get
inel Massie to draw up and forward on his charges.
appointed three different times to meet on that busi-
•" February 8th, he wrote again on the smie subject:
^ have this day been busy in drawing up charges to
-;^ard to the Secretary of State ai^ainst Governor St.
■* ^^^ '^ M*. Colonel Massie, Mr. Creighton, and myself, meet
II at my liouse on Wednesday, and we shall send them
►jr the next mail certaiidy. Colonel Massie will enclose
proclamation for erecting the counties of Fairfield,
Yiiont,and Belmont, agreeable to your request. McMil-
ie recalled. He will not, therefore, be seen in Wash-
CDn this year. The Governor is expected through here
*^ ^ ^ XT on his wav." ^ On the same dav Colonel Massie for-
^^^^^cled the proclamations and promised the charges by
^^^^^^t mail. "Suffer me, my dear sir," he added, '* to tell
^^^^^ that I am highly gratified with your conduct, and if
^^>^^ can remain a short time longer, will be assisted by all
v>vxr aid that we can give you."
^S. Worthington Papers.
Afterwards XJ. S. Senator, and implicated in Burr's conspiracy.
• MS, Worthington Papers,
240 Isije and Public Services of Arthur 6V. Clair.
At last the charges were completed and forwarded under
cover of tlie following note :
" ChiHicothc,12th Feb., 1802.— Dear Sir:— The enclosed
charges I have at length prepared, and have sent tljeni to
the Secretary of State, referring liim to you for the several
documents which you will be pleased to lay before him. I
am in hopes this will arrive in time to be of service. They,
perhaps, will want some explanation that I am sure it will
be in your power to give.
*' I am, dear sir,
" Respectfully yr. ob't serv't,
" Natij. Massie." *
It was evident that, at this time, it was not all plain sail-
ing. On the 20th of February, Dr. Tiffin wrote to Colonel
Worthington that he was sorry to hear him express the
fear that a law would not pass authorizing a change in the
government. '* I have used exertions on this occasion to
the utmost of my power." ** I expect, ere this, you have re-
ceived the charges against the Governor. I had much
trouble to got Colonel Massie to finish them."
The charges themselves will be found in full in the sec-
ond volume of this work. Let it suffice to remark here
that when Governor St. Clair obtained a sight of them,
he answered them so eftcctually that President Jcfterson
refused to take the action asked. There is reason to be-
lieve that Hon. Wm. B. Giles, who was chairman of the
Consfres-ional Committee before whom Colonel Worthintr-
ton i)resented these charges, and sup[)orted them in an ar-
gument, advised the President against it. It is known that
Mr. Jetferson's friendship for St. Clair influenced him, and
that it was onlv after it was reoresented to him some
months later upon what seemed to be reliable authority,
that Governor St. Clair had spoken in public against dem-
ocratic government, that ho issued the order of removal.
Meanwhile, the efforts for an act authorizing a State Gov-
ernment, proved successful in the month of April. Care
was taken, in the act, to exclude the Territorial Letjislature
1 MS. ]\'ott!.i tiff ton Papers.
r
Life and Public Sercicts of Arihur Si. Oair. i41
from all participation in the work of calling the Conven-
^/^Q. Congress assumed the responsibility for that, and,
Sstrastfal of the people, even at^er severing the citizens
TVayne couuty from the Territory, made no provision
r submitting the Constitution to the people.
It was still feared bv the mnnasjors that in some wav
>vernor St. Clair would vet defeat the scheme for a Stau\
d renewed efforts were made for his removal. The fool-
is plainly expressed in the following letter from Judge
mmes :
" Washixgtox City, June 24, 1S02,
^Dear Sir^: — Here I am yet, puzzling myself with expla-
ions of my Miami business with the Attorney General,
o seems willing to hear much and say little, but I have,
^et, no cause of discouragement.
Governor St. Clair is also at Georgetown, but whether
it -^ =^^ hope or fear keeps him here so long, I am not able to
- Some days, I understand, he is in high spirits, and on
le other days his mercury stands very low.
The Attorney General mentioned his case to me the
ir day, and, of his own accord, told me that he believed
•e would not be the greatest difficuly in the President's
d, but that some good Republicans had suggested to the
jident that they thought it would, perhaps, bo as well to
rovernor St. Chiir remain in office until our State is
led, and the people choose a Governor for themselves,
delicacy forbids me to inquire who those good Republi-
» are, but I boldly advised to the contrary ; and yet, I
_ ^ect those Republicans live in the Territory. I begin to
^^ ^^fraid that Republicans in the Territory do not agree
^^^X on the question of a successor to Mr. St. Clair, and
^^^^ or more, for fear of not being well pleased with the
^^^^^^ advise a continuance of the old. I am sorry for it, if
iV »^ the case. We shall have much to dread if Rcpubli-
C^iis do not harmonize like clock-work. Jealousies ought
V> V>e banished from Republicans, or we fail altogether. I
could name an hundred in the Territory that I will assent
^M8. Letter to Colonel Thomas Worthington.
1A
242 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
to any one out of the number. When I see you, I will let
you know a little more on the subject than I care to write.
"I got a letter from Daniel Symmes, dated the 4th inst.
He tells me the parties are at it pell-mell in Cincinnati, but
that the printers there do yot give the Republicans a fair
chance ; print every thing for Aristocrats, and only now and
then a piece for Democrats. We shall never have fair play
while Arthur and his Knights of the Bound Table sit at the head^
and yet there arc Republicans who recommend his continu-
ance. Astonishing ! "
Summer and autumn passed away, and the convention to
form a constitution met, organized, and proceeded to its
work, and St. Clair was still discharging the functions of
Governor. Men of excellent character and ability had been
selected to make a constitution for the new state, more than
one fourth of whom were opposed to changing from a Ter-
ritorial to a State Government. On the 3d of November,
officers^ having been elected, Governor St. Clair proposed
to address the convention, and was permitted to do so.
After the Governor had made his address, " which was
sensible and conciliatory," it was resolved that it was ex-
pedient to form a Constitution and State government.*
The presence of Governor St. Clair within the bounda-
ries of the Eastern District, now about to become a St^ite,
was cause of continual disquiet to the Republican leaders.
Their sleep was disturbed with visions of Sir Arthur and
his knights continuing at the head, even after the District
should come to be the State of Ohio. Word went up from
Cincinnati to Chillicothe that the Federalists intended to
rally round him, and make him the first Governor of the
State.' They were filled with despair. Dr. Edward Tiffin,
who had been promised the first honors by the Republicans,
began an active canvass, and in a few Aveeka wrote, in some
confidence, that he thought the situation favorable to their
cause.* Governor St. Clair had refused the use of his name.
* Edward Tiffin was elected President, und Thomas Scott, Secretary.
^ Burnet's yofcs, p. 352.
* MS. Worthington Papers.
* Ibid.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 248
"WTiile the matter was in doubt, St. Clair's enemies were
watcbfol, hoping for an opportunity to trip him up. They
lay in wait for him in public and in the social circle. Two
of these * had certified, the preceding December, that in a
coversation, at a private house, in Chillicothe, the Governor
had spoken contemptuously of the government, and said
it "would finally settle down into an Aristocracy, and
thence into a Monarchy." But even this was not sufilcient
to convince Mr. Jefferson that a man who had risked his
life and spent a large fortune in helping to establish ^
republic was a monarchist. Perhaps, he did not care
to give official countenance to political warfare of such
questionable propriety. Within a year, however, he took
notice of public utterances in antagonism to the principles
of the Republican party, or of opinions reported to him to
be opposed to his policy, and directed the removal to be
made on political grounds.^ This official action was in the
folio ving form :
» ^e Vol. II. Note to letter of George Tod, May 29, 1802.
' The reader who has followed me thus far, and has seen what came
of the mob in Chillicothe in 1801, and of the charges which were drawii
up by Colonel Hassle, and pressed upon the President and Congress
with infinite labor and zeal by Colonel Worthington, in the winter and
spring of 1802, may profit by reading a communication made to the
Ohio Historical and Philosophical Society, in 18G9, which shows the
Talue of " recollections " as material for history. I copy from the pro-
ceedings of the Ohio Historical Society :
Robert Clarke read the following paper by A. H. Dunlevy, of Leba-
non, Ohio :
"The removal of Governor Arthur St. Clair, in 1802, by President
Thomas Jefferson, from the Governorship of the North-western
Territory :
*• This removal caused much talk at the time, and Mr. Jefferson suf-
fered not a little abuse for an act which was generally supposed to proceed
from mere party proscription. General St. Clair had been appointed
by General Washington, was a man of groat learning and respectable
talent, and, though he sadly failed in his military campaign in t):«»
West, General Washington had the fullest confidence in his integrity
and civil ability. Why he was removed by Mr. Jefferson was, there-
fore, never understood, unless it wa:^ on simply x»a»*ty i»rejudice.
"General St. Clair was a Federalist of the old school. Mr. Jeffer-
son was a Republican — so-call< d in 1802 — and Judge Jacob Burnet, in
his Taloftble * Xotes on the North-western Territory,* has expressed the
244 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
Department of State,
Washington, November 22, 1802.
Arthur St, Clair y Esq, :
Sir : — The President observing, in an address lately de-
opinion that the removal of General St. Clair was a political partisan
movement, wholly uncalled for and unwarrantable. Whether this
removal was or was not justifiable, was a matter on which the people
of the North-western Territory then differed, and on which there is,
no doubt, still a great difference of opinion. But whether the removal
was right or wrong, the cause of it, and the real actors in it, and the
manner in which it wa^t brought about, should be known. It forms a
part of our early history, and with a view of correcting the common
error on this point, the facts were communicated to me by the late
Governor Jeremiah Morrow shortly before his death. They are sub-
stantially these:
"In thetwinter of 1802-3, when the first Constitutional Convention
was in session in Chillicothe, there were some warm debates about the
point at which the northern line of the State should be fixed, and quite
a disturbance having occurred in the streets of Chillicothe one nighty
it was attributed by some to this quarrel about the northern boundary.
Under this impression, though it proved wholly erroneous. Governor
St. Clair called the morning after its occurrence, at the room occupied
by two members of the convention from Hamilton county, the late
Governor Morrow and Judge Francis Dunlevy, while they were in their
room and while the late Judge Luke Foster, also of Hamilton county,
was present. Governor St. Clair, referring to this tumult in the streets
the night before, and attributing it to the dispute about the northern
boundary, proceeded to express his entire want of confidence in our
democratic form of government, and declared in the most positive
language that we must have a stronger ynvernmmt^ or anarchy would soon
be the consequence. In giving expression to these sentiments the
Governor used terms of the most violent abuse of all democratio in-
stitutions.
" The three individuals present on this occasion were all the warm-
est advocates of the democratic form of government, and fully believed,
while they lived, that, in the progress of Christianity, general educa-
tion and consequent civilization, the democratic form of government
was destined to supersede all others, and hence they were highly in-
dignant at Governor St. Clair's opinions, and believed him holding
these sentiments to be unfit for the Governorship of the vast country
included in the North-western Territory, then just beginning to be se^
tied.
" Judge Dunlevy, at once reduced Governor St. Clair's expressions to
writing. They were signed by the three persons present, verified by
affidavit, and forwarded to President Jefferson.
"At the same time they recommended the appointment, as successor
liift and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 245
li vered by you to the convention held at Chillicothe, an in-
t;einperance and indecorum of language toward the Legis-
lature of the United States, and a disorganizing spirit and
indency of very evil example, and grossly violating the
St. Clair, of William Henry Harrison, therfdelegate of the Territory in
CJongress, and so well-known since as the distinguished commander of
t;lie North-western army in 1812-15, and finally elected President of the
XJnited States in 1840. Governor St. Clair was immediately removed,
&nd General Harrison appointed his successor. But as Congress, about
^bat time, divided the North-western Territory into districts and sepa-
iTAte Territories, General Harrison was assigned to the Territory of
Indiana, and acted as Governor thereof until his appointment as
Srigadier-General, in October, 1812, and placed at the head of the
North-western armv.
"After the death of Judges Dunlevy and Foster, the survivor of the
^liree who had been active in the removal of General St. Clair, the late
Oovernor Jeremiah Morrow, called on me, as I understood him, to
furnish me with the facts relating to this removal, in order that, after
liis death, I might explain a transaction that had caused so much ex-
citement at the time, and had given rise to a relentless political
persecution of a worthy and highly honored patriot.
** If the oflBcers of the Historical Society of Ohio think this matter
'worthy of their attention, they can use this communication as they think
proper. It might be well, in some way, to perpetuate the facts, and
thus correct the history of the event. Judge Burnet, in his work, has
devoted a large space to remarks on this removal, and attributed it, as
he no doubt really believed, as he interpreted the riotous mob at Chil-
licothe, in 1801, to a wanton and unjustifiable persecution of Governor
St. Clair. In all this, however, I have been assured he was mistaken.
"Lebanon, 0 , May 25, 1869. A. H. Dunlevy.
It would be difficult to crowd into the same space a greater number
of errors.
Alfred T. Goodman reviewed the paper of Mr. Dunlevy, and, in at-
tempting to correct the errors made by that gentleman, himself com-
mitted others. He erroneously attributed the cause pf the removal
to the charges drawn up by Colonel Massio and presented by Colonel
Worthington. He supposed Colonel W. to be the author of these.
Until recently, the papers which reveal all the facts have not been
obtainable, and are made public in this work for the first time. Mr.
Goodman was right in supporting the statement of Judge Burnet that
the removal of St. Clair was made on political grounds. It is cus-
tomary to speak of the Ohio Constitutional Convention as having been
held in the winter of 1802-3. It concluded its labors November 29,
1802. The Chillicothe riot occurred in 1801, and did not originate in
any discussion relating to a northern boundary.
246 L\fe and Public Services of Arthur St, Clair.
rules of conduct enjoined by your public station, determines
that your commission of Governor of the North-western
Territory shall cease on the receipt of this notification.
I am, etc.,
James Madison.
Department op State,
Washington, November 22, 1802.
SiE: — Enclosed is a letter to Governor St. Clair, from a
copy of which also enclosed, you will find that his com-
mission of Governor of the North-western Territory is to
cease on his receipt of the notification. It is only to be
added that no successor has yet been appointed, and, con-
Bequently, that the functions of the office devolve on you,
as Secretary of the said Territory.
I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully.
Your most obedient and humble servant,
James Madisoh.
Charles W. Byrd, Esq., Chillicothe.
This official correspondence is a striking illustration of
the political madness of the time. That a gentleman of
the high character, the culture, and the experience of Mr.
Madison could consent to commit such an indignity as to
send a letter of removal under cover to a malignant, per-
sonal enemy of the officer removed, is remarkable; and it
would be difficult to justify the act on the ground of official
duty. It would have been impossible for him to have
committed any other act that would have been regarded
by St. Clair as more offensive.
Thomas Jefferson, Republican, pronounced the address
delivered before the constitutional convention intemperate
in language, and as exhibiting a " disorganizing spirit."
Jacob Burnet, Federalist, who was present on the occasion,
declared it to be " sensible and conciliatory." In these
radically different opinions the philosophical reader will
find food for reflection.
We catch a glimpse of the brave St. Clair in 1^ Be-
lAJt and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 247
publican correspondence of the period, and likewise the
bouyant spirits of the young leaders of the new party.
Let these excerpts suffice :
William Crcighton to Thomas Worthington, Chillicothe,
Dec. 27, 1802 :
"At present we talk of nothing but the Governor's
dismissal. He passed thro' this place on Sat. for Phila.
I have just now read his answer to Mr. Madison — one of
the severest things I ever saw. We have a host of can-
didates for the next Assembly. Your name appeared in
the list on Saturday last. The people yet continue calm,
and probably will during the present election." *
January 31, 1803, Return J. Meigs, Jr., announces that
the Republicans swept the Federalist stronghold of Mari-
etta by a large majority :
" The Federalists here have grown (if possible) more
bitter than ever. They fulminate their anathemas against
the administration with unprecedented malice. Such was
their obstinacy that (knowing they could not carry a
Federal governor) they would not vote for governor at
all, but threw in blank tickets." *
^M& WarthingUm Papers.
248 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
CHAPTER X.
1803-1818. — Closing Days — Importance of the Work op St. Clair ik the
North-western Territory — A Wii.derness Civiuzed and a Peoplb
MADE Prosperous and Happy — Rkturn op the Veteran to Ligonier
— Financial Affairs — The Government of the United States pleads
the Statute op Limitations, which Act, with the Aid of the Em-
bargo Law, brings St. Claiu's Estate to Forced Sale, and beduces
the old Soldier and Family to Poverty — Depth op Party Prejudi-
ces— St. Clair ukmovks to Ciikst.nut Ridge — Visited by Distin-
guished Citizens — Interesting Relic of the Revolutionary Period
— Privations endured — Sympathy of New York Ladies — Ingrati-
tude— The Last of Earth.
St. Clair'S work in the North-western Territory was
finished, and he could look upon it with feelings of pride.
He had helped to secure from the old Continental Con-
gress the great charter which secured freedom to a vast
empire, and made religion and education fundamental
principles in the constitutions of the five republics. He
had given to the Territory a code of laws better in all re-
spects than any new country ever had before. He had
seen that Justice tempered her decrees with mercy, and
had infused into all the departments of government a
spirit of benignity whose influence is still felt, and will
continue to be felt as long as these republics exist. Such
services, in the days of the Grecian and Roman world,
earned the wreaths of honor and gratitude, and, mayhap,
added wealth which insured ease and comfort in old age.
But in the model republic, what?
St. Clair returned to Pennsylvania, and in time gathered
his family about him at Ligonier. His first efforts were
given to the task of i)Utting his private affairs into shape,
and if i)()ssible securing something to live upon from the
wreck of things. He was now an old man, and unfit to
embark in business of any kind, but as he had spent his
fortune in the service of the public, he was hopeful that
the representatives of the peojilo would remunerate him
Ijife and. Public Services of Arthur St, Clair. 249
for his losses. Alas! he knew little of the motives that
C5ontrol men in place. The past to them is dead, and the
services which gray hairs recall may look to that past for
-fcheir compensation. They can add nothing to the living
present in which ambition is busy building monuments for
-tie future.
The story of St. Clair's financial troubles, and his efforts
t:o get justice — aye, even the shadow of justice — from the
Government, is a pitiful, and to the Government, a shame-
ful one. I have dwelt on the brilliant services of a long
life with pleasure, and now that the evening has come
"^^ith its shadows, I would hasten to the end.
In the dark days of the Revolution, when it seemed as
if Washington's army would melt away and leave him and
liis officers as the sole force to confront the enemy, he ap-
pealed to St. Clair to save to him the Pennsylvania line, the
flower of that army. St. Clair at once responded by sup-
plying from his own private resources the funds necessary
to begin the recruiting, which was undertaken by Major
"William Butler. After the close of the war, he endeav-
ored to get this refunded in a settlement of his accounts,
but, because of the non-adjustment of other accounts, the
Paymaster-General did not allow it, although conceding
the regularity of the claim. It was finally presented to
the Committee on Claims in Congress, who reported that
the money had been furnished and expended for the benefit
of the United States, but that it was barred by the Statute.
In the management of the Indian affairs in the Territory,
- it became necessary as Superintendent, in order to carry
out the instructions of the Secretary of War, to become
responsible for supplies which exceeded in amount the
warrants furnished by Government, nine thousand dollars.
When St. Clair sent his account to the Treasury Depart-
ment it was disallowed, because the accompanying vouchers
were not receipted. When this omission was supplied, the
contractor required St. Clair to give his personal bond
for the payment of the vouchers. When again presented
to the Treasury Department for payment, the vouchers
could not be paid because there was no appropriation for
260 lAfe and Public Services af Arthur St. OUUr.
the payment of debts contracted under the
and before that oould be secured^ Mr. Hamilton went out
of office. St. Olair had not been aoxioug about the matter,
as Mr. Hamilton had promised that it should be attended
to, and that interest should be allowed on the claim. But
the new Secretary would do nothing in the matter, and, in
1796, all of the papers were destroyed by fire in the War
Office. St. Clair finally applied to Congress, where, again,
payment was refused because of the Statute of Limitationa !
The creditor got a judgment on the bond, and five thou-
sand dollars were paid on the debt; but, in 1810, execution
was issued, at which time the debt had increased, with in-
terest, to ten thousand dollars. At that unfavorable mo-
ment, when the embargo had driven money out of the
country, St. Clair's property was forced to sale; and a
most valuable tract of land, on which there was a good
mill, a large and well finished dwelling-house, and all of
the necessary outhouses for a farm, and a furnace for
smelting iron, on which St. Clair had laid out about ten
thousand dollars (which was so valuable that at the time
it was rented for twenty-four hundred dollars per annum) —
all of this property, in value over fifty thousand dollars —
a large sum in those days — which would have made him
and his family comfortable for the remaining years of his
life, was sacrificed to pay a debt which was in no proper
sense personal, but was due from the United States. It
went under the hammer for four thousand dollars ! All
of his other property went in the same way, and St. Clair,
wife, daughters, and orphan grandchildren were reduced to
poverty.
This home, from which they were now driven, was built
while St. Clair was Governor of the North-western Terri-
tory— about 1799 — and was named by him " The Hermit-
age," in fond anticipation of the time when he should be
relieved of the cares of State. It was about two miles
north of Ligonier, on a tract of laud received by St. Clair
at the close of the Revolutionary War. Alexander John-
ston says the residence was considered handsome at the time.
It was handsomely painted and papered, and, besides orcU-
hift and Public Services of Artkur St. Clair. 251
narjr apArtments, had a suite of numbered rooms. The
fiitoatioQ was picturesque, a fine trout stream flowing in
front of the house through an expanse of meadow and
^woodland, with the blue outlines of the mountains visible
in the distance, to complete the landscape. Nothing i^-
2nainedof the old mansion, when last seen, except St. Clair's
own room, which was as he left it, but the painting over
Che fire-place had been destroyed.
In referring, afterwards, to the executions which swept
way this beautiful home, and all his personal property,
3t. Clair said : " They left me a few books of my classical
ilbrary," (including Horace, one would hope,) "and the
"bust of Paul Jones, which he sent me from Europe, for
hich I was very grateful."
Was not this forbearance which spared the counterfeit
f an old friend, and the means for forgetting the pangs of
Hanger and the ingratitude of man suf&cient to be grateful
or ? This was more than the Government did : it took
't^.lie best years of its subject's life, piled debt upon debt, and
't^.'hen mocked his gray hairs. If, as Schiller truly says, it
X© the most important concern of every State that justice
^liould prevail, and all men in the world should have their
own, how shall we describe the magnitude of the crime
t;liat drove, empty-handed, from the door of the Capitol,
'where Justice, it is supposed, ever has her seat, the man
'^vho gave his all to his country?
One is reluctant to believe that party feeling had any-
^Wng to do with this refusal to pay the just claim of a cred-
itor, and, yet, the debates show that the members entertained
a feeling of political animosity that is inconceivable at the
present. Even as late as the winter of 1818, when the era
of *^ good feeling " yet prevailed, and an effort was made to
pay the principal of the debt due to St. Clair, there was
great acrimony displayed in the debates.^ Then the gallant
^ In further illustration of the bitterness of feeling entertained by
fiepablicaoi politicians against the old Federalist, I give here the fol-
iowing extract from the proceedings of the House, Feb. 5, 1818:
" Mr. Mercer then moved the following amendment, by way of pre-
amble: 'Whereas, the Congress of the United States entertain a high
aenae of the tried integrity, as well as of the civil and military virtues,
252 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
old patriot did not lack eloquent orators to plead his cause
— his cause? the cause of honesty and right embraced in
the duty of government — ^^for there were Henry Clay, of
Kentucky; Charles F. Mercer, of Virginia, and William
Henry Harrison, of Ohio, who stood forth in his behalf.
But the debt was not paid — never was.* Finally, there was
wrung from that Congress a pension of sixty dollars per
month, but not a dollar of it ever reached St. Clair, for a
creditor seized upon it at the very door of the Treasury.
The sacrifice of his home drove St. Clair to the barren
lands of Chestnut Eidge, (about five miles west of Ligo-
nier,) where the few remaining years of his life were spent
in great privation.' His favorite daughter, Mrs. Louisa
Eobb, shared his fortunes and cheered his remaining days.
The dwelling was a log house, situated by the side of the
old State road that passed from Bedford to Pittsburgh.
Hither many were attracted by the fame of the noble resi-
dent, whose dignity of carriage, fire of spirit, and charm
of conversation were preserved in spite of his extreme age.
Two distinguished men have left their impressions of him
in these closing years.
The biographer of General Lewis Cass, referring to that
statosnian's acquaintance with St. Chiir, described him as
lie was when contendiiii^ with political opponents at the
l)e<^inning oi the century :
" General St. Chiir was a most interesting relic of the
of Arthur St. Clair, late President of the Congress, and Commander-
in-Chief of the Army of the United States, whom they learn, with
regret, has been reduced, by misfortune, to extreme poverty.* " This
motion was negatived — ayes, 61 ; noes, 81. — Annals of Congress,
Pennsylvania, after St. Clair was reduced in circumstances, settled
an annuity of three hundred dollars, and, in 1817, increased the amount
to six hundred.
* In 1857 — thirty-nine years after the death of St. Clair — Congress
appropriated a considerable sum for the benefit of his surviving heirs.
' During the last four years of his life, the family were frequently in
great want. Some patriotic ladies of New York, hearing of St. Claires
necessities, sent him a remittance in money, and afterwards eight
hundred dollars in steamboat stock, which, however, proved to be
worthless. Nevertheless, the deed was a good one, and St Clair
knowledged it in a graceful letter.
Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 253
revolutionary period; tall, erect, though advanced in years,
^well educated, gentlemanly, thoroughly acquainted with
the world, and abounding in anecdotes, descriptive of the
xnen and scenes he had encountered in his eventful career."
'^ Lewis Cass saw him for the last time some years before
liis death, in a rude cabin, supported by selling supplies to
"the wagoners who traveled the road, one of the most
striking instances of the mutations which chequer life."
Hon. Elisha Whittlesev saw him in 1815, as he and three
friends were journeying from Ohio to Connecticut on horse-
tack. " I proposed that we stop at his house and spend
he night. He had no grain for our horses, and after
pending an hour with him in the most agreeable and in-
eresting conver.-ation respecting his early knowledge of
he North-western Territory, we took our leave of him with
he deepest regret.
"I never was in the presence of a man that caused me
o feel the same degree of esteem and veneration. He
rore a citizen's dress of black of the Revolution; his hair
cilubbed and powdered. When we entered, he rose with
<Jignity, and received us most courteously. His dwelling
"^ras a common double log-house of the Western country,
t;hat a neighborhood would roll up in an afternoon. Chest-
nut Ridge was bleak and barren. There lived the friend
and confidant of Washington, the ex-Governor of the
fairest portion of creation. It was in the neighborhood, if
not in view, of a large estate near Ligonier that he owned
at the commencement of the Revolution, and which, as I
have at all times understood, was sacrificed to promote the
success of the Revolution. Poverty did not cause him to
lose his self respect, and, were he now living, his personal
appearance would command universal admiration."
The joarney is nearly ended. On one of the closing
days of August, 1818, the venerable patriot, in his eighty-
foorth year, undertook to go to Youngstown, three miles
distant, for flour and other necessaries. He bade good-bye
to his Louisa and started off with his pony and wagon, in
good spirits. The authorities had changed the State road
so that it passed along the Loyal hanna Creek, several miles
254 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair.
north of the St. Clair residence, and the route to Tonngs-
towii was rough and dangerous. Pony and wagon moved
safely along until within a nnle of the vilhige, when a wheel
falling into a rut, the wagon was upset, and the aged Gen-
eral thrown with great force upon thje rocky road. In the
course of the day he was discovered lying where he had
fallen, insensible, and the pony standing quietly at a short
distance, awaiting the command of his old master — faithful
to the last. He was carried tenderly back to the house, but
neither medical skill nor the affectionate care of loved ones
could restore him, and, on the thirty-first, Death came with
liis blessed messu.'re of i)oacc forevermore.
On a neat sand- stone monument, erected by the Masonio
Society, in the cemetery of Greensburg, is this inscription:
THE
Earthly Remains
OF
MAJOR-GENERAL ARTHUR ST. CLAIR
are deposited
Beneath this Humble Monument,
WHICH IS
Erected to Supply the Place
OF A Nobler One
Due from His Country.
If this work, which unfolds the character and records the
deeds of Arthur St. Clair, shall enable the American peo-
pie to form a just opinion of our hero's abilities and virtues
— notably his patriotism, his disinterestedness, his courage
and magnanimity, all of which he possessed in a greater
degree than almost any other of his day — then shall
that nobler monument have been supplied, and in the in-
crease of gratitude and respect for the men who stood
faithfully by Washington in the dark days of the Revolu-
tion, the divine law of compensation have found its lultiU-
ment.
lAft and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair. 255
Unobscured now by party passions and prejudices, the
Z3iind, calmly reviewing the past, discerns the truth in every
^vent and the heroic in every character participating in the
istruggle with King George, and in the work of establish-
i m)g civil government upon the ruins of war. Justice is
cl ispensed at last. Ever noble shall appear the names of
r lie few faithful companions and friends of Washington,
liat one deserves to stand above that of St. Clair? His
lilities, his genius, his unselfishness, and his loyalty en-
tiitled him to share in the councils of his Chief. "As long
ai.s the measures which conducted us safely through the
rst most critical stages of the war shall be remembered
rith approbation; as long as the enterprises of Trenton
nd Princeton* nhall be regarded as the dawnings of that
l>right day which afterward broke forth with such resplen-
dent lustre;"^ as* long as self-sacrifice for country shall be
^ Since the above sketch was put into the hands of the printer, I
^ave received an interesting letter from Dr. W. A. Irvine, grandson
^>f General William Irvine, which confirms the opinion expressed in
"^ho text, that General St. Clair suggested the brilliant movement on
"%he Delaware. I take the liberty of adding it to the notes already
^^QQade *
" Irvine, 1»a., Sept. 28, 1881.
"Dear Sir: — Your letter was laid aside and overlooked. 1 have no
other letters of St. Clair's than those you allude to. I have, however,
^n incident connected with the General, which I will give you:
Thomas Leiper, of Philadelphia, a member of the City Troop which
«erVed under Washington during the campaign of 1770, stated to my
iVither, Callender Irvine, that St. Clair had not received the credit he
deserved — of having suggested to General Washington the crossing the
Delaware into New Jersey, which resulted so favorably to the Amer-
ican cause, and to General Washington's fame. Mr. Leiper said, the
fact that St. Clair did suggest the movement was well known in camp.
Leiper was a man of high honor and v«'raoity, and would not have
stated the fact if not true. At the .same time he related the circum-
stances, be was commiserating St. Clair's misfortunes. It is not an
uncommon thing for the Commander-in-Chief to reap all the laurels
of his subordinates. True, he assumes all the responsibility of any
particular course of action. General Wa.shington, as a military man,
had not, I think a suggo.^tive mind, but he had the good sense to know
when to follow sound a<lvice. Respectfully yours,
**Wm. Henry Smith, Esq., Chicago, III. W. A. Ikvixe."
'Alexander Hamilton, whose language has a singular appropriateness
in this connection.
256 Life and Public Services of Arthur St. Clair,
esteemed the highest evidence of patriotism; as long as
the wisdom that preserved an army to tliwart the scheme
of the British Cabinet for the subjugation of tlie Eastern
Colonies is appreciated; as long as the republics formed
under the Ordinance of 1787 shall endure, so long shall
the name of Arthur St. Clair be held in grateful remcm-
l^rance by the American people.
THE ST. CLAIR PAPERS.
CORRESPONDENCE, ADDRESSES, ETC.
BOUNDARY TROUBLES BETWEEN PENNSYLVANIA AND
VIRGINIA— LORD DUNMORE'S INDIAN WAR.
1771—1775.
George Wilson* to Arthur St. Clair.
My Dear Capt. — I am Sorey that the first Letter I ever under-
took to Write you shoukl Coutain a Detail of a Grievance so Dis-
agreeable to me; Wars of any Cind are not agreable to auey Person
Posesed of ye proper feelings of Humanity, But more Especially
int^stin Brovls.^ I no sooner Returned Home from Court'' than I
Found papers containing the Resolves, as they Called them, of ye
*The writer of tliis letter — George Wilson, generally known AVest of the
mountains, at that date, as Colonel Wilson — was one of the justices of Bed-
ford county, Pennsylvania, "nominated and authorized by the Governor, for
the time being, by a coinnjission under the broad seal of the Province." He
wa."* not u man *' learned in the law," but was, nevertheless, a prominent and
influential citizen. He was afterward, upon the erection of Westmoreland
county, appointed one of its trustees for the purpose (»f "fixing a place for
building a Court-IIouse [and] a Goal [jail] for the said county." lie was,
als'^, made one of its justices of the peace, having received his first appoint-
ment February 27, 1773, and a second one the 11th of January, 1774. Col-
onel Wilson, at one time, resided at Staunton, Virginia, and moved thence to
Pennsylvania. lie succeeded Mackay as Colonel of the Eighth Pennsyl-
vania llegiment. Died at Quibbletown, New Jersey, in the spring of 1777.
^The " intestin Broyls" referred to are the boundary troubles between
Penn.«ylvania and A^'irginia, the history and progress of which will hereafter
more fully be shown.
'The first court of quarter sessions of the peace and jail delivery was
held in Bedford, April 10, 1771, before William Proctor, Jr., Kobert Clug-
gftge, Robert Hanna, William Lochry, William McConnell, and the author
of this letter — George Wilson. The Court had the high-sounding title of
"Justices of our Lord the King, to hear and determine divers felonies and
mUdemcnnors committed in Bedford county."
17 (257)
2o8 The St. Clair Papers.
inhabitants to ye Westward of ye Laurall hills,* ware handing fast
alH)wt amongst ye people, in which amongst ye rest Was one that
they Were Resolved to appose Everey of Pens Laws as they Called
them, Except Felonious actions, at ye Risque of Life, & under the
penelty of fiftey pounds, to be Rccovoured or Leveyed By them-
selves off ye Estates of ye failure.' The first of them I found
Hardey anugh to offer it in publick, I emeditly ordred into Custotey,
on wliicli a large number Ware asembled as Was Scj^sed to Resquc
The Prisonar. I indavoured, By all ye Reason I was Capable of,
to Convince them of the ill Consequences that would of Conse-
quence attend such a Rel)ellion, & Hajwly Gained on the people to
Consent to Roliufjuish their Resolves & to Burn the Peper they had
Signed — When their Forman saw that the Arms of His Centric,
that as hee said Hoe had thrown himself into would not Resquc
him By force, lice Catched up his Rifle, Which Was Well Loded,
Jumjwd out of Dors, & swore if aney man Cam nigh him hee
Would put What Was in his throo them ; the Person that IIa<l him
in Cust4)dy Called for asistance in ye Kings name, and in pirticke-
laur Comauded my self, I told him I was a Subject & was not fit to
Comand if not Willing to obay, on which I watched his eye untill I
saw a Chance, Spning in on him <fe Sezed the Rifle by ye Muzleand
held him, So as he Could not Shoot mee, untill more help Got in to
my a'iistance, on which I Disarmed him <fe Broke his Rifle to peeses.
I ResM a Sore Brnze on one of my arms By a punch of ye (tuu in
ye Strugle — Then jmt him under a Strong Guard, Told them the
Laws of their Contrie was stronger then the Hardiest Ruflin amongst
them.
I found it necescry on their Complyance faltering their Resrdves,
and his promising to Ciive him self no more trouble in the affiiir, as
^Tho Laurel Hill is ti moimtainous rnnijje in the South-western part of
Pennsylvania. At the Youj^hiugheny Kiver poing North, it beconu's C hest-
nut Kidge, and the range east of it receives the name of Laurel Hill. Col-
onel AVilson's ht>nie was in what is now Fayette county.
2" I understand hy Captain John Haden, the bearer of this, that there is
an ai^reenient entered into by a number of the inhabitants of Mon<»ngahela
and lvedst(Mie. They have <.'ntered into a bond or article of agreement, to
join ami keep off all otTioi'r-j of the law, under a penalty of fifty [pounds],
to be forfeited by the ]>arty refn-^iiig to join against all (»f!iceia what.soever."
— Exirnrt froi)} a LHtrr w riff en af *' Sfrwarfs ( rowthips,'' in what was then
Bedford rounfi/, Attf/itsf 0, 1771. The explamttion of this unusual determina-
tion of the people of that section is, they were living in disputed territory —
claimed by both Virginia and Pennsylvania.
200 The St. Clair Papers.
Arthur St. Clair to Joseph Shippen, Jr.*
Bedford, Seper2^, 1771. '
Sir: — I am favored with yours of the 22<1 of August inclotiiing
twelve Tavern Licenses; mine to you in April I find has miscarriecl.
I had a particular reason for wishing that letter safe, but I hope
soon to have the pleasure of seeing you in person.
I am sorry the paj)er8 I now enclose will contradict the favorable
account I have given of our county; indeed I am apprehensive
there will Ikj a great deal of trouble on our frontier. A ridiculous
story that Mr. Crcssap *^ has spread with much industry that this
Province did not extend Iwyond the Alleghany Mountain, but that all
to the westward of it was King's Land, has taken great hold of the
people, and together with Mr. Croghan's claims and surveys' has put
ley, Fairfield, Mt. Pleasant, Ilempfield, Pitt, Tyrone, Rosstrevor, Arm-
strong, and Tiillileaijue. Spring Hill took in a large part »)f what is now
Fayette county, the whole of Greene, and a portion of Washington.
^ *'2d January, 170*2. Memorandum. This day the Governor executed a
Commission appointing Mr. .Ids 'ph Shippen, Junior, Secretary and Clerk of
the Council, for the Province of Pennsylvania, etc."
"Novemher the 1st, 1703. 31 r. Joseph Shippen, Junior, being continued
Provincial Secretary aiul Clerk of the C(»uncil. etc."
''Thursday, 17th October, 1771. The Governor informed the Board that
he continu(?d Mr. Joseph Shippen, Jun'r, in the office of Provincial Secro-
tiiry and Clerk « f the Council, etc." — Extracts from the M'uiutes of the (Pa.)
Proj'iurtuf. Council.
'^ Micheal Cresap, a well-known citizen, at that time, of Old Town, Mary-
lt\nd, which place was generally called " Cresap's," and is so marke I on some
of the maps of that peric»d. lie was frequently west of the; mountains. He
was a native of the State in "which he lived. The u^^e of his name (though
wrongfully) in thtt celebrated *• aj)peal " of Logan, the Mingo chief, has made
it familiar to* every school-boy.
^George Croghan (pronounced Crohon) was a native of Ireland. lie first
settle*! upon the Susquehanna, where as early as 1740, he was engaged in
tlx* Tinlian trade, lie afterward was ager)t for Pennsylvania among the In-
dians upnii the Ohio arjd tributaries. He erected a fort at the site of the
prc-cnt Shirleysburg, Huntingdon county Pennsylvania. Early in the
French AVar, he was a captain ; but, in 1750, he threw up his commission,
and repaired to Sir \Villiam Johnson, who appointed him a deputy Indian
agj'iit of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Indians. After Pontiac's War, ho
livrd at his s«'ttienient upon the east side of the Alleghany river, four miles
«bi»v(; Pitt.-hwrgh. where, as Sir AVilliam's deputy, he continued very effi-
cient. Here "Washington visited him on the 19th of October, 1770; and
here he still re>ided at date of this letter.
Croirhan's "claims and surveys" were all in the vicinity of Pittsburgh.
" Our friend, Mr. Croghan," said the Six Nations of Indians at a treaty held
262 The St. Clair Papers.
The recommendation I will send the first opportunity after I see
a few of the magistrates together.
Geo. Croghan to Arthur St. Clair.
June the 4t]i, 1772.
Dear Sir: — Your feaver of the 2d was Delivered me by Mr.
Eapy [Kspy] & Mr. Galbreath & I observe the Contents, Mr. Col-
lens Did Write me Some Time ago, & I Inclose me ye Copy of a
Leter from Coll. Crisap to ye Inhabitauce there, & Dcsierd my
opinion thereon, in my answer I tould him that my Leters from
England Did menshon that the Western bounds of Pensylvania
Could Nott Come any Distance on this Side ye Hills, & that I made
No Doubt but Coll. Cresaps had been Well Inform*d l>efore he wrote
that Lcter, & that is my own opinion, how farr itt may be Consist-
ant with the Good of Society for the King's Subjects to be under
the Kegulation of Laws, Every one will agree, any Law is beter
than No Law, Butt when Laws are administered with two much
Severity wh have been two often Don fer three years past, it be-
comes oppressife and unjust.
As I Conceave yr Leter and Inferniation as an act of frendshipe,
& that I have the highest opinion of yr upright & Just Sence of
those maters, I Write you with freedom, & as wo are on this topect,
pniy why did Not the proprietors j)revont all those Disputes, by as-
certaing thire l>ouuds, I will Submitt itt to yr Self how farr itt is
Consistant v;ith the prinseples of Justice, forr thire agents to open
an ofese to dispose of Lands so Curc;)nistan(!ed as to admit t of Dis-
pute, without proscrilwiug themselves any Limites, when they must
well Ilemember that itts Nott a (jreat Number of Years Sence the
aScmbly Refused to build a Trading house or fort Leer,' aLedging
itt to Ik^ out of Mr. Penn*s Grant, & after that ye Same aSembly
Refused (iranting mony for the King's use, to aSist in the Reduc-
tion (^f Fort Du (piasue,^ tfe I Dont Know that Ever Mr. Penn Tuck
anv ineshurs S(?nce that Time to ascertain his bounds, or make itt
Known to the publick, as to any Right that Pensylvania has to
^ "Hofu^cd t(» build a Trading house or fort hcor; " that is, at the site of
the jM-esent ciiy uf Pittsburgh.
'■''♦ Fort Du quasrie;*' i. r., Fort Duqucsne — the post, at wliat is now Pitts-
hurixh, built bv the French, and nearly d<»stroved hv ih(»m upon the arrival,
in 17.'>8, of Goiieral Forbes' army. Fort Pitt was afterward erected U|>on
the site.
Correspondence^ Addresses, etc. 268
bave a Duridiction over ye King's Subjects Till the Limits of the
proviuce is Ascertained, as many of ye Subjects Come from Veginea
<fe Maryland, & Settled under ye Ohio Company,* those Colonys
lias as Good pretensions as- Pensylvania, and as to Extending ye
X<ine by Dixon * beyond ye End of Maryland,' its to well know that
-was Nott Don by authority to Determine any thing : * Considering
all those Curcomstances, I may Venture to say you will Ik? of opin-
L on that if any objections be made to the Laws or Taxes itt will bo
ntirly oweing to ye meshurs Taken by Pensylvania in Not acertain-
ng the True Limits of thire Durediction, and publishing itt to the
3eple.
I Can Truly Say, that I have Neaver advised any person to use
Siiereffe or Civil officer of the province, all & such as have ask*d
ly opinion on these maters which I aShure you is butt very few.
* The Ohio Company was organized in 1748. Its members resided in
'laryhmd and Virginia, with an associate in London — fourteen persons in
11. Its object was the settling of wild lands west of the Alleghany nioun-
•ins niid trade with the Indians. Its members obtained a grant of five
undred thou.^and acres of land from the Crown, to be chic-fly taken on the
Hith sidoof the Ohio River, between the M<Miongahelaand Kanawha. The
.evolution put an end to the existence of the company.
'In August, 1703, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, of I^ndon, Eng-
'M »«.nd, were selected by Lord Baltimore and the Penns lt» complete the boun-
iiry line between the provinces of Maryland and Pennsylvania. They
ere both eminent surytyors. The line they run (which extended further
mr estward than the northwe>?t corner of Maryland) has received their names
— ^Mason and Dixon's line; figuratively, the dividing line between the
mcjrthern anl southern States of the Union. The work of Mason and Dixon
:>©gan late in the year 1703, and ended in October, 1767.
' Mr. Croi^han means by the words, '• beyond ye End of Maryland," to the
^^estwarJ of the north-west corner of Marvhir:d.
*That is, the running of the boundary line beyond the northwest corner
of Maryland was not done by authority to determine any thing as between
I^eiiHHijlnania and Virrjinia. This point by Mr. Croghan was, certainly, well
taken, as Virginia took no part in the running of the line. As the *• back
line" between .Maryland and Virginia had not been determined, it was to the
interest of the former province that Mason and Dixi.n should continue west
beyond the mountains, for the reason that just how far westward her territory
extended hud not been settled. Her ♦* back line" was, at that period a sub-
ject of controversy between the provinces, depending upon the que.-^tioji of
the l.Kjation of the '• thst fountain of the Potomac;" as the line was defined
to be a meridian, extending Irom that point to the southern boundary lino
of Pennsylvania. The province of Viri;inia claimed all the territory west
of the head of the math branch, while Maryland insisted that her terriU)ry
extended as far ^ve^l as the head of the north branch.
264 The St. Qair Papers.
I have advised them to Comply. But with Respect to Lands or
Taxes I will give you my opinion, which is, that I think the peple
are fools if they Dont Keep thire mony till they are fully satisfy'd
that thire proiKirty is Shure, & that the5' are under the Durediction
of Pennsylvania, when I have the Pleshur of Seeing you we may
talk more on this Subject, & I will Shoe you the Copy of my Leter
to Mr. Tilghman* on those Subjects Last August, which you will
find fair & open, for tho' I know I am much blam'd by the agents
& other officers of Goverment, yet I aShure you I have very Litle
Connections or Intercourse with any of the Setlers in this Cuntry.
R. L. Hooper, Jr.,' to Arthur St. Clair,
Fort Pitt, July 10th, 1772.
Dear Sir: — I think it will l)c l>est to, delay doing any thing about
the lot we were talking of, till I have the pleasure of seeing you
again. Two days ago I was informed of the determined resolution
of a considerable numlxT of people in the Redstone settlement,' to
oppose the jurisdiction of your court in that part of the country,
till the western lK)unds of Pennsylvania are run, and I apj)rehend the
measure will be j)roductive of bad conse({Ucnces, tho' it may Ix^ the
means of having that boundary sooner established than it other-
wise would be. It does not Inicome me to sjx'ak freely of this mat-
ter, but you know my sentiments respecting the western bounds of
Pennsylvania, and I do assure you that no part of this derp lauhcheme
was conimunicatcd to me till within these two days past, and I hoj>e
you will believe that I have not been instrumental in promoting an af-
fair, wliieli, if carried into execution, will be productive of many bad
consecpiences. If you hear me censured by any worthy persons, on
the score of frien<lship, I recpiest you will declare my sentiments,
but doift shew this letter, as you know how I am circumstanced. I
shall be glad to hear from you.
* James Til-^lnnan, iiieinhcr of the Provi?)ciul Council of Pennssylvania.
2 Robert I.fttis Hooper, .Ir.; was, afterwiird, during the KevoUition, a
Deputy (^uiirterrna^ter-Genoral.
''' The locality of what is now Brownsville and vicinity, in Faj'ctto county,
Penn-sylvania,
266 St. Clair Papers.
not been instrumental in promoting an affair which, if carried into
execution, will be productive of many bad consequences." * I can
not send his letter as he writes to me in confidence, and requests
me not to shew it on account of his dependent situation.
The petition was presented by Mr. Brent, a gentleman from
Maryland, who practices in our county. He offered nothing in sup-
port of it, but the uncertaiuty wiiere Pennsylvania ends, and the
hardship it was on jKiople to live uuder authority that was ])erhaps
usurped. He was answered by Mr. Wilson, and I a^^sure you the
Proprietaries and the |>e()ple are very much obliged to him. In a
very hai^dsonie 6j)eech of about an hour he opened the Constitution
of the Province, compared it with that of the neighboring Colo-
nies, and pointed out where it excelled them. He explained to the
people the conduct of the Proprietaries in granting their lands ;
their great indulgence to settlers ; their singular lenity to their
tenants, and the peculiar mildness of the whole system of their
Government, and concluded with showing to them how fatal to
themselves the granting their request must prove. I think it was
lucky it was spoken so publicly, as many jx^ople from the doubt-
ful part of the country were present, and seemed so pleased w^ith
the conduct of the court in rejecting the petition.
If 1 might trouble you with a conjecture, I would say some i>eo-
ple in Piiihidelj)hia are at the bottom of all these disturbances.
A certain ambitious set who would not scruj)le to wade to power
thro* the blood of their fellow citizens, have still a change of Gov-
ernment in view ; by theireniissariefStiiey may embroil the Pn)vinee,
whilst ut the same time, by their influence on a certain party iu
A.s.<(MHbly, the hands of Government may l>e so weakened, that
order can not soon be restored, but this is all conjecture, and I am
no politician ; but certain I am messengers and expresses pass and
rej)ass betwixt Philadelj)hia and Fort Pitt too frequently for any pri-
vate transaction to bear the exi^nsc.
It were to be wished that the l)oundary was fixed and so all pre-
tense taken away ; but if there are no orders to that purjK)se, i)er-
haps it might answer a good end to divide this county and fix the
countv town at F<)rt Pitt. I believe it is bevond a doubt the
Province will extend l)eyon(l it, and the j)e(>ple would perhai)s think
in this manner that the Proprietaries would not take that step with-
out being al)Si)lutely certain.
1 don't know if it was the intention of the Governor, the sjwcial
^See preceding l»,'tter, U. L. Hooper to St. Clair, July 11, 1772.
268 The St. Clair Papers.
are the ringleaders of this gang of villains, John Death, Andrew
GudgcU and Michal Cock ; they were all well armed with guns,
tomahawks, pistols and clubs ; and the sheriff is of opinion that
only for a pocket pistol which he produced he would certainly
have nitt with extreme ill usa^e if he had c^^caned with his life.
I liave said these people are chiefly abetted by ^Ir. Croghan, and
I think I have reason to say so; for no longer ago than Friday lost,
the collector and c<justable whom he had called to his assistance to
levy (Mr. Croghau's) his taxes, were drove off by his people, and
that ^Vlr. Croghan himself threatened to put any or all of them to
death if they attempted to touch any of his effects, for that he was
not within the Province bv thirtv miles.
This will be handed you by William Lochry,^ Esqr., a magistrate
of this county, and treasurer. You will find him an intelligent
man, and can give you any further informatitm about matters in
this part of the country. I supiK)se he will be desirous to wait upon
the Governor ; I will he obliged to you if you will please to intro-
duce him; however, he is a plain, honest man, and allowances must
be made for his address. I intend soon to have the pleasure of
seeing you, and am, etc.
Beuxakd DoironERTY to Arthur St. Clair.
Bedford J //<///.'<f 18f/i, 1772.
Dr, Sir: — Havin<i: been in town yesterday I wrote vou a few
hasty Hues from thence. I remenil)er to have mentioned that my
conduct with resj)ect to the ensuing election should in some measure
be greatly dependent on the part you'd act I can (with great sin-
cerity) as.<ure you, that 'twas neither to j ay you a conii)liment, nor
t:) make you believe I did s >, tliat I have ex;)ressed this manner.
It is entirely in consideration of the duty I ov»ed myself, and the
friendship I always possessed for you (friendship that did not con-
sist in professiiuis only, and wanted ]> )wer, not will, to make it
truly serviceable) that I <leal thus candidly with you; Tliomjv
son,' having sp:)ke to me, has resolved not to oppose him, and I
a:n (a:i;l have always been) resolved not to api)ear on the opposite
sivle you would be on: therefore if a'ou offer yourself for assembly-
^AViiliiuii Lochry; was afterward, iipcn the croction of Westmoreland,
coinniissioiUMl u ju>tico of tho peace f«»r that county.
^ WilliaTn Thornp*«nn. 11^ wan e\^ctej to tlie Assembly from Bedford
county in 1771, and re-uleo.ed in 1772.
Correspondence^ Addresses j Etc. 269
man, I will decline poling for the sheriff's office' for the reasons
above mentioned. If I do pole, I am not at all sanguine in my ex-
pectations, but so resolved as neither to be joyous nor disple4i8tMl at
either gaining or losing the election. I request you will let me
know as soon as possible what part you will take, and assure you
that (notwithstanding the many representations that have been
made to me of your having injured me in the most tender part) I
shall not appear against your interest.
Best compliments to Mrs. St. Clair and love to your little
fiimily.
-^NEAs Mackay to Aktiiur St. Clair.
PiTTSBUROii, Srd Marchy 1773.
Dear Sir:— Yonr esteemed favor dated Philada., the 12th ulto.,
I have had the pleasure of receiving. Every body up this way are
well satisfied there is a county granted on this side of the hills,*
altao' I find every body else as well as myself, observes with infinite
concern, that the point in question is not attended with so favor-
able circumstance as we at this place had reason to expect, from the
nature of things. I can not but express my surprise at the point
determined in favor of the courts of hiw first sitting at Ilanna's. '
Pray may I ask you the question, Where is the conveniency for
transacting business on these occasions, as there is neither houses,
tables, nor chairs? Certainly the people must sit at the roots of
trees and stumps and in case of rain the lawyers' books and papers
must be exposed to the weather, yet to no purpose, as they can not
presume to write. Consequently, nothing can be done but that of
revbing fees, by which means every body (the lawyers, only, ex-
^.lohn Proctor was elected sheriff of Bedford county for 1771-2; Juincs
Piper for 1773-5.
'Westmoreland county. It was taken from Bedford ooiinty by act of the
General Assembly of Pennsylvania, February 26, 1773. It lay west of the
Laurel Hill, and included the whole of the south-wosit corner of ronnsyl-
▼ania,as claimed by that Province; but a large portion was olaiinrd by Vir-
ginia as being in Augusta county -^-Eneas ^Mackay, the writer of this l«*tter
to .St. Clair was one of the sixteen justice's appointed for tlio new eounty,
February 27, 1773. Mr. Mackay was re-appointed January 11, 177 4. lie
resided in Pittsburgh.
• •* Ilanna'.s" so called because of its being the residence of Ivr>bert TTannn,
the fii'st settler, was on the "old Forbes road,' a little over thirty miles oji.-t
of Piitsburgh, and about three miles north-east of the ]>resent Greensburg,
county-town of "Westmoreland. It was better known as Ilannaetown.
270 The Hi. Clair Papers.
ceptcd) going to or attending court, must be sufferers. No doubt but
Mr. Irwin ^ and a few more of his party, may find their interest in
this glaring stretch of partiality, yet we, at this place, in particular,
are too much interested to look over such proceeding in silence.
The whole inhabitants exclaim against the steps already taken to
the injury of the county yet in its infancy, and that too, before it
got its eyes or tongue to sjKMik for itself.
My dear friend, if I had as much to say among the great as you,
I would declare it as my opini(m that it would be absolutely neces-
sary that the commissioners^ should l)e nominated in Philada., by
which moans I think we could not fail to have the point in question
carried in our favor; wherexis, should they be appointed up this
way, it is ten to one, if Joe Irwin and his associates will not prevail.
I am sorry for our disappointment in our hopes of being indulged
with a small garrison at this place, but in failure of that, nothing
could afford me greater satisfaction than the prospect of having you,
my friend, my neighbor at this place. Tliis I will look for now
every dav, and if vou will send me word when vou will set of from
Ligouier I will meet you half way and jierhaps a Divine and another
friend to show you the w^ay up here. As to Ross, he seldom speaks
as he thinks — for my part I therefore ]>ay but little regard to his
declarations.
The [wople of this place take great umbrage at the very thoughts
of iK'ing disai)[x>intc<l of the county town's not taking place here at
once, and are, to a man, willing to come to any measure or charges,
in order, if possible to frustrate the intrigues carried on by a certain
party. I think we can not exert ourselves too much on this occa-
sion, and therefore would be very glad to receive your opinion of the
afiiiir and your advice in regard to the most intelligible steps to be
pursued in the first setting off.
I would bo oxoeediug glad how soon other affairs could admit of
your cnniini; up here, by which means a plan might be concerted,
that in my opinion could scarcely fail of succeeding to our wish.
I daily intiuire after the welfare of vour family, and have the
pleasure of informing you that ^Irs. 8t. Clair and the children are
well and in good health.
*.T()<«.'ph Erwin, a re<iid<'nt of tlio Hatina scttlcMncnt.
"^ By "comniissioiuTs," Mr. Mackav niount the trustees of Westmoreland
soon to be appointed — four in all.
211 T.ie St. Clair Papers.
oUy's ' advertisement,' put up at different parts of this village, the
6th instant, several copies of which were dispersed through the
country at the same time. This impudent piece will, I am much
afraid, be the means of creating great confusion and disturbance in
this county, unless j)roper steps will be taken to check it in time.
The Doctor informs us that Lord Dunmore ' has made applica-
iion to General Haldiman for a Serjeant and twelve men, to be sent
immediately to this place, in order to support his authority.*
The ca})tain has already apix)inted six or seven magistrates, among
whom arc Major Smallman,'' John Campl)ell,* and John Gibson ;'
^ John Conolly, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, was bred a
physician; hence, hi.** usual title of Doctor. lie was a nephew of George
Cro<;han, and, accordini^ to the testiniony of George Washington, *'a very
sensible, intelligent man." lie had traveled over a great deal of the coun-
try watered by the Ohio and its tributaries, and was well known Wt*»t <»f
the mountains. It may be here premised that he was selected by the (Jov-
ernor of Virginia to maintain pt ssession of Fort Pitt, as well as Pitt*- burgh
and its dependencies, for that Colony, and to put the militia and otiier Vir-
ginia laws in force tbcrc, as against those of Pennsylvania.
^The Advertisement was as follows: ** Whereas, his Excellencv John,
Earl of Dunmore, (lOvernor-in-Cliief and Captain General of the Colony
and Dominion of Virginia, and Vice Adnjiral of the same, has been ple»s<'d
to nominate and appoint nie Captain, Commandant of the Militia of Pitts-
burgh and its Dependencies, with Instructions to assure His Majesty's Sub-
jects settled on the Western Waters, that having the greatest Regard to
their Prosperity and Int(»rest, and convinced from tljcir repeated Memorials
of the grievances of which they cc)m[)lain, that he purposes moving to the
House of Burr esses the Necessitv of erecting a new Countv, to include
Pittsburgh, for the redress of your Complaints, and to take every other Step
that nuiv tend to at!<»rd vou that Justice for whirh vou Sollicil. In order to
facilitute this desirable Circumstance, I hereby require and command all Per-
sons in the L'ependency of Pittsburg, to asseml)le themselves there as a
Militia on the 'Joth Instant, at which Time I shall con-.municate other Mat-
ters for the promotion of public Ctility. Given under my Hand, this 1st
day of January, 1774. John Conolly."
3 John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, one of the representative peers of
Sct>tlaiid, was, at this date, as explained in Conolly's Advertisement, Gov-
ernor of Virginia.
* Major-(ieneral Frederick Ilaldiman was in command of tlie British armj'
in Ameri<'a, also Colonel of the 00th Foot. Fort Pitt had previously been
evacuatc'd and dismantled.
* Thomas Smalhnan.
*Mr. Campbell was a resident of Pittsburgh, and, during the Revolution,
was captured by the Shawanese. This was in 1779.
^Gibson was burn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1740. He received
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 278
the j"cvs<; I have not heard their names jet. There is no doubt but
all t:ti.^ disaffected and vagabonds that before evaded law and jus-
tice ^^?vit,li so much art, will now flock in numbers to the captain's
8taxi.cl.«^Td, if not prevented in time, the consequence of which we
hav"^ just cause to dread. I hope to have the pleasure of seeing
joxjL ^froon here. I think your presence is absolutely necessary at this
tim.^.
I have been greatly concerned that it has been out of my
to forward the inclosed to you sooner, owing to the badness
^^ "fclr^^ weather, and besides, was at a loss for a person whose
"^<^lit^ could be depended ujKm. Polly joins me in compliments
to I^Xx-s. St Clab and the children.
oe I wrote the above, Mr. Espy happened in company with
w captain, to whom Espy said he thought the next court for
'^xnoreland would be held at Pittsburg ; to which the captain
in a rage, damn him if he would not oppose it ; * from
1:1 , and many other circumstances of the like kind, it appears
determined he will be to carry his designs into execution.
I^*^ "tlxought here that 'tis all Colonel Croghan's intrigues.
Arthur St. Clair to Joseph Sihppen, Jr.
LiGONiER, January 12^, 1774.
•; — ^Late last night I received from Pittsburgh the inclosed
of an advertisement, which I think of so dangerous a tend-
_ that I have forwarded it by express, and to prevent all danger
^ ^^lay, have sent my own clerk with it, that if possible I may
re the Governor's * directions before the 25th.
\\ education. He was an excellent scholar at the age of eighteen,
he entered the service. His first campaign was under General Forbes,
^^® expedition of the latter to the Ohio in 1758. He then settled at Pitts-
^^^h as a trader. Upon the breaking out of the war with the Indians, in
* ^*^ Gibson wju» taken prisoner by the savages, but was given up in 1764
^^L Bouquet, when he resumed his occupation of trading with the dif-
^l^^'^nt tribes beyond the Ohio, and was thus employed at the commencement
^ X774. ^ ^
Tkat ia, be (Conolly) would oppose the sitting of the Westmoreland
^^^*Urt at Pitteburgb.
*^ the 8th of June, 1773, Richard Penn, "Lieutenant, etc.' was sue
«*•*•* by John Penn as •* Deputy or Lieutenant-Governor of the Province
^^^enntjlTMiU.*' by the •♦Royal Allowance and Approbation" of the
18* ^** inaugurated in Philadelphia, with much ceremony. August
274 The St. Clair Papers.
Should it 80 happen that Mr. Hoofnagle ^ can not return in time,
but which he will do if it be possible, what occurs to me is previoas
to the day appointed for the Assembly ' to demand such security of
Mr. Conolly for his good behavior as he will not be able to pro-
cure, and in consequence to have him committed ; to direct the sher-
iff' to have a sufficient number of such a^i can be depended upon,
to protect the jail, should a rescue be attempted, which perhaps
may be the case, and to write to the magistrates,^ some to attend at
the jail, and some at Pittsburgh.
I have written to Mr. Wilson for his counsel on this thought, and
to know if there is any other legal way of securing Mr. Conolly,
and to desire he would suggest any other method to preserve the
peace of the county, which will certainly be greatly endangered.
I need not press you to dispatch Mr. Hbofnagle ; the shortness of
the time is too evident ; suffer me, however, to hint that this ser-
vice is foreign to his engagements with me.
Arthur St. Clair to Joseph Shippen, Jr.
LiGONiER, January 15, 1774.
Sir : — This will be delivered by Mr. Hanna, one of the trustees
for Westmoreland county.^ To some management of his I believe,
the opposition to fixing the county town at Pittsburgh is chiefly
owing — it is his interest it should continue where the law has fixed
the courts, pro tempore ; he lives there ; used to keep public house
80tb. He remained in office until after the commencement of the Revolu-
tion.
* Michael Huffnagle was, subsequently, judge of the Common Pleas of
Westmoreland county, and held several other offices. He was somewhat of a
distinguished character west of the mountains during the Revolution. He
was, it will be noticed, at the date of this letter, St. Clair's clerk.
2 By " the Assembly,'' St. Clair has reference to the one proposed for the
25th of that month, by Conolly, and his advertisement.
'John Proctor.
*The magistrates of Westmoreland county, at that date, were William
Crawford, Arthur St. Clair, Thomas Gist, Alexander McKee, Robert Hanna^
William Lochry, George Wilson, William Thompson, -^neas Mackay, Jo-
seph Spear, Alexander McLean, James Cavet, William Bracken, James
Pollock, Samuel Sloan, and Michael Rugh.
* At tho date of this letter, Robert Ilanna was not only one of the trus-
tees of Westmoreland county, but, also, one of its justices of the peace-
having been commissioned to the last-mentioned office February 27, 1778
Tho other trustees were Joseph Erwin, Samuel Sloan, and George Wilson.
Correspondence, Addresses, Etc. 275
there; and has now, on that expectation, rented his house at an
extravagant price. Erwin, another trustee, adjoins, and is also
puhlic house keeper. A third trustee ' lives in the neighborhood,
which always make a majority for continuing the courts at the pres-
ent place. A passage in the law for erecting the county is, that the
courts shall be held in the foregoing place (the house of Robert
Hanna) till a court house and jail are built ; this puts it in their
power to continue there as long as they please — for a little manage-
ment might prevent a court house and jail being built this twenty
years. This is explanation of a ()etition to the House, which was
sent down lately ; it was begun and ended on the Friday of the
court week. An unexpected opportunity to Philadelphia offered
that day, by reason of which it is to the House only, and signed
but by a few people, but the few that have signed it are the princi-
pal people ; and who acted more from their feelings for multitudes,
whom they saw suffering than from their own inconvenience. A
like petition to the Governor will soon be forwarded, which will be
countenanced, by, I am certain, five-sixths of the whole people.
Mr. Hoofhagle I hope will be almost home before you receive
this. I beg you will excuse inaccuracies as I wrote in the greatest
'Samuel Sloan. George Wilson, it will be remembered, resided in Spring
Hill township, in what is now Fayette county. On the 8th of October, pre-
ceding the date of this letter, he wrote the Governor of Pennsylvania, John
Penn, as follows :
*' Honoured Sir: — After Congratulating you on your Safe Arrivall to ye
Seate of your Govourmcnt, I Beg Leave to acquaint you that Since ye Con-
stetution of ye New County of Westmoreland, We Who Ware appointed
Trustees Have Met twice in order to consult on Sum things Relativ<» to ower
Duteys in that trust. I apprehend that it Was ye Sence of Uis Honour ye
Govournour and ye Asembley at ye time, that ye Courts Ware appointed to
Hold at y^o Hows of Mr. Kobart Hannow, that they Should Hold there un-
till the present unsettled State of ye Westrin Boundrey might be more per-
fectly asertained, for Which Reason I could not Joyn With ye other trus-
tees in Making a Report to your Honour, Which Report I presume is com
to Hand Before now. It Was My Advice that a Letter first should be sent
to your Honour to Know your Sence of ye mutter Whether it would be ad-
visable (as there is a Goalo and a Sort of a Courthows in Which ye Coun-
ties Busness may be Don in) To postpon the Fixing aney perticular place
for a Countey Seat for Sum time Longer untill at Least, We had your ad-
vice in ye matter. But As They Ratiier chose to Make a Report, I Did not
Thinke proper to Joyn in that. I Gladly Would Do My Dutey for ye Best
& Would be Sorey to Mistake it. 1 Would be Extremely Glad to know your
Sence of ye Matter & am Sorrey to acquaint you of ye unhapey diforances
occasioned By Sum ill minded persons, As they Say By Keason of ye un-
•ettled State of ye Westerin Bounder ie. I am, etc."
276 The St. Clair Papers.
hurry — ^Mr. Hanna holding his horse whibt I write. I wiU see yon
early in the spring.
Governor Penn to Arthur St. Clair.
Philadelphia, 20<A January, 111 A.
Sir: — I am extremely obliged to you for your great attention to
the interest of this Government in transmitting, >\'ith so much dis-
patch and care, the intelligence contained in your letter of the 12th
of this month, to Mr. Secretary Shippen, and the papers it in-
closed.
I can not help being greatly surprised to find that Dr. Conolly
hath published an advertisement, asserting his appointment by
Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, to act as Captain Command,
ant of the Militia of Pittsburgh, and its deijcndencies ; and that in
consequence of such ap()ointment, he had taken upon him to as-
semble the people as a militia, under the Government of Virginia,
and to appoint magistrates of Pittsburgh.
As his Lordship must certainly know that the jurisdiction of
Pennsylvania hath been exercised at Fort Pitt, and in the neigh-
borhood of it, for several years past, and hath not given me the
least intimation of any design to extend his Government there, I
am much inclined to conclude that Mr. Conolly hath, on this oc-
casion, assumed powers which Lord Dunmore never gave him.
However, I shall, without loss of time, dispatch a messenger to
Williamsburg, with a letter to his Lordship,' in order to obtain an
explanation of this very strange affair. In the mean time I would,
by all means, have you and the other magistrates of your county
assert the right of Pennsylvania, and protect the people in every
part within its known limits, as Fort Pitt- most certainly is.
The meeting of a number of people under arms, in consequence
of Mr. (/ouolly's summons, will undoubtedly be an act of a crimi-
nal nature, for which they may be indicted and punished, and
comes properly under the idea of an unlawful assembly, with an
intention to disturb the public peace ; you will, therefore, do right
in apprehending him and some of his principal partisans, after such
meeting, and holding them to reasonable security for their appear-
ance at the next sessions, to answer for their conduct.
I expect the magistrates on this occasion, will do their duty with
* See the letter following — Pcnn to Dunmore, dated January 31, 1774.
' That is, Pittsburgh. The two names were used by the people indiscrim-
inately*.
CorrtspondencCy Addresses^ Etc, 277
Spirit, in which they will be supported by the Government ; and if
any of Conolly's pretended magistrates shall presume to proceed jUr
dicially within the known limits of the Province of Pennsylvania,
I desire that proper actions may be commenced by the party ag-
grieved, not only against the officer who executes the process, but
the magistrate also under whose authority he shall act; and you
may be assured that such actions shall be prosecuted and supported
at the expense of this Government.
In order to strengthen the hands of the magistracy on this oc-
casion, in the course of their duty, I send you a copy of the riot
Act made by the present Assembly, which has received my assent,
and will pa^ the seals before this comes to your hands, and ex*
tends to all parUi of the Province. But, as the execution of it may
be attended with the most serious consequences, the proceedings un-
der it should be conducted with the utmost caution, and great care
must be taken to extend it only in such places as are certainly
within the limits of the Province, of which you can make the best
judgment of any body, by the share you had in running a line to
ascertain the situation of Fort Pitt.^
I have made an addition to the Bench of your county, and send
the commission for the new magistrates by this opportunity.*
I would have you get possession, if you can, of some of Conolly's
original advertisements.
Governor Penn to Lord Dunmore.
Philadelphia, Z\st Jamutry 1774.
My Lord: — A few days ago I received by express, from the westr
em frontiers of this Province, the inclosed copy of an advertise-
ment, lately set up at Pittsburgh and divers other places in that
quarter of the country, by one John Conolly, who has taken upon
him as Captain Commandant of the militia at Pittsburgh, and its de-
])endencies, by virtue of your Lordship's commission as he says, to
command the people to meet him there as a militia on the 25th in-
stant, and to exercise jurisdiction over them, as settlers under
your Government within the Dominion of Virginia.
^ Concerning the efTorts put forth previous to this date to determine the
southern and Western limits of south-western Pennsylvania, mention is
hereafter made.
'The additional magistrates commissioned were, Van Swearinj2:en, Thomas
Scott, Alexander Ross, John Cariuiffhan, Andrew McFarlane, Oliver Miller,
Devereux Smith, and John Sh(;phi*rd.
278 The St. Clair Papers.
A step 80 sudden and unexpected could not but be matter of
great surprise to me, as well as very alarming to the inhabitants
of those parts, who have taken up, improved, and hitherto peace-
ably enjoyed their lands imder grants from the Proprietaries of
this Province.
Being, however, too well acquainted with your Lordship's char-
acter to admit the least idea that you would countenance a measure
injurious to the rights of the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania or
which might have a tendency to raise disturbances within their
Province, I flatter myself that the laying before you a short state-
ment of the limits of this Province, so far as regards the present
question and acquainting you with the steps which have been taken
to ascertain its western extent, and the situation of Pittsburgh, will
be abundantly sufficient to satisfy you that that place is, beyond
all doubt, within this Province.
The western extent of the Province of Pennsylvania, by the
Royal Grant, is five degrees of longitude from the river Dela-
ware, which is its eastern boundary.
In the year 1768, an east and west line was run from Dela-
ware, at the mouth of Cristiana Creek, to the crossing of Dunkard
Creek, a branch of the Monongaliela, by Messieurs. Dixon and
Mason, two surveyors of distinction, who were sent over from
England to run the division line between Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania. These artists fixed the latitude and extent of that line
with the utmost exactness and precision, to the satisfaction of the
Commissioners on both sides.* From the 233(i mile stone on this
line, a north line hath been since carefully run and measured to
the Ohio, and from thence up to Fort Pitt ; * the several courses of
the river have been taken with all possible care. From the line
of Dixon and Mason to a known point in the south line of the City
of Philadelphia,thetrue course and distance hath l)een discovered by
*The exact distance run by Mason and Dixon from the Delaware River
was 244 miles. 38 chain.*, and 3G links. This took them across the Monon-
gahela to the second crossing of Dunkard Creek, a little west of what is now
Mount Morris, in Greene county, Pennsylvania. At this point, they struck
•' the Warrior branch of the old Catawba war path ; " that is, the eastern edge
of lands claimed by the Six Nations, when their labors were given up. The
extreme western limit of the line run by them was about twenty-one and
one-half miles east of the south-west corner of Pennsylvania, as established
in 1784, by astronomical observations.
2 It was in the running of these temporary lines that St. Clair towk part,
as mentioned by Governor Penn, in his letter of the 20th of January^
1774, ante.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 279
actual survey, as also from the point aforesaid, to that part of the
river Delaware which is in the same latitude as Fort Pitt; and
from these several data, the most exact calculations have been
made by Dr. Smith, Provost of our College, Mr. Rittenhouse, and
our Surveyor General, in order to ascertain the difference of longi-
tude between Delaware and Pittsburgh, who all agree that the latter
is near six miles eastward of the western extent of the Province.
The better to illustrate this matter, and enable your Lordship to
form a judgment of the accuracy with which the work has been
done, and the calculations made, I have inclosed a map or draught
of the several lines above mentioned, with explanatory notes, as
delivered by them to me. Should your Lordship, however, con-
trary to my expectation, still entertain any doubt respecting this
matter, I hope you will at least think it reasonable for avoiding
those mischiefs which must naturally arise in cases of clashing and
disputed jurisdiction, to defer the appointing of officers, and ex-
ercising government in that neighborhood, and suffer the people to
remain in the quiet and undisputed possession of the lands they
hold under this Province, till some temporary line of jurisdiction
can be agreed on by commissioners, to be appointed by both Gov-
ernments, to confer on this subject, or until the affair can be settled
by His Majesty in Council, before whom a petition, exhibited by
the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania, for the settlement of their west-
em as well as other boundaries is now depending.
I shall hope to recieve your Lordship's sentiments of this matter
by the first opportunity.
ARTHUR ST. CLAIR TO GOVERNOR PENN.
LiGONiER, February 2, 1774.
I am honored with your letter of the 20th January, which
reached me the 28th, and am happy to find the method pursued at
Pittsburgh, on the 2r)th, did not very materially differ from that you
had been pleased to direct.
Doctor Conolly was arrested previous to the meeting, by my or-
ders, on his avowing himself the author of the advertisements re-
quiring the people to meet as a militia, and committed on refusing
to find sureties for his good behavior till next court.
I was in hopes the sending him out of the way ^ would have put
* Conolly was taken to llannastown where there was a sort of jail and
there confined.
280 The St. Clair Papers.
an end to it altogether ; but I was mistaken. About eighty per-
sons in arms assembled themselves » chiefly from Mr. Croghan's
neighborhood, and the country west of and below the Monongahela,
and, after parading through the town, and making a kind of feu de
joiCf proceeded to the Fort,' where a cask of rum was produced on
the parade, and the head knocked out. This was a very effectual
way of recruiting. As a scene of drunkenness and confusion was
likely to ensue, I got the magistrates (who attended in consequence
of the letters I had rent them) together, and read the inclosed pa-
per,' which we had concocted that morning, and, at the conclusion^
» Fort Pitt.
' The paper t( ferred to was as follows :
''As friends and fellow countrymen, which we ought all to consider each
other, from whatever different quarters of the globe we have met here, suf-
fer that wo make you acquainted with some things of which you ought not
to be ignorant.
"We do nut blame you for having an affection for the laws of the coon-
tries and provinces in which you have been born; 'tis a natural, 'tis a praise-
worthy affection I And it requires a length of time and diligent application
to discover and give the deserved preference to different systems of laws
and forms of Government, for which but few have either leisure or oppor-
tunity.
" AVe do not tell you the plan of Pennsylvania is a perfect one. Such, no
human institution is or ever was; but the rapid progress Pennsylvania has
made, the numbers of people that flock to it from every part of the world,
and particularly the much greater value of landed property than in the ad-
joining parts of the neighboring countries, evince that it is no very defec-
tive one; evince that its laws are mild and salutary, and that property and
liberty, civil and religious, is well secured", and that it has some advantages
over its neighbors.
" We doubt not but you will readily acknowledge these matters: but you
will reply, it is nothrng to us; the soil we live on being no part of Penn-
sylvania; we can have no part of the advantages or disadvantages arising
from its constitution.
** We well know much pains have been taken to persuade many of you
to a belief of this, and likewise that the Pn>j)rietaries have industriously de-
layed to settle their boundary. There is not the least foundation for either.
" The Proprietaries of Pennsylvania claimed the country about Pittsburgh,
and the settlers quietly acquiesced in that claim; and as soon as doubts be-
gun to arise about it they took eflectual pains to satisfy themselves whether
or not they wore right in that claim, and actually found the country a con-
siderable distance west of that place within their Provi.Moe: And so far are
they from delaying the running their boundary line, we have the bc<t au-
thority for saying that a petition has been a considerable time before his
Majesty for that very purpose. You must be sensible it would be to little
Correspondence^ Addresses y Etc. 281
when they were required to disperse, they replied they had been in-
vited there, but came with peaceable intentions, and would go home
again, without molesting any one ; pn which we left them ; how-
ever, towards n^ht, their peaceable disposition forsook them, and I
should probably have felt their resentment, had I not got intimation
purpose to run it without the concurrence of the Crown ; certainly it would
never be conclusive.
** The jurisdiction of Pennsylvania has been regularly extended to Pitts-
burgh, and exercised there for a number of years, as the records of Cum-
berland, Bedford, and Westmoreland counties testify; and you yourselves
have acknowledged it, by applying for your lands in that Province. Whether
that extention has been legally made or not, can be determined by the Crown
alone; but must be submitted to till it is determined. And it must be evi-
dent to you that Lord Dun more, as Governor of Virginia, can have no
more right to determine this matter than one of us, for this plain reason:
the charters of Pennsylvania and Virginia, both flowed originally from the
Crown; on that footing they are perfectly independent of each other; but
they are both parties in this dispute, and consequently neither can be judge.
" We would fondly hope no person in this country would wish to be from
under the protection of law. A state of anarchy and confusion, and total
subversion of property must inevitably ensue. We can not help thinking
contending jurisdictions in one and the same country must produce similar
effects, and every attempt to introduce modes or regulations not warranted
by the laws or constitution of Pennsylvania will also do so in a certain
degree.
" Any grievances the inhabitants of this part of the country suffer, there
is no doubt the Legislature want only to be informed of to redress. Should
it be imagined the protection of a military force is necessary, the votes and
proceedings of the last winter session of Assembly will shew that, probably,
it was owing to the representions of the Indian Agent, that an Indian war
would certainly follow, establishing i; military force at Pittsburgh, that such
protection was not then granted, and time seems to have shewn he was not
in the wrong.
''If that effect would have supervened at a time when his Majesty's troops
"were just withdrawn, when the country was naked, defenseless, and
farmed, and when the Indians were accustomed to the idea of troops in
^beir neighborh(H)d, much more is it to be doubted the establishing a militia,
"which is a military force, will produce that effect now when they have been
mo long disused to it.
••As his Majesty's Justices and Protectors of the public peace of Penn-
sylvania, it is our duty to tell you your nicvtini; is an unlawful one, and
that it tends to disquiet the minds of his Majesty's liege subjects. We do
in his Majesty's nanie require you to disperse, and retire yourselves peace-
ably to your respective habitations.
"Present when this was read : Alexander McKee, William Lochey, James
bollock, James Cavot, iEneas Mackay, Van Sweringen, William Bracken,
Arthur St. Clair, E-q'rs."
282 The St. Clair Papers.
of their design. I thought it most prudent to keep out of ihdr
way.*
I have no doubt the magistrates will do their duty with spirit,
and I shall take the earliest opportunity to make them acquainted
with the support your Honor is determined to afford them. In
some parts of the country they will have a difficult task, and I am
really afraid this affiiir will be productive of a 'great deal of confu-
sion. I shall not fail to give them the necessary caution with regard
to the Riot Act, and I think I can judge pretty nearly how far it
may be safely extended.
Mr. Conolly has most certainly a commission from Lord Dun-
more, expressly for Pittsburgh and its dependencies, and his subalt-
erns are John Stephenson, a brother of Mr. Cra^vford, our Senior
magistrate,' William Harrison, a son-in-law of his,' and Dorsey Pen-
ticost, who was lately in the commission of the peace here.* Mr.
Penticost has, I hear, been down to Mr. Conolly since his confine-
ment, and taken the necessary oaths to qualify him for his military
office, and is to assemble the people at Red Stone, and take posses-
sion of Fort Burd.* I have written to the justices in that part of
i**On the 25th day of January last, a number of disorderly persons as-
sembled themselves hero in consequence of his [Conolly's] advertisements
(as Militia) who, when dispersing, wantonly or maliciously fired upon some
friendly Indians, in their Ilutts on the Indian Shore, which Conduct, to-
gether with So unexpected an Appearance of so many People in Arms at a
time that they expected no Hostile Intention on our parts, greatly alarmed
them, as appeared by a Campluint made by them at a CouiVcil with Alex-
ander Mc, [Kee], Ksq'r, Indian Agent, and some of the Inhabitants of this
Place [Pittsburgh], a few days after." — Remarks on the Proceedings of Dr.
ConoUi/, June 25, 1774.
^ Mention will hereafter be made of William Crawford. He had a brother
Valentine, and five half-brothers, among whom was John Stephenson.
' William Harrison married Crawford's daughter Sarah; he afterward
lost his life in the Indian country, being tortured to death by the Delawares.
* Dors(»y Pentecost lived, at this date, in the " Forks of Yough"; that is,
above the junction of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny. He was a jus-
tice of the peace for Bedf«)rd County before Westmoreland was taken from
it, and was now a resident of the last mentioned county. He afterward had
his homo on Chartiers Creek, W'ashington County.
^Fort BiKd \va.s so called after Col. James Burd, who probably com*
menced the building of the post in 1759. There was an old Indian fort on
its site and the place was known to hunters as "Old Ftirt, " '*01d Fort at
Kedstone," or *' Redstone-Oid-Fort, '" as it was near the mouth of Redstone
creek, now Brownsville, Fayette Count}', Pennsylvania.
284 The St. Clair Papers.
it to a letter but wish I might see you between this and next Spring,
viz: in April if it might suit your other af&irs. You must not
think that because this was suffered to go to Mr. Woods, that your
^ends had forgot you. I shall be able to convince you that it was
all meant for your interest. I shall be glad to hear how matters go
at Fort.
Joseph Spear to Arthur St. Clair.
Pittsburgh, February 2S, 1774.
Dear Sir :-^l am just now informed that the Virginians up the
Monongahcla have had two or three musters lately; one at Red
Stone Old Forty and one yesterday at Paul Freman*s, on the other
side of the Monongahcla ; and I am also told they had a meeting at
Mr. Penticost^s own house, in consequence of which Mr. Penticost
wrote to Mr. Swearingen to act no longer there as a Pennsylvanian
magistrate at his peril. I therefore think it would be advisable to
endeavor to have a stop put to those proceedings, if posisible, to it
creates the greatest disturbance, and very much retards the execu-
tion of our civil process.
P. S. — This news has just come to hand, otherwise I would have
written you more fully. Dr. Conolly * is just now going over the run
to Red Stone, I know not what for.
Arthur St. Clafr to Joseph Shh'pen, Jr.
LiGONiER, February 25, 1774.
Dear Sir : — The disturbances that have begun in tliis country seem
still to be increasiug, and, unless some effectual method is soon
fallen upon to put a stop to them, will soon come to a formidable
head. What that method should be it is difficult to say, but possi-
bly the running a temporary line might quiet the people a little
though I doubt very much if even that woidd not now be opposed.
As much the greatest part of the inhabitants near the line have
removed from Virginia, thoy are inexpressibly fond of any thing
that comes from tliat cjuarter, and their minds are never suffered to
be at rest. Mr. Croglian's emissaries (and it is astonishing how
1 After Conolly was committed to juil at Hannastown, tho shorifflet him
go at large on his giving his word of honor to return to next Court. He
did rclurn,but in a manner quite different from that expected by the sheriff
as the sequel shows.
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc, 28^
many he has either duped or seduced to embrace his measures) are
oontinually irritating them agabst Pennsylvania, and assuring them
they are not within its limits; so that unless Lord Dunmore does
formally recede from what he has undertaken in this country, it will
be next to impossible to exercise the civil authority. From the
very beginning I foretold a second Carolina affair was intended, I
am now convinced of it.
I have letters from all the magistrates in that part of the country,
complaining of the difficulties they are exposed to, and the open and
avowed determination of the people not to submit to their jurisdic-
tions. However, they are all still as yet, and I will dp what in my
power lies to continue them so ; as one step towards it, and to con-
vince the others that we in some measure are in earnest, I intend
immediately removing my office to Pittsburgh, adjoining, there to
live the moment I can get my farm off* my hands here.
I enclose you a letter from Mr. Spear,* which I received by the
bearer. I shall immediately write to Mr, Swearingen to commit,
without ceremony, any person who shall attempt to oppose or molest
him in the execution of his office. Excuse the haste I am almost
always obliged to write to you in ; opportunities offer unexpectedly,
and the people waiting.
Lord Dunmore to Governor Penn.
Williamsburg, 3d March, 1774.
Sir: — I have been favored with your letter of the 31st January,
1774, and duplicate of the same, the occasion of which having been
the appointment of certain officers by me in a remote district of the
county ol Augusta,* in this Colony, which includes Pittsburgh, which
having been done, as is always my rule, with the advice of his Maj-
esty's Council, I could not, till I had an opportunity of laying your
letter before them, return you an answer, and it is not till now that
I am enabled so to do.
From the opinion, therefore, of his Majesty's Council of this
* See the previous letter — Spear to St. Clair, February 23, 1774.
'The county of Augusta was, at this date, an old one, but ever of very
uncertain western limits. The ** remote district," spoken of by Lord Dun-
raore, was what was usually known as the " District of West Augusta," in-
cluding, besides, much other territory in what is now the State of West
Virginia, all the present State of Pennsylvania lying upon the waters of
the Konongahela, as well as the country surrounding Pittsburgh.
286 The St. Clair Papers.
Colony, I must inform you, that although the calculations on which
you rely in the plan accompanying your letter, may possibly be
found exact, yet they can by no means be considered, by us, as the
observation, on which they were founded, was made without the
participation of the Government, or the assistance of any person on
the part of the Crown ; and even if they were admitted, we ap-
prehend they would decide nothing in the present case ; for the right
of the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania to the coimtry about Pittsburgh,
must be founded on better authority than is there adduced to make
it valid, and we are strengthened in this opinion by the principles
you yourself ^opt, and the opinion of Lord Camden, which you
have produced in your dispute with Connecticut. With respect to
the right of this Colony to that country, the transactions of the late
war show sufficiently what was ever the sense of the Government of
Virginia with regard to it. And it seems to me thfit the step which
I have taken ought not to have been either unexpected or surpris-
ing, as you are pleased to say it was to you, when it is well known
that formal declarations were made by the Assembly of Pennsyl-
vania, that Pittsburg was not within the jurisdiction of that Grov-
vemment at the time that requisitions were made to them for the de-
fense of tliat place, the burden of which, on that accoimt, fell on
this Government.
In conformity to these sentiments you will easily see I can not
possibly, in compliance with your request, either revoke the com-
missions and apj)ointmeuts already made, or defer the opportunity
of such other officers as I may find necessary for the good govern-
ment of that part of the country, which we can not but consider to
be within the dominion of Virginia, until his Majesty shall declare
the contrary ; and I flatter myself I can rely so far on the prudence
and discretion of the officers whom I have appointed, that the
measure which I have pur^sued may have no tendency to raise dis-
turbances in your Province, as you seem to apprehend, and if any
should ensue I can not but believe they will be occasioned, on the
contrary, by the violent proceedings of your officers ; in which opin-
ion I am justified by w'hat has already taken place in the irregular
commitment of Mr. John Conolly for acting under my authority,
which, however, as I must suppose, it was entirely without your
participation, I conclude he is lK*fore this time released. But,
nevertheless, the act having been of so outrageous a nature, and of
a tendency so detrimental to both Colonies, that, with the advice
of his Majesty's Council of this dominion, I do insist upon the most
ample reparation being made for so great an insult on the authority
of his Majesty's Government of Virginia ; and no less can possibly
288 The Si. Char Papers.
that sort, taking an acknowledgment from the Governor of Virginia
that such settlement should not be made use of to prejudice their
right to that country, and at the same time allowed him to give aa-
surances that the people should enjoy their lands they bona fide set-
tled on the common quit rent. Of this instruction Mr. Hamilton
not long after gave notice to Governor Dinwiddie.
In the year 1754, Mr. Dinwiddie came to a resolution of raising
men and building forts to the westward, in order to repel the in-
vasions of the French. He had fixed M\yoTL the forks of Monon-
gahela as a proi)er situation for one of these forts, supposing it to
be on his Majesty's lauds, and issued a proclamation, expressing Lis
purpose of erecting a fort at that place, and inviting the people to
enlist in his Majesty's service against the French ; and as an en-
couragement, promising that the quantity of two hundred thousand
acres of land should be laid out and divided amcmgst the adventurers,
when the service should be at an end ; one hundred thousand acres of
which to be laid out adjoining the fort, and the other one hundred
thousand acres on the Ohio.
Upon the appearance of this proclamation Mr. Hamilton wrote to
Governor Dinwiddie, the 13th March, 1754, reminding him of his
former intimation respecting the^e lauds, and enclosing an abstract
of the Proprietaries' instructions, and also requesting from him such
an acknowledgment as the Proprietaries expected; to which Mr.
Dinwiddie, in his letter of the 21st March, 1754, answers: ** Your
** private letter of the 13th current, I have duly received, and am
**much misled by our Surveyors if the forks of Monongahela be
** within the limits of your Proprietaries' grant. I have for some
'* time wrote home to have tlie line run, to have the boundaries
** pro|)crly known, that I may be able to appoint Magistrates on the
*'Ohio, (if in this Government) to keep the traders and others in
*'g()od order, and I presume soon there will be Commissioners ap-
** pointed for that service. In the mean time, that no hindrance
** may be given to our intended expedition, it is highly reasonable,
** if these lands are in your Proprietaries' grant, that the settlers
** should pay the quit rent to Mr. Penn, and not to his Majesty;
** and, therefore, as much as lies in my power, I agree thereto, after
** the time granted by my proclamation, to be clear of quit rent,
**ceaijes."
From this correspondence between the Governors of Virginia and
Pennsylvania, it appciirs beyond a doubt, that the terms ujwn which
forts were built, and settlements made in that country, by the Gov-
ernment of Virfrinia, were well understood, and the rights of Penn-
Correspondence, Addresses, Etc. 289
sylvania carefully guarded ; and these transactions entirely exclude
the idea of that kind of settlement, or acquiescence and agreement
of which Lord Camden speaks, and which are the only principles in
his opinion from which your Lordship can draw any conclusions in
favor of the right of Virginia.
From this view of the matter I flatter myself your Lordship will
readily perceive that the principles of Lord Camden's opinion do
not all apply to the present case. As to the opinion of our Assem-
blies, on which you seem also to rely, the case is shortly as follows :
When Governor Dinwiddle resolved to erect forts on the waters of
the Ohio, and to carry an expedition against the French, who had
fortified themselves in several parts of the country to the westward,
he applied to Governor Hamilton to procure him the assistance of
this Province. Unfortunately at this time there was no very good
un lerstanding between the Government and the Assembly, and
when Mr. Hamilton laid Mr. Dinwiddie's requisition before them
they declined complying with it, and urged for reasons, that, by the
Royal orders to the several Governors, they were not to act as prin-
cipals out of their own Governments. That they (the Assembly)
would not presume to determine upon the limits of the Province ;
and that by the papers and evidences sent down to them, and re-
ferred to by the Governor, the limits of the Province had not been
clearly ascertained to their satisfaction.
It is to be observed, that at this time there had been no real men-
surations from Delaware to the westward, except the temporary line
between this Province and Maryland, which extends only one hun-
dred and forty-four miles from Delaware. From this line, and from
sundry informations of Indian traders, founded on computed dis-
tances, and mountainous and crooked roads, Mr. Hamilton con-
cluded that the French forts were considerably within this Province,
and it hath since appeared with certainty that the fact was so,
though the Assembly were not satisfied with those proofs. And it
appears by a report of a Committee of Assembly, appointed to
examine those evidences, that they laid no great stress upon the
opinions of traders founded on computed distances.
Upon the whole I can not find that the Assembly ever made any
thing like formal declarations ** that Pittsburg was not within this
Government," but that they rather declined making any determina-
tion upon the extent of the Province. But if their declarations had
been ever so formal or positive, I can not conceive how any proceed-
ings of theirs would affect the state of the Province, control of the
jurisdiction, or prejudice the rights of the proprietors.
19
290 The St. Clair Papers.
Your Lordship is pleased to say : ** With respect to the right of
this Colony to that country, the transactions of the late war suffi-
ciently show what was ever the sense of the Government of Vir-
ginia with regard to it." I do not know to what particular trans-
actions you allude, nor can I apprehend upon what principle the
sense of the Government of Virginia can prejudice the right of
Pennsylvania, especially when the Governor of this Province was so
far from concurring in any such sense, that he took the most efiectoal
measures to guard against any conclusions which might be drawn
from it ; and I may say, with the strictest truth, that the Govern-
ment of Virginia, with great justice, concurred in this precaution.
Upon the whole, then, my Lord, I hope the papers I heretofore
had the honor of sending you, when properly attended to, will sat-
isfy you that Pittsburgh is at least probably within the charter lim-
its of this Province : and I flatter myself that what I have now
urged will be sufficient to convince you that nothing can be inferred
from the transactions of the late war, the correspondence between
the Governors of the two Provinces, the proceedings of our As-
sembly, or the principles of Lord Camden's opinion, to contract the
extent qf our charter bounds, or establish the right of Virginia to
any part of this Province. I therefore still hope that your Lord-
ship will, upon a review of the subject, be induced to defer attempting
to extend the jurisdiction of Virginia within the bounds of this
Province, and thereby avoid the occasions of disturbances and dis-
sentions amongst liis Majesty's subjects, which will probably ensue
from such a step, however prudent and cautious the Magistrates on
each side may be inclined to be, and the rather as a petition for a
commission to run out and mark the boundaries between us is now
depending before his Majesty. And to prevent the setting up claims,
and making conclusions of right by the Government of Virginia,
from the circumstances of settlement on the one side, and non-claim
on the other, I must take this opportunity of notifying to your
Ijordship that the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania do claim, by their
said petition, as part of their Province of Pennsylvania, all the lands
lying west of a south line, to be drawn from Dixon and Mason's
line, as it is commonly called, at the westernmost part of the Province
of Maryland to the beginning of the fortieth degree of north lati-
tude, to the extent of five degrees of longitude from the river Del-
aware ; and I must request your Lordship will neither grant lands,
nor exercise the Government of Virginia within those limits, till
his Majesty's pleasure be known.
I am truly concerned that you should think the commitment of
Correspondence J Addresses^ Etc. 291
Mr. Conolly so great an insult on the authority of the Government
of Virginia, as nothing less than Mr. St. Clair's dismission from his
offices can repair. The lands in the neighborhood of Pittsburgh were
surveyed for the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania early in the year
1769, and a very rapid settlement under this Government soon took
place, and magistrates were appointed by this Government to act
there in the beginning of 1771, who have ever since administered
justice without any interposition of the Government of Virginia till
the present affair. It therefore could not fail of being both sur-
prising and alarming that Mr. Conolly should appear to act on that
stage under a commission from Virginia, before any intimation of
claim or right was ever notified to this Government. The adver-
tisement of Mr. Conolly had a strong tendency to raise disturbances,
and occasion a breach of the public peace, in a part of the country
where the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania hath been exercised without
objection, and therefore Mr. St. Clair thought himself bound, as a
good Magistrate, to take a legal notice of Mr. Conolly.
Mr. St. Clair is a gentleman who for a long time had the honor
of serving his Majesty in the regulars with reputation, and in every
station of life has preserved the character of a very honest worthy
man ; and though perhaps I should not, without first expostulating
with you on this subject, have directed him to take that step, yet
you must excuse my not complying with your Lordship's requisition
of stripping him, on this occasion, of his offices and livelihood, which
you will allow me to think not only unreasonable, but somewhat
dictatorial.
I should be extremely concerned that any misunderstanding should
take place between this Government and that of Virginia. I shall
carefuUy avoid every occasion of it, and shall always be ready to
join you in the proper measure to prevent so disagreeable an in-
cident, yet I can not prevail on myself to acceed in the manner you
require, to a claim which I esteem, and which I think must appear
to every body else to be altogether groundless.
William Crawford^ to Governor Penn.
Westmoreland County, April 8iA, 1774.
Sir : — ^As some very extraordinary occurrences have lately hap-
pened in this county, it is necessary to write an account of them to
* Crawford, at this date, was President of the Court in Westmoreland.
He was the first to hold that office. During the year of 1770, he was pa-
292 The St. Clair Papers.
you. That which I now give, is at the request and with the appn^
bation of all the magistrates that are at present attending the court.
A few weeks ago Mr. Connolly* went to Stanton and was sworn in
as a justice of the peace for Augusta county, in which it is pre-
tended that the country about Pittsburgh Ls included. He had, be-
fore this, brought with him, from WiUiamsburg, commissions of the
peace for several gentlemen in his part of the Province, but none
. of them, I believe, have been accepted. A number of new militia
officers have been lately appointed by Lord Duumore ; several mus-
ters of the militia have been held, and much confusion has been
occasioned by them.*
I am informed that the militia is composed of men without char-
acter and without fortune, and who would be equally averse to the
regular administration of justice under the Colony of Virginia as
they are to that under the Province of Pennsylvania. The disturb-
ances which they have produced at Pittsburgh have been contin-
ually alarming to the inhabitants. Mr. Connolly is constantly sur-
rounded with a lx)dv of armed men. He Iwasts the countenance
of the Governor of Virginia, and forcibly obstructs the execution
of legal process, whether from the court or from single magistrates.
A deputy sheriff has come from Augusta county, and I am told has
writs in his hands against Ca])tain St. Clair and the sherifi* for the
arrest and confinement of Mr. Connolly.
The sheriff was last week arrested at Pittsburgh for serving a
writ on one of tlie inliahituuts there, but was, after some time, dis-
charged. On Monday last, one of Connolly's people grossly in-
sulted Mr. Mackay, and was confined by him in order to be sent to
jail; the rest of the party hearing of it, immediately came to Mr.
Mackay's house and proceeded to the most violent outrages. Mrs.
pointed one of the magistrutos for the county of Cumberland, within the
limits of which was his home, us claimed by Pennsylvania. Upon the erec-
tion of Bedford the next year out of a portion of Cumberland, his commis-
sion was renewed for that county; finally, when Westmoreland, in 1773, waa
erected into a county from Bedford, his office was continued; and, being
the first named, he became by courtesy and usage presidingjudgeof its courts.
^ The spelling of personal names is preserved in the text of the letters.
Hence the luck of uniformity in that respect.
'The visit of ConoUy to Staunton was made after the sheriff of "West-
moreland county had given him his liberty upon his word of honor to re-
turn to Ilannastown at the next sitting of the court, which was to take
place early in April. He returned to Pittsburgh towards the latter part of
March, and prepared to make good his word to Sheriflf Proctor. It will
now be seen in what way he kept his promise.
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 293
Mackay was wounded in the arm with a cutlass; the magistrates,
and those who came to their assistance, were treated with much
abuse, and the prisoner was rescued.
Some days before the meeting of the court, a report was spread
that the militia officers at the head of their several companies would
come to Hanna's, use the court ill, and interrupt the administration
of justice. On Wednesday, while the court was adjourned, they
came to the court-house and paraded before it ; sentinels were placed
at the door, and Mr. Connolly went into the house. One of the
magistrates was hindered, by the militia, from going into it till per-
mission was first obtained from their commander. Mr. Connolly
sent a message to the magistrates, informing them that he wanted
to communicate something to them, and would wait on them for
that purpose.
They received him in a private room. He read to them the in-
closed paper,* together with a copy of a letter to you, which Lord
Dunmore had transmitted to him,^ inclosed in a letter to himself,
which was written in the same angry and undignified style. The
magistrates gave the inclosed answer' to what he read; and he
* The paper read by Conolly to the Westmoreland Court was in these words:
*^OentUinen: I am come here to be the occasion of no disturbances, but
to prevent them. As I am countenanced by Government, whatever you may
say or conceive, some of the justices of this bench are the cause of this ap-
pearance, and not me. I have done this to prevent myself from being ille-
gally taken to Philadelphia. My orders from the Government of Virginia,
rot being explicit, but claiming the country about Pittsburgh, I have raised
the militia to support the civil authority of that colony vested in me.
"I am come here to free myself from a promise made to Captain Proctor
[the sheriff], but have not conceived myself amenable to this court, by any
authority from Pennsylvania, upon which account I can not apprehend that
you have any right to remain here as justices of the peace constituting a
court under that province; hut, in order to prevent confusion, I agree that
you may continue to act in that capacity, in all such matters as may be sub-
mitted to your determination by the acquiescence of the people, until I may
have instructions to the contrary from Virginia, or until his Majesty's
pleasure shall be further known on this subject."
'This was the letter of March 3, 1774 — Dunmore to Penn — previously
given.
•The answer of the Westmoreland Court to Conolly's paper was as
follows:
"The jurisdiction of the court and officers of the county of Westmore-
land rests on the legislative authority of the Province of Pennsylvania, con-
firmed by his Majesty in council. That jurisdiction has been regularly
exercised, and the court and officers will continue to exercise it in the same
regular manner. It is far from their intention to ncoasion or foment dis-
294 The St. Clair Papers.
soon afterwards departed with his men. Their number was about
one hundred and eighty or two hundred. On their return to Pitts-
burgh, some of them seized Mr. Elliott, of the Bullock Pen,* and
threatened to put him in the stocks for something which they
deemed an affront offered to their commander. Since their return,
a certain Edward Thompson and a young man who keeps store for
Mr. Spear, have been arrested by them ; and Mr. Connolly, who,
in person, seized the young man, would not allow him time even to
lock up the store.
In other parts of the county, particularly those adjoining the
Monongahela, the magistrates have been frequently insulted in the
most indecent and violent manner, and are apprehensive that, un-
less they are speedily and vigorously supported by the Grovemment,
it will become both fruitless and dangerous for them to proceed in
the execution of their offices. They presume not to point out the
measures proper for settling the present disturbances, but beg leave
,to recommend the fixing of a temporary line with the utmost expe-
dition, as one step, which, in all probability, will contribute very
much toward producing that effect.
For further particulars concerning the situation of this country,
I refer you to Colonel Wilson, who is kind enough to go on the
present occasion to Philadelphia."
turbances, and they apprehend that no such intentions can, with propriety,
bo inferred from any part of their conduct; on the contrary, they wish, and
will do all in their power, to preserve the public tranquillity. In order to
contribute to this vt-ry salutary purpose, they give information that every
step will be taken on the part of the Province of Pennsylvania to accommo-
date any differences that have arisen between it and the Colony of Virginia,
by fixing a temporary lino between them.
!•* "William Elliott deposed that he settled and improved a plantation
about seven miles from Fort Pitt, on the j)ublic road, at a place called *the
Bullock Pens,' ... by permission of Col. Reed, llie officer command-
ing at that place [Fort l*itt], dated August 20, 170.'>, and is now [1777) in
possession of the same *' — Vtrcj. Cul. State Papr.rs, Vol I., p. 280.
^The reply of Governor Penn to Crawford's l(>tter was dated April 12th,
at Philadelphia. It was directed to '* William Crawf«»rd. Iv^quirc, and his
Associate Justices of Westmoreland Countv," and was as follows:
•* Gentlemen : Tho present alarming Situation of our Allairs in Westmore-
land County, occasi()ned by tlie v(?r\' unaccountable conduct of the Govern-
ment of Virginia, requires the utm(»st Attention of this Government, and
therefore I intend, with all possible Expedition, to send Commissioners to
expostulate with my Lord Dunrnore upon tho Behavior of those he has
thought proper to invest, witli such Power as hath greatly disturbed the
Correspondence, Addre:s8eSy Etc. 296
Arthur St. Clair to Benjamik Chew.^
Carlisle, April 28, 1774.
Sir: — In conversation with Colonel Wilson the other day, he men
tioned a transaction in Virginia, which if it be as he represents it,
will throw some light upon what has been the ''sense of that
Colony, with regard to the country about Fort Pitt.'* Colonel
Stephens,' it seems, in the year 1764, when that fortress was be-
Peace of that country. As the Government of Virginia hath the Power of
raising a Militia, and there is not any such in this Province, it will be in
vain to contend with them in the way of Force; the Magistrates, therefore,
at the same Time that they continue with steadiness to exercise the Juris-
diction of Pennsylvania with respect to the distributions of Justice and
punishment of Vice, must be cautious of entering into any such contests
with the Officers of my Lord Dun more, as may tend to widen the present
unhapp}' Breach; and, therefore, as Things are at present circumstanced, I
would not advise the Magistracy of "Westmoreland County to proceed by
way of criminal prosecution against them for exercising the Government
of Virginia.
" 1 flutter myself that our Commissioners to Virginia will succeed accord-
ing to our £xp(*ctutions, and that our Aflairs to the Westward will soon be
put upon a peaocable and quiet Footing. I am, etc."
It is necessary to mention, at this point, an occurrence which took place
two days subsequent to the date of the above letter, for the reason that it
has an important bearing on the events following; and, for the further rea^
son, that, in the letters of St. Clair, no account is given of it:
On the 8th of April, the justices, uEneas Mackay, Devcrcux Smith, and
Andrew McFarlane, returned from court at Hannastown to their homes in
Pittsburgh. The next day they were arrested by a Virginia deputy sheriff,
at ConoUy's instigation, and, on refusing to ^ive bail, were sent off under
guard to Staunton, county-town, at that period, of Augusta county, Vir-
ginia. After traveling one day together, Mr. Mackay, one of the three
justices, got permission to go to Williamsburg to see Lord Dunmore. After
some conversation with his Lordship, the latter wrote to the sheriff, request-
ing him to allow the prisoners to return home. Mackay immediately pro-
ceeded to Staunton, and his fellow-prisoners were at once liberated.
'Benjamin Chew was born in Anne Arundel county, Maryland, No-
vember 29, 1722. He was a lawyer by profession, and settled in 1743 on the
Delaware, but in 1754 removed to Philadelphia, where he held respectively
the offices of Recorder, Register of Wills, and Attorney-General. He be-
came Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the day after the
above letter was written. He had been a member of the Provincial Coun-
cil of Pennsylvania for u number of years, and as such was written toby
St. Clair at this date.
' Adam Stephen was a meritorious Virginia officer in the Colonial wars.
He was a captain in the Ohio expedition of 1754, serving with distinction
under Braddock. He became, afterward, a Virginia Brigadier-General.
296 The St. Clair Papers.
sieged bj the Indians,^ sent a detachment of the militia to escort
some provisions for the relief of the besieged ; for this he was com-
plained of to the Assembly, and censured for sending the militia
out of the Government
I have heard, sir, that you are to go to Williamsburg,' and im-
agined in that case, this hint would not be disagreeable. I wish
you a pleasant journey.
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Penn.
LiGONiER, May 29, 1774.
I doubt not l>efore this time you have expected some account
from me of the situation of this country', but as I could not write
with certainty respecting the intentions of the Indians I chose to
defer it.'
^This was during tbo so-called *' Conspiracy of Pontiac." The siege
spoken of by St. Clair was in 17G3.
'That is, St. Clair had been informed that Chew was to be one of the
Commissioners appointed by the Government of Pennsylvania to treat with
the Governor of Virginia, on the subject of the disturbances in Westmore-
land county; but the persons so appointed were James Tilghman and An-
drew Allen — both mcimbers of the Provincial Council. 1 hey were **to
treat and agree with the liight Honorable John, Earl of Dunmore, Governor
of Virginia, concerning the Settlement of the Western Bounds and Limits
of the Province of Pennsylvania, and prej^erving the Public Peace and
Tranquillity on the Borders," etc.
•This is the first hint, in this correspondence, of the animosity between
the Virginians on the cne side, and the Mingoes and Shawunese on the
other, which finally brought on what is known in history as " Lord Dun-
TOore's War." One of the causes of these troubles was the general antag-
onism of the red and white races, then being brought nearer and nearer each
other as the Virginians continued to survey land and make settlements
down the Ohio, Concerning the first overt acts on each side, accounts of
that period differ somewhat, as shown by the following (See The Washinff'
ton-Crawfont Letters. JJy C. W. Butterfield. [Cincinnati, Robert Clarke
& Co., 1877.] pp. 80, 87 and 47, 48) :
I.
" Dear Sir :—l am sorry to inform you the Indians have stopped all the
gentlemen from going down the river. In the first place, they killed one
Alurphy, a trader, and wounded another; then robbed their canoes. This
alarmed the gentlemen very much ; and Major Cresap took a party of men
and waylaid some Indians in their canoes, that were going down the river,
and shot two of them and scalped them. He also raised a party, took canoes
and foltowd some Indians irotn Wheeling down to the Little Kanawha;
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc, 297
In my last to Mr. Shippen I think I mentioned that Mr. Croghan
had sent a Delaware chief (White Eyes) with two of our traders
with a message^ to the Shawanese; their return had been impatiently
expected. Tired at last with the suspense, I determined to go to
Fort Pitt whatever might be the consequence, and am just returned
from thence. I was lucky enough to arrive there the day they
came in, and though their accounts are alarming enough, yet I
can not think they are equal to the panic that has seized the country.
The Shawanese message is insolent enough ; and we have a cer-
tain account that twenty of their warriors are gone out, but we have
still reason to -think they do not mean mischief to the people here,
as they lay all to the charge of the Big Knife, as they call the Vir-
gmians. The substance of their speech is, that they think what
when, coming up witli them, he killed three and wounded several. The In-
dians wounded three of his men, only one of whom is dead; he was shot
through, while the other two were but slightly wounded. On Saturday last,
about twelve o'clock, one Greathouse, and about twenty men, fell on a party
of Indians at [opposite] the mouth of Yellow Creek, and killed ten of them.
They brought away one child a prisoner, which is now at my brother
William Crawford's. This alarm has caused the people to move from over
the Monongahela, off Chartier's and Kaccoon [Creeks], as fast as ever you
saw them in the year 175G or IToT, down in Frederick county, Virginia.
There were more than one thousand people crossed the Monongahela in one
day at three ferries that are not one mile apart." — Valentine Crawford to
Washington^ May 7, 1774.
II.
ugir: — . . . •' The surveyors that went down the Kanawha, as report
goes, were stopped by the Shawanese Indians, upon which someof tlie white
people attacked some Indians and killed several, took thirty horse-loads of
skins near the mouth of Scioto; on which news, and expecting an Indian
war, Mr. Cresap and some other people fell on some other Indians at the
mouth of Pipe Creek, killed three, and scalped them. Daniel Greathouse
and some others fell on some at the mouth of Yellow Creek and killed and
scalped ten, and took one child about two months old, which is now at my
house. I have taken the child from a woman that it had been given to. Our
Inhabitants are much alarmed, many hundreds having gone over the moun-
tain, and the whole country evacuated as far as the Monongahela; and
many on this [the east] side of the river are gone over the nn)untain. In
short, a war is every moment expected. We have a council now with the
Indians. What will be the event I do not know." — William Crawford to
Washington^ May 8, 1774.
* What Mr. Croghan sent in this message wa.*<, in substance, " that the
outrages which had been committed, were done by some of our ill-disposed
people, and without the least countenance from Government." The Dela-
wares, at this period, had their homes upon the Muskingum; the Shawanese
had theirs upon the Scioto.
298 The St. Clair Papers.
Mr. Groghan and Mr. McKee say to them is lies; that they know
the path is open from Philadelphia, and that they will keep it so if
they please ; hut that the Big Knife has struck them, and when
they have satisfaction they will speak to him, but not before , that
now they have no King, and are all upon their feet, with other
threatening expressions in their way.* There were several chieis
of the Delawares, and deputy of the Six Nations, (Goyasutha)
with eight others of the Seneca tribe, at Pittsburgh, by Mr. Crog-
han's advice. They were called together and I made a short speech
to them ; * they received it with pleasure, and in return gave the
strongest assurances that they wished for nothing more than to con-
tinue in peace with this Province, and to become as one people. I
think there can be no doubt of the sincerity of the Delawares ; they
have given substantial proofs of it in the care they have taken of
the traders that were to have gone to the Shawanese ; and if the Six
Nations are in the same disposition, the war will be of little conse-
quence, but I fear it is to be doubted whether Goyasutha knows the
sense of the league or not.
One of the traders who went with White Eyes was detained at
1 •• White Eyes returned here [Pittsburgh] the 24th of May, and brought
with him ten white men, wlio had been pn^tected by the Delawares eight
days in their towns, and guarded safe to this place; he also brought a
ppeech from the Delawares, from which we have great reason to believe that
they are not inclined for war; we also believe that they will endeavor to
preserve the lives of the traders that are now amongst the Shawn eese : he
also brought from the Shawneese chief (called the hard man,) an answer to
a speech sent to them by Mr. Croghan, upon this occasion, in which he
signifies that the Shuwnees are all warriors, and will not listen to us until
they have satisfaction, for what injuries they have received from the Vir-
ginians, etc." — Devr.reux Smith to Dr. Smithy from Pittsbiirgh^ June 10, 1477,
* The s*peech made by St. Clair was as follows:
"Brothers of the Six Nations and Delawares:
♦•The Governor of Pennsylvania has heard your good speeches, and I am
come from him to thank you for the care you have taken of our traders, and
the pains you have been at to preserve the general peace. Your brothers
of Pennsylvania are determined to maintain the friendship subsisting be-
twixt the Six Nations and Delawares and them entire, but as they arc
alarmed at the threatenings of the Shawanese. we recommend it to you to
prevent your people from hunting on our side of the river for some time, as
our people will not be able to distinguish betwixt them and those who may
be enemies.
** We wish and will endeavor to keep the path open to our brothers, and
will on our parts keep bright that chain of friendship which has been so
long held fast by their and our forefathers. Ar. St. Clair."
Con^espondence, Addresses, Etc. 299
Newcomers Town ; * they, it seems, thought it imprudent that more
than one should go very soon after the others left it. They were
met by a Shawanese man who fired at Duncan, within a very small
distance, but fortunately missed" him. White Eyes immediately
called to him to make back to the town, and he himself got betwixt
the ludian and him, and came up with him where he had stopped
ro l.>a(l his gun, and disarmed him; they both got safely back to
;iie town, and were immediately shut up in a strong house, and a
guard kept on them day and night to preserve them from any at-
tempt that might be made by the Shawanese or Mingoes (a small
part of these last live near the Shawanese, and are in a manner
ijicorporated with them) and this was continued till White Eyes went
down to the Shawanese town and returned, during all which time
they were furnished with provisions and every thing that could be
procured for them in the most lil)eral manner. This I think must
be an unequivocal mark of their disposition.
The mischief done by Cresap ^ and Greathouse ' had been much
exaggerated when I wrote to Mr. Shipi)en, but the number of In-
dians killed is exactly as I informed Mr. Allen, viz: thirteen.*
*The site of the present New Conierstown, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio.
'The Pennsylvania account of "the mischief done by Cresap" was this*
William Butler, a trader living in Pittsburgh, sent off a canoe from that
place on the 15th of April, for the Shawanese towns on the waters of the
Scioto. This canoe was attacked by three Cherokee Indians, who killed one
white man and wounded another. About the 21st of April, Conolly, at
P tt-burgh, wrote a letter to the inhabitants at Wheeling, telling them that
I' I a 1 been informed by good authority, that the Shawanese were ill-dis-
p .-td towards the white men. On the 24th of the same month, Mr. Butler
>«*i:i aiiotiier canoe down the Ohio in care of some Shawanese and white
int'u. Cresap who was below, hearing of the murder by the Cherokees, and
being inft.rmed c»f the contents of ConoUy's letter to the inhabitants of
Wheeling, fell upon the Indians in Butler's second canoe, killing two; he
also killed another Shawanese farther down the river.
* The ''Yellow Creek Massacre," as it is called, took place opposite the
mouth of -fellow Creek, April 80, 1774. It was tlien that Logan, the Mingo
chief, lost his relatives — mother, brother and sister; not, however, by '* Colonel
Cresap,*' us he states in his famous speech, but at the hands of a party under
the leadership of Daniel Greathouse. Logan's brother, who was among the
slain was known as John Petty. His sister who was also killed had with
her a child two months old. It was this child that was subsequently taken
care of by William Crawford, as previously stated.
* Neither of these letters has been preserved. St. Clair gives thirteen as
the number of Indians killed by Cresap and his men and by Greatiiousn and
his party; bat, it must be remembered that a portion of these were Sbawa-
800 The St. Clair Papers.
Cresap has lately been in the neighborhood of Pittsburgh, with in-
tention it appeared to pursue the blow he had before struck, but
Mr. Conolly sent a message to him forbidding him to attempt any
thing against the Indians ; this he has taken in high dudgeon, and
declares publicly that what he did before was by Mr. Conolly's
orders ; so that it is to be hoped some of the devilish schemes that
have been carrying on here will come to light. I ventured to say
that an Indian war was part of the Virginia plan ; I am satisfied it
must at least be part of Mr. Conolly's plan, for he has already in-
curred such an exj^ense by repairing the fort * and calling out the
militia that I think it is impossible that Colony will ever discharge
it unless disturbances be raised that may give his maneuvers the
appearance of necessity.
It is scarcely p(^ssible to conceive the distressed situation of this
country ; one day the spirits of the people are raised a little, and
some prospect of their being able to remain en their farms; the
next a story worse than any they have heard before, and a thousand
times worse than the truth, sinks them in despair; and those about
Pittsburgh are still in a more pitiable state, being harassed and
oppressed by the militia, who lay their hands on every thing they
want without asking questions, and kill cattle at their pleasure;
they indeed ai)praise them, when the owner happens to know of it,
and give him a bill on Lord Dunmore, which is downright mockery.
nese; ^o that tho story that thirteen Mlnjoes v;ero to bo revenged for by
Loi^nn, so (.-urrent in history, is a fiction; besides, it is well known, that he
and his braves put to death more than that number of Virginians before his
w^rath was appeased.
^ St. Clair l)as here reference to Fort Pitt, which Conolly bad taken pos-
session of, changing tlie name to Fort Dunmore — which name, by the way,
was never acquiesced in by Pennsylvanians. After the fortification had been
dismantled by order t)f the British govcTiiment, in 1772, it was taken charge
of by Edward Ward, a lialf-brother of Col. Croglian, who had control oi the
grounds until Conolly with liis militia took possession sometime in the sprinj^
of 1774. In 1777, "Ward's deposition was taken at Pittsburgh, a part of
whicli was in the folJowinir words:
"The dep«.nent furtlier saith that upon the evacuation*of Fort Duquesne,
by the French, on the approach of the Britisli army General Forbes, by one
of the Deputy Agents of Indian AflTairs, made a request to the chiefs of tho
Six Nations for permissinn to re-establish a fort at the same place, for the
purpose aforesaid, and to prevent the French from returning, which was
granted; a fort executed and garrisoned, which continued in the possession
of the British troo})s till the year 1772, when it was evacuated by them and
taken posssession <^f by the deponent, who occupied the same till taken pos-
session of by Major Conolly, in 1774, with the Virginia militia."
CorrespondencCy Addresses^ EtCy 301
From what I saw it was evident to me that the country must very
soon be totally evacuated unless some thing was done to afford the
inhabitants the appearance at least of protection. I therefore con-
sulted with some of the inhabitants of Pittsburgh, and Mr. Mackay,
Mr. Smith, Colonel Croghan, Mr. Butler and myself entered into an
association to raise victuals, and pay a ranging company of one hun-
dred men for one month, to which a number of the inhabitants, as I
came down, readily acceded, and I think in a few days we will have
it completed. We flattered ourselves indeed that your Honor if
you approve the measure, would take such measures with the House
as would release us from . the expense ; but as you may j)n)l)ably
want a formal requisition to lay before the House, I have acquainted
you with it in another letter. One thing further I had in view : the
inhabitants of Pittsburgh propose stockading the town : ' when that
is done should your negotiation with Lord Dunmore miscarry,
throwing a few men into that place would recover the country the
Virginians have U8uri)ed.
I beg pardon for so long a letter, and yet I believe I should have
given you more but that I am detaining Mr. [John] Montgomery,
who charges himself with forwarding this to your Honor. I have
only to request that you will please to give us your directions as
soon as possible.
P. 8. — An aflair that has given me much trouble and vexation
had like to have escaped my memory, the murder of a Delaware
Indian, Joseph Wipey, about eighteen miles from this place. It is
the most astonishing thing in the world the dis{X)sition of the com-
mon people of this country ; actuated by the most savage cruelty,
they wantonly perpetrate crimes that are a disgrace to humanity,
and seem at the same time to be under a kind of religious enthu-
siasm, whilst they want the daring spirit that usually inspires. Two
of the persons concerned in this murder are John Hinksim and
James Cooper. I had got information of their design some time be-
fore they executed it, and had written to Hinkson, whom I knew U>
be a leader amongst them, to dissuade them and threaten them
with the weight of the law if they persisted; but so far
from preventing them, it only produced the inclosed letter.' The
body was discovered hid in a small run of water, and covered with
stones. I immediately sent for the coroner, but before he had got
' The town was not stockaded as proposed, although considerable work was
done toward it.
'This letter has not been found.
802 The Hi. Clair Papers.
a jury together the body was removed, so that no inquest could be
taken. I have issued warrants on suspicion, but they are so much
on their guard I doubt they can not be executed. Your Honor will
please to consider whether it- may be proper to proclaim them ; * it
is most unlucky at this time. The letter may perhaps be made use
of as evidence.
Mr. MciJCee had not time to transcribe the speeches of the In-
dians, but in a few days I shall probably receive them, and will for-
ward them by the first opportunity. Nobody offered the arrest they
have threatened me so much with.
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Penn.
LiGONEER, May 29, 1774.
Sir : — ^The panic that has struck this country, threatening an en-
tire depopulation thereof, induced me a few days ago to make an
excursion to Pittsburgh to see if it can be removed, and the deser-
tion prevented.
The only probable remedy that offered was to afford the people
the appearance of some protection. Accordingly Mr. Smith, Mr.
Mackay, Mr. Butler, and some others of the inhabitants of Pitts-
burgh, with Colonel Croghan and myself, entefed into an association
for the immediate raising an hundred men, to be employed as a
ranging company, to cover the inhabitants in case of danger, to
which association several of the magistrates and other inhabitants
have acceded and in a very few days they will be on foot.
We have undertaken to maintain them for one month, at the rate
of one shilling and a sixpence a man per diem : this we will cheer^
fully discharge, at the same time we flatter ourselves that your
Honor will approve the measure, and that the Government will not
only relieve private persons from the burden, but take effectual
measures for the safety of this frontier, and this I am desired by
the people in general to request of your Honor.
*The Gi)vernor of Pennsylvunia, in accordanco with the suggestion made
by St. Clair, did "proclaim them." His proclamation offering one hundred
pounds for thoir apprehension was dated .July 28, 1774. There is, however,
no evidence extant that either were ever arrested for their supposed partici-
pation in the killing of the Delaware Indian. Ilinkson finally left the
Western country.
CorrespondencCy Addressesy Etc. 803
George Croghan to Arthur St. Clair.
June 4, 1774.
Sir: — ^The frequent reports brought from Hanna's Town, of two
hundred men being raising there, has alarmed Captain ConoUy very
much, and though I told Mr. J. Campbell the whole reason and in-
tention was no more than to have a number of men to scout between
the river Ohio and of inhabitants down to Ligonier, in order to pre-
vent the flight of that part of said country ; and in case of great
necessity that those men would be offered to act with the Virginians
for the general defense of the country.
Now, as both Conolly and Campbell know this measure is the
only one to stay the people from flying, and see that the country
will condemn Conolly and his officers for not pursuing the same
measure, they want to make it appear in another light, and that the
intention is to invade the rights of Virginia.
Now, the greatest caution and prudence is necessary, and I re-
quest that you will station those parties to scout back of the settle-
ments between Turtle Creek and Ligonier, which was our intention
of having them, and take care that no threats against Virginia be
made use of by any person concerned, as, since Mr. Jo. Campbell
came up, I see the design is to create a fresh difference between Gov-
ernor Penn and Lord Dunmore, which ought to be avoided with
the greatest care. Since Campbell came up affidavits are taken of
every information that is brought up, and spies employed ; though
when he was informed of the murders committed on the Indians,
he never took any measures to apprehend them. He has made two
attacks on me, by letters sent by a sergeant and twelve men, which
letters I answered, but would not gratify him to send them by his
party.
The truth is, they found this difference likely to be made up by
the Lidians, and iind that nothing but misrepresenting our measures,
and drawing on a fresh dispute between the Government of Penn-
sylvania and Virginia, can keep this man in command ; wherefore
I have determined to go to Williamsburg myself, and represent the
state of the country, as soon as I hear the event of our last mes-
sages to the Lidians, by the deputies, which I believe will be in five
or six days, and I flatter myself entirely satisfactory to every well-
wisher of the peace and tranquillity of the country.
Before I go you and I must have a meeting, that you may be able
to inform the Gt)vemor what I am going about ; but I would have
you settle the scouting party so as to act with prudence, and give
804 The St. Clair Papers.
no cause for suspicion of any design against Virginia, before you
come up.
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Piaw.
Laurel Hall, June 7, 1774.
Sir : — When I had last the honor to write to you, I acquainted ou
with a plan that had been fallen upon to raise some men for the defense
of this country. The day before yesterday about forty marched
from Hannahs Town to Turtle Creek, where they would be joined
by another party. The number I do not exactly know, but it is in-
tended that that post should be sixty meu strong ; and a number were,
at the same time, engaged for the other necessary posts, so that the
whole will form a chain of rangers on our frontier. The subscribers
requested me to take them under my direction, and in consequence
I did give tlicm orders which I will send to your Honor by the first
opportunity — now I have not time to copy them ; and, as I know
the gentleman who carries this, I came here on purpose to see him,
for should this matter go farther, he has connections in town that
have weight with the House. Mr. Croghan's views I do not pre-
tend to see, but this you may be assured of, he is at present a friend
to this country, and if it depends ou him we shall yet have no war ;
hitherto it has been my opinion we would have no war ; I now be-
gin to think otherwise ; but my reasons for thinking so depend on
such circumstances as can scarce be communicated. The most alarm-
ing one, however, is the retreat of the Moravian Minister. A great
town of the Delaware^ has been, in some measure, civilized by these
people, and spiritual guides in all countries have ways of knowing
the intentions of their flocks ; ^ another is, that on Sunday last a
council was intended with the Dcla wares and Six Nations at Mr.
Croghan*s, but the day before they went ofl^ to i)revent a party of
Shawanese, as they say, from falling on the white people. A little
time will shf)w whether that was their design or not. Mr. Jennings,
the late sheriff* of Northampton, who is now here, will, I believe,
be in town. It is not improbable he knows more than he discovers
to me. He is engaged in the Indian trade, and his partner is
^ Ri'ference is here made to the Moravian missionary establishments among
the Deluwares, upon the Tiiscarawns River, in what is now Tuscarawas
county, Ohio, under the charge of David Zeisbortrcr. But this minister had
not " retreated," as St. Clair supposed, and his converts were still at the vil-
lages of Gnadenhutten and Schonbrunn.
Corrrspondoice, AddrcsseSy Etc, 305
beloved by all the Indians. Your Honor will judge if you should
see him.
I will not give your Honor any more trouble at present ; and in
truth I ara so fatigued with riding that I doubt much if what I write
is legible ; but it is necessary your Honor should be acquainted with
what is passing here, and I am not fond of sending expresses.
P. S. — In a very {mrticular manner our soldiers are directed to
avoid every occasion of dispute with the people in the service of
Virginia.
Governor Penn to Arthur St. Clair.
Philadelphia, June 1th, 1774.
Sir: — I hav-e received your letter of the 29th of May, by ex-
press, inclosing your speech to the Indians, and think it an extra-
ordinary letter. I shall consult my council upon the propriety of
issuing a proclamation for apprehending him,' which is a measure I
dare say they will advise.
I am much pained to find vour countrv is in so terrible a situa-
tion as you represent it, and think you have acted very wisely in
entering into an association to raise men, which I hojxj will quiet
the minds of the people and answer the purpose of keeping them
from totally leaving the country.
You may depend u])on my doing every thing that lays in my
power, to relieve you from the expense of maintaining the com-
pany of men you mention. You will receive as soon as possible
two hundred muskets with powder and lead, which you will dispose
of in the best manner to such persons as will return them when
thev are of no further use to them.
Those members of Assembly who live in town, approve much
of my doing every thing that may ]>e necessary for your protection
and have sent summonses to all the members that live within twenty
miles of the town to meet on Friday next to consult \\\\(m what
will be proper to be done immediately; and if by any further intelli-
gence from your county it should appear necessary, I shall then call
the Assembly.
Wagons with the arms and ammunition will set off this after-
noon or early to-morrow morning. They will be consigned to Mr.
Montgomery at Carlisle who will be desired to forward them to you.
^ Reference is horo nrmde to J<»bn Hinkson and James Cooper, who were
charged by St. Clair with having killed Joseph Wipey, the Delaware In-
dian.
20
306 The St. Clair Papers.
Mr. Ijcsloy hiis taken the cliarge of packing them up and has de-
livered me the inclosed account of what he is to put up.
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Pexn.
LiGONiER, June 8, 1774.
Sir : — Since I wrote to you yesterday I have received two letters *
from Mr. Cro^han, which I now inclose. Though he seems to say
that ymacQ may be continued, I l)elieve it is not his sentiments ; and
the circumstance of his going to Williamsburg, whatever design he
may avow, is to he out of the way of danger : for he dare neither
trust the white jx^ople nor the Indians.
We have a certain account of some mischief having Ixjen done
up Cheat River. Eight or nine jKJople are killed ; hut whether it is
only designed as revenge, or is really the begiiniing of a war, we
can not yet judge ; ^ I shall, however take earliest opportunity to in-
form you of what passes.
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Penn.
LifioxiER, June 12, 1774.
Sir: — In mv hist letter I had the honor to inform vou, that in
consequence of the ranging company which had been raised here,
there was reason to hope the jH^ople would return to their planta-
litms and pursue their labors ; and i'or some time, that is, a few
days, it had that effect ; but an idle report of Indians having In^en
seen within the party, has driven them every one into some little
fort or other, and many hundreds out of the country altogether.
This has obliged me to call in the parties from where they were
U)nly one of these letters — that oi' June 4, 1774, previoii.-ly given — hus
been j)re>erveil.
'It was both, as it proved. The •* miselnof " spoken of was the work of
Lotjjaii. the Min^.f ehief, in reveni^e for the killing o' Ins relative^ at Haker's
JJoltoin. opposite tlu' ni«»utli of Vrll'»\v ("reek, on the IJOlh of April prcvou.*.
It was on I)unkanr> Crt'i'k, ahnut ten miles from the niouth of Cheat Kiver,
on th«* west s'ldv of the .M<»nonL;ahela. that the irat«; ehief began his W(.rk of
death — hegan, in fact, '• L>nl Dunmorw's War.' J^ogan liad with him a
snnill number of Mingoen and Sliawanese fr«>m \Vakat<Mni<'a, an Indian
town u])on the Mu-ikinixiim. near wliat is now I)resd«Mi. Mii«ikingum county,
Ohio. At thi<^ time, about ten pers»»ns were killed. The; wliole eountry was
in forts; that is, what wa-i left of them on either side of tlie. Monongahula—
the greater part having gone over the mountains for safety.
Cornspondence, Addi esses, etc. CC7
posted, and have stationed them, twenty men at the Bullock Pens,
twenty men at Turtle Creek, thirty at Hauna's Town, twenty at
Proctor's, and twenty at Ligonicr ; as these places are now the fron-
tier towanls the Alleghany, all that great country betwixt the road *
and that river being totally abandoned, except by a few who are as-
sociated with the people who murdered the Indians, and are shut up
in a small fort on Connymack [Conemaugh], equally afraid of the
Indians and officers of justice.
Nothing can be more surprising than the dread the people are
under, and it is truly shameful that so great a body of iKM)i)le should
have l)een driven from tlieir possessions without even the appear-
ance of an enemy ; for certain it is, as yet, no attempt has l)een
mmle on what is underst(K)d to be Pennsvlvania, nor anv other
mischief d'Hie than the killing the family on Whitelick Creek, which
I informed you of iK'fore, and which, from every circumstance, ap-
j)ears rather to have been private revenge than a national stroke.
A fresh report of Indians l)eing seen near Hanna*s Town, and
another i>arty on Braddock*s Road, set the people agoing again yes-
terday. I immediately took horse and rode up to in(piire, and found
it, if not totally groundless, at least very improbable; but it was
impossible to persuade the pe()])le so, and I am certain I did not
meet less than a hundred families, and I think two thousand head
of cattle, in twenty miles riding.
The people in this valley still make a stand ; but yesterday they
all moved into this j)lace, and I perceive are much in doubt what to
do. Nothing in my power to prevent their leaving the country
shall be omitted, but if they will go I suppose I must go with the
stream. It is tiie strangest infatuation ever seized upon men ; and
if they go off now, as harvest will soon Ik? on, they must undoubt-
edly jxirish by famine, for spring crop there will be little or ncme.
Bv a letter from Mr. ^lackav, of vesterdav, I had a very extra-
ordinary piece of intelligence, ** that Lord Dunmore had empow-
ered Mr. Conolly to settle a line of jurisdiction with the Pennsyl-
vania magistrates." This, it seems, he gives out himself, but it is
t^) absurd to be Mieved. It would give much pleasure to the
friends of Government in this part of the country, to hear that
*The two principal road- load in-^ out of Pittsburgh, at that date, eastward,
were " Forbes' Road" and ' Bniddock's Koad."' Leavinj' Fort Pitt bv tho
fist-mentioned mute, the traveler would reach tho Bullock Pens, in seven
miles; Hannastown, is something over thirty; Ligonier, in fifty-six; and
Bedford, in about one hur<lred miles. It was this road that St. Clair refers
to. Braddock's Road w.n^ to the south of this.
808 The St. Clair Papers.
your commissioners had succeeded in that business, as it seems
be the only thing that can restore us peace and order/ •
A very little time will discover the intentions of the Indians, and
if they shoiild proceed to further hostilities, I will give you notice
by express, if it apjiears to be necessary.
P. S.— I have just heard that Mr. Conolly has sent a party of
militia down to Wheeling, with orders to fall on every Indian they
meet, without respecting friend or foe.*
Arthur St. Clair to Go^^:RNOR Pexn.
LiGONiER, June IM, 1774.
Sir: — There is very little alteration in the afHiirs of this coun-
try since my last, which was a few days ago, only we have a certain
account of two more people being killed by the Indians, one Mr.
McClure, and Kincuid, the j)erson for whom you lately issued a
special commission of the peace. They, it seems, were leading a
party of forty men to join Capt. Conolly at Wheeling, and were
attacked by four Indians who made their escape without so much
as Ixnng fired at.^
Before tliLs accident Mr. Conolly had determined to march from
M)n the r2ih day of May, 1774, James Tilcjhinan and Andrew Allen,
commissioners of Peniisylvauia, appointed to njeet Lord Dunmore for a con-
ference with regard to the Boundary Troubles, left Philadelphia, and arrived
in Willianjsburg on the 10th following. The business was soon opened;
but, after a conference which lasted until the 27th of that month, it ended in
nothing whatever being accomplished; Lord Dunm«»re declaring that in no
event would he yield jurisdiction over Fort Pitt, which put an end to the
meeting. St. Chiir, however, had not received, at the date of the above let-
ter, information of fhe failure of the comnjission.
'-' Particulars of the mi>hap which befel this party are given by St. Clair,
jn his letter to Penn, of June 10, 1774, which follows.
3 ".June loth [1774]. AVe have this morning received Certain accounts
from Ten-Mile Creek, (which Empties into the Monongahela ten miles above
Kedstone Fort)that on the 11th Inst. Francis .McClure was killed &one Sam-
uel Kinkade badlv wounded. These men were headinj; a Partv in Pursuit
of Loi^an, McC'lure as Captain & Kinkade Lieut., and Oweing to their bad
Conduct, th«'V advanced some consideral)h» distance ahead of their men and
were discovered by Logan, when the Party came up they found their Captn
kiird & Lieut wound(Mi; part of them stayed to take care of the wounded,
and tile Rest pursued the Indians." — Drvereux Smith to . Frona this
it would seem that St. Clair was mistaken in supposing the party were
marching to join Conolly at Wheeling.
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 309
Ft. Pitt, (which he now calls Ft. Dimmore,) with three or four hun-
dred men he had embodied for the purpose of chastising the Shaw-
anese, to erect forts at Wheeling ' and Hockhocking * to overawe
the Indians and from thence to carry war into their own country ;
of this he was pleased to inform me by letter,' and to desire I
would act in concert with him. You may be assured, sir, I shall
be cautious of taking any step that may have the most distant
tendency to draw this Province into active share in the war they
have had no hand in kindling, but I have since received accounts
that the above murders instantly changed the plan, and Mr. Con-
oily remains in garrison.
Tis said some of his parties discovered a very large party of In-
dians crossing the Ohio below Wheeling. If that be true, as it is
not improbable, we may expect soon to hear of much mischief be-
ing done, as there is not the least doubt of several small parties
being out at this time.
Tis some satisfaction the Indians seem to discriminate betwixt us
and those who attacked them, and their revenge has fallen hitherto
on that side of the Monongahela, which they consider as Virginia,*
but lest that should not continue, we are taking all possible care
to prevent a heavy stroke falling on the few people who are left in
this country. Forts at different places so as to be more convenient,
are now nearly completed, which gives an appearance of security
for the women and children, and with the ranging parties, which
have been drawn in to preserve the communication, has in a great
degree put a stop to the unreasonable panic that had seized them,
but in all of them there is a great scarcity of ammunition, and sev-
eral messengers have returned from below without being able to
purchase.
I am very anxious to know whether the ranging companies are
agreeable to your honor or not, both because the ex|)ense of con-
tinuing them will be too heavy for the subscribers, and that I am
every day pressed to increase them. This I have positively re-
fused to do till I receive your Honor's instructions, and I well know
how averse oiu* Assemblies have been formerly to engage in the de-
*Thc site of the present eity of that name, in AVcst Virginia.
*The Hockhocking (Ireqiienlly written Hocking) enters the Ohio River on
the right, in the present State of Ohio, two hundred and three miles by course
of the latter stream below IMitsburgh.
' It is a matter of regret that this letter has not been found. In the end,
the plan mentioned was carried out
*That ij», on the west side.
810 The SL Clair Papers.
fensc of the frontiers, and if tbcy are still of the same disposition,
the circumstance of the white j)eople being the aggressors will
afford them a topic to ring the charges on and conceal their real
sentiments.
Last night I received petitions from several different parts of the
county, which I have now the honor to transmit to you by Doctor
McKenzie from Pittsburgh.* Tlie disturbance in this country has
ruined his business, but should the Province think of raising
* Two, only, of the Petitions have been found, but this is a niHtter of lit-
tle irnportance, as it will be seen by the following that they were all sub-
etantialh' alike:
[I]
** Pittsburgh, 14M Jufie, 1774.
*' To the Honourable John Penn, Esq'r, CJovernour and Commander in
Chief of the Frovinee of Pennsylvania, and of the Counties of Newcastle,
Kent, and Sussex upon Delaware. The Petition of the Inhabithnts of
"Westmoreland County, Humbly iSheweth,
**That there is the greatest Reason to apprehend that this part of the
Country will be immediately involved in all the horrors of an Indian War,
That our Cireumstances at this Critical Ccmjuneture. are truly alarming.
Deserted by the far greater part of our neii^hhours and fellow subjects, un-
provided with plaees of streni^th to resort to, with Anmnitions, Provisions,
and almost every other necessary Store, Our houses are abandoned to pillage,
Lab(/ur and Industry entirely at a stand. Our Crops destroyed by Cattle,
Our tl(»eks dispersed, and the minds of our people distracted with the termrs
of falling, along witli their helpless and unprotected families, the immediate
victims of Savai^e Barbarity.
"In the midst of these scenes of Desolation and ruin, next to the Al-
mighty, we look up to your Honour, hoping from ynur known Henevolcnce
and Humanity, such Protection and Relief as to your Honour shall seem
meet.
'•.And vour Petitioners as in Dutv bound will Prav. yEnoas Maikav,
D<»vereu.\ Smith, ^Villiam Butler, James O'llara, Samu«*l McKenzie, John
Ormsby. John McCalli>ter, Andrew Robeson. Kdward Thompson, AVilliam
Kvins. Willinm McCUsllan, AVilliam Lea, Frederick Kenny, J»'hn Henery,
Christopher .Miller, John Stewart, Richard Carson, David Sample, Tht)mas
Gaibraith, William Elliott, Ar. St. Clair, James P«»llock, Benjamin Setter.
James Cariuihan, John Chillton, John Carnahan, Peter Eckley, Edward
Murray, William IMcCnnnell, James Kyll, IJenjamin Coe, J<»seph Kyll.
John Work. Robert I'alterson, Reuben Powell, Peter Coe, Michael Hufl-
nagle, Abel Fisher, and others."
[n]
" FoKT SniPEN, AT Cav'k John Pkoctors.
"To the Honorable John Penn. E<(|uire. (j()vernour and Commander in
vh'u'S of tlu' Pnivince of Pemisylvaiiia. and Counties of New Castle, Kent,
and S;i»«'x upon Delaware. The I*etition of the Inhabitants of Westmore^
land County Humi ly She wet h,
Correspondence, Addrisses, Etc. 311
troops, lie would be glad I believe to be employed. I can, sir,
reconimeud him to your Honor, as an expert surgeon and gentle-
manly man. He has served as surgeon in the navy.
I was mistaken in saying two people were killed on Ten Mile
Creek: McClure was killed, and Kinkaid wounded; however, it
would have been no great matter if he had been killed, as he had
accepted a commission in the service of Virginia, soon after the
notice you had been pleased to take of him at the request of his
father-in law, Col. Wilson. I am afraid there are some more of
our Virginia friends who do not play us fair, but it is not a time at
present for purgation.
Unless your Honor should forbid me, I shall continue to write
to you in this manner, >vhatever occurs, as it is the only way I
have at present to show you that I am with the greatest respect,
your obedient servant.
P. S. — For any thing that has escaped me, I take the liberty to
refer you to Doctor McKensie.
The day before yesterday I had a visit from Major ^Yard. He
informs me that Mr. Croghan set out for Williamsburg the day be-
fore, to represent the distresses he says of the jK^ople of this coun-
try. At the same time he informed me that the Dela wares had got
notice of the murder of Wipey, and that Mr. Croghan had desired
him to come to me on that occasicm ; that he advised that they
** That there is great Reason to feur that this part of the Country will
Boon bo involved in an Indian War That the Consequences will most
probably bo very etrikins;^ ; as the Country is in a very defenceless state,
without any Places of Strength, or any Stock of Aniunition or Necessary
Stores.
**That the abandoning the Country, must be attended with total IJuin to
great numbers who aro now in an easv situation, but almost distracted with
the apprehensioii of eeeinv; their Helpless Infants fall a Sacrifice to Savago
Cruelly, and this will certainly be the event unless they meet with some
protection.
" In these Circumstances, next to the Almighty, they look up to your
Honour, and hope yuu will take their Case into Consideration, and afford
them Jiuch llelief as to your Honour shall eeem meet.
**And your Petitioners as in duty buund will Pray.
" Lot Darling, Andrew Woolf, Gorg Hedingbau, Samuel Sloan, William
Caldwell, Hobert Koulston, William Allison, William Cortny, John Pat-
rick, Benjamin Coohrn, James Gammel, James Forsyth, Ilobert .Tnylor,
John Leslie, William Anderson, George Henry. John Proctor, David Max-
well, Will-nm Hughs, Ilias Pettet, and others.'
312 The St. Clair Papers.
should be spoken to and some small present made to them as con-
dolence and to cover his bones, as they express it. I do not well
know what to do ; such a present as some few of us would be
willing to contribute for, might be thought unworthy of the Province,
and such an one as might come up to my idea, would be great pre-
sumption to offer. This however is certain, the Delawares are still
friendly and it may perhaps prevent a general war if they can be
kept in temper. I believe I shall go to Ft. Pitt, however, and will
consider well of it.
^XEAs Mackay to Arthur St. Ciair.
Pittsburgh, lltJi June, 1774.
3fy Dear Sir : — I have the pleasure to inform you that Butler,'
Blaiu,^ and several other tnidei*s, are just arrived with their skins,
guarded by three Bhawanese chiefs, and our greatest dread is now
that the militia will attempt to kill or otherwise abuse these princi-
pal men, as they are so easy to come at; however we have some
trusty hands to lead them througli the woods to Col. Croghan's, which
we look upon to he a place of safety. The traders inform us tliat
thev have not been under confinement at all, and that thev have
been exceedingly well treated by all the Shawanese.' We will have
no war yet, unless our neighbors will force tliem to it.
* Ricbanl Butler. IIo, in company with his bn>tlior William, was engaged
RS u trader, at tljis period, with theShawanese. Thoy had been do'.ni; a large
busines:* f«»r n number of vears, frt»m Pittsburijh. Tt mav l»o ln?rc m(>ntioned
that thes(; bn thers took an important part in the Revolution, and that Kichurd
was u Major-(>eneral in the Indian war which followed that contest.
' Ephraim Blaine.
• rjc'lmrd IJutler, after his arrival at Pittsburu;h, gave an interesting ac-
count of his escape from the Indian country. It was in jjubstuiu^c this: On
hearinix the news of the killini^ oi tho MinLjoes by CJreathouse and his party
at I5ak*'r's IJottom, on tho 80th of April, three nnin and u boy, wlu> were
Mim^iX's, Mild one Shawanes(% set off tt) tho Iloekhocking, with an intent to
reveni^e the der-d upt)n the traders there. On hearing of this, tho Shnwa-
nes«* lirnd men siMit f<»ur of their own pe<»ple and ono Mohican to preserve
Ruth-r u'.nl th(5 residue of the traders at that j^oint. This was faithfully done;
for wh'Mj the war partv came to the camp of the Pennsvivanians, tln-v were
met 1 y th«» others, who ]»revailed on them to return homo. AVKen Ikitler
and the otlwr tra<l('rs w<»re ready to start for Pittsburgh, tlio Shawnncse
chief, C\)rn>taik, sent his brothi-r to escort the whole of ti.em to Piltsburi^h,
althoiii^h, Ix'fore they left, tho r»'port that Loi^an and fiis friends had taken
up the hntt'liet airainst tht» Virginians in revenge for his relatives elain,
reached the Shawanesc before their departure. Thclndian escort, composed
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 313
P. S. — Mr. Butler informs me, he has a speech for the inhabitants
of the forks of the Two Rivers, meaning our Province ; and Blain has
a speech to deliver to Mr. Connolly as representative for the Big
Knife, so that 1 hope you will be up before the s|)eeches will be de-
livered.*
James Tilgiiman to Arthur St. Clair.
Philadelphia, Jmie 20^t, 1774.
Sir : — The Governor has received your dispatches by Mr. Hooper
and Mr. Jacobs who had by jmcket from Mr. Elder. I just take thb
opportunity by a person going off to-day, to let you know that we
could not bring my Lord Dunmore to any reasonable temporary
lines. We offered the Monongahela which he would not agree to ;
so that the peace and quiet of the country must in a great measure
depend on the confidence of those in command on both sides till we
can get orders from home to have the boundaries of Penn'a settled,
which Lord Dunmore assured us he would use every endeavor to
expedite. I find you have raised some rangers to encourage the
people to continue their settlements ; great care should be taken that
they give no ofl[ense or umbrage to the Indians, who should be
made sensible that nothing is intended, but to keep the {>cople to
the settlements, unless the Indians should' oblige them to act of-
fensively. It seems as if there were no good understanding between
Croghan and Connolly. I do not Icnow how sincere Croghan may
be, nor would I judge uncharitably, but his sentiments are just.
We had some intimation when at Williamsburg and I have
heard since I came home that Lord Dunmore has interested himself
in the lands about Pittsburgh. I wish you would inquire into that
of one Shawanese, one Minu:o and a Mohican, proved faithful to their trust
and delivered their charges in safety at Pittsburgh.
The fears of Mackay that the militia would " attempt to kill or otherwise
abuse" the three Indians, were woll-founde(L It required great caution and
considerable trouble on the part t)f the traders and Culoiiel Croghatj to pro-
tect them, so intense was the excitement among the Virginians at Pittsburgh
against savages in general at the time. On their way home, the >[ohican
was actually wounded, near the mouth of Beaver, by a scouting party; how-
ever, it is not certain that they had knowledge of the pacific intention of
these Indians.
*The speech brought in by Butler has not been found. The one intrusted
to Blaine was directed to Croghan and Conolly. It was from the chief,
Cornstalk. lie sent his good intentions to the (Governors of Pennsylvania
and Virginia; lioped that peace would bo maintained, and that no more In-
dians would be killed.
314 The St. Clair Papers.
matter, gnd transmit me what intelligence you 'can gain of it.
The Governor will write you by the first opportunity. He is out of
town to-dav and knows not of this.
Conolly wrote Lord Dunraore a very flattering account of his ex-
pedition against the court house for which we are informed he got
a sharp reprimand instead of the applause he exj^ected. When we
applied for the discharge of the magistrates his Lordship told us
he had already given orders for that purpose.
Lord Dunmore told us he would instruct his i)eoplc to be very
pacific and inoffensive, and not to give an occasion of difference.
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Penn.
LiGONiER, June 22, 1774.
Sir: — In my last I infi)rmed you of Mr. Croghan setting out for
Williamsburg, since which I had a letter fn)m him fn)m his own
house. He therein informed me that he found the country so much
alarmed at his going down, that he chose to return, and trust hia
business to letters, and desir(;d to see me as soon as possible.
Accordingly I set out for Pittsburgh the 17lh inst., and had the
happiness to find two of the principal traders arrived there with a
great quantity of peltry, and that they had been ctmducted there
by some of the Shawaucse chiefs, and that the rest of the traders,
with their hors*es and skins, were got as far as the Newcomers
Town, under the protection of another Shawaneso party.
The traders inform us that they have met with no ill treatment
from the 81iawanese ; but, on the coutmrv, they were at the great-
est pains, to protect them from the Mingoes, who had suffered most
from the white |)eople, and who came to their town several times,
with the intention to murder them. It seems thev did not think it
prudent to bring the Shawanese to Pittsburgh, but conducted them
from some distance below that place, througli the woods to (^)l()nel
Croghan's. Mr. Conolly ordered out a party of forty men to make
them prisoners, as he says.
The ])eople of the town were alarmed at seeing a party march out
the route they took, and sus^x^cted they were intended to attack a
party of uur iHM>j)le stationed at the Bullock Pens, al)out seven
miles from thence, whicli it seems has some time been threatened,
and acquainted me with wliat they feared. I immediately waited
on Mr. Conolly, and insisted, in direct terms, he should tell me if
he had any such design. He assiured me he had not, but that, as
Correspondence y Addresses^ Etc. 315
the Shawanese Lad committed depredations on his Majesty's subjects,
he had ordered out that party to make those prisoners who had
escorted the traders ; and that might have been his real intention ;
but I am convinced those who were to put it in execution would not
have made prisoners. Wo put it out of their power to do either, by
sending them over the river.
Your Honor will judge from this circumstance that the crew about
Fort Pitt (now Fort Dunmore), are intent on a war, for were not
that the case, honor, generosity, gratitude, every manly principle,
must have prompted them to Ik) kind, and afford protection to thi^e
poor savages, who had risked their own lives to preserve the lives
and pro|)erty of their fellow-subjects. But why need I mention this
circumstance? One at lea§t as strong is, that John Drinuing, who
publicly acknowledged, or rather boasted, of having killed the In-
dians, with Mr. Crcsap, is one of Mr. C(molly's lieutenants, and is
at the present time out somewhere with the command of a party to
take scalps, from friends I suppose ; a murderer, I am sure, will
never meet an enemy on fair terms.
I mentioned something of a condolence in my last, and as the
8hawanese were up, I suffered myself to be pursuaded by Mr. Crog-
han to collect a small present of goods for that purpose, which was
on Sunday morning to have been divided and sent to the three na-
tions, the Six Nations, Shawanese, and Dela wares; but Mr. Con-
nolly's frolic prevented it that day. Next morning, the Indians,
being some Six Nations, and some Delawares, were bn)ught down
to ]\Ir. Croghan's, and were shown the condolence, and actjuainted
that it was ordered for them by you, and that when their chiefs
arrived they would be spoken to, and the present delivered, and a
messenger was sent after the Shawanese to acquaint them likewise.
As the Indians themselves made a distinction betwixt us and our
neighbors, it may perhaps l)c a means of keeping ix?ace in our quiir-
ter at least. I hope your Ilcmor will not be offended at my taking
this upon myself. The value of the goods is but trifling, not ex-
ceeding thirty or forty pounds. I have inclosed a li.st of tliem, but
the j>erson from whom I got them neglected to affix the prices.
Whatever may l>e Mr. Croghan's real views, I am certain he is
hearty in pnjmising the general tranquillity of the country ; indeed,
he is indefatigable in endeavoring to make up tlie breaches, and
does, I believe, see his mistake in opposing the interests of your
Government; and I doubt not but a very little attention would
render him as serviceable as ever. Real friendship you must not ex-
pect, for, by his interest alone he is regulated, yet he may be useful,
316 The St. Clair Papers.
as by and by you will probably want to make another purchase. I
purjK)8ely gave him an opportunity of opening a correspondence
with me, which he embraced, and from what I can see, he would be
glad to be on better terms with your officers tlian he has been ; but
this is only conjecture.
With this, your Honor will receive an extract from Mr. McKee's
journal of all the transaction.^ with the Indians, from the beginning
of the troubles, as also another of Mr. Connollv's advertisements.'
' ft
I know not well what he means by it, but I believe his design is to
distress the Indian trade.
It is true what I mentioned about the boundary. Mr. Connolly
read me a jmrt of a letter from Lord Duumore on the subject. He
says the demands of the Pennsylvanians were so extravagant that
he could do nothing with them, but that he (Connolly) may settle
a line of jurisdiction with the magistnites of Westmoreland, ten
or twelve miles eastward of Pittsburgh, or a more convenient dis-
tance, and cautions him at the same time not to give just cause of
offense to the magistrates acting under the authority of this Province.
I know not how the magistnites were to settle lines.
I received your Honor's favor of 7th inst., and am happy to
inform you the jMinic is in some measure over. The ammunithm has
not yet come to hand, but a quantity arrived from Carlisle which
ea.<H?d the people^s minds a little, but the damage to the country by
the desertion of the jK'ople and the loss of the Spring crop is very
groat, and if any thing should hai)]KMi to interrupt the harvest we
must iiave an absolute famine. This I hope will not be the case.
Ijogan is return(*d with thirteen scaljjs and a prisoner, and says
he will now listen to the cliiefs.^
K^wu>llv"s advcrti.^Mnerit wms in tlioso words:
♦'\Vln're:t> tbr Sliawanc.oe have ]>('rpctraU'il several inurdcrg upon th« In-
liabiliints of llii> ('ouiitry wliiih hat* involved this pronn>iiii^ SettltMnent in
the mo-t oalainitniis distress; and whereas I have good reason to believe
that <MTtai!» imprudent people eoiitinue to carry on a eorrespondence with,
and >npply the sai<l Knenru'< witli dangerous Cumnioditios to the inflnito
prejtid (•«' of Hi-; Maje<ty's subji-ets. and exprepsly contrary to an Act t»f As-
peinblv pr«»hibitini^ such unwarrantable iiit<*rc«»urse: These arc therefore in
His Majc«.ty"s Name, strictly to require and c«»nimand all His Maje-^ty's
JSubji'.t-:, to talxe n(»ti<*e hen-of and to (b'port tliemselves as the law directs,
as th« v niav !»«? asstned that u contrary conduct will draw on th(MU tho
utmost severity tber<v)f.
"(Jiven under niv Hand at Fort Dunniore this 18th June, 1774.
John Co NOLLY."
2 It has been taken for granted that he did k> listen, and that he then
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 817
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Penn.
LiGOXiEK, Jane 26^i, 1774.
Sir: — I have the honor to transmit a memorial from the iuliabit-
ants of Pittsburgh to your Honor, with some remarks upon Mr.
Omolly's conduct in support of it, which came to my liands a few
minutes ago.* It is most certain, sir, they are most injuriously
burii?d the hatchet, havini; slain just as many of the "Long Knives" as the
Virginians killed of Mirigoes. But his rest was only temporary: he after-
ward penetrated a considerable distance into Virginia — he and his braver
killing; as they went. Up to the last of June, or to the time of the date of
the above letter, he had already taken sixteen 8cal}>s.
* The following are the Memorial and Remarks referred to by St. Clair:
[Memorial.]
I. piTTSBUon, June 25, 1774.
"To the Ilonorftble John Penn, Esq., Governor and joint Proprietor of tho
Province of Pennsylvania, etc.
**The memorial of the subscribers, in behalf of themselves and the re-
maining few inhabitants of Pittsburgh who have adhered to the Governor
of Pennsylvania, hunjbly sheweth: That your memorialists have suffered in
an unprecedented manner by the arbitrary proceedings of Doctor Conolly,
since the commencement of his tvrannical Government at Pittsburjjrh. The
principal facts we shall beg leave to lay before your Honor, as followeth: Soon
after the return of the magistrates of this place from Staunton jail in Vir-
ginia, Mr. Conolly lieing extremely enraged that Mr. Mackay should ac-
quaint Lord Dunmore with his tyrannical behavior, took all «)pportunities to
affront and use Mr. MacUay ill, so that in a few days after he ordered Mr.
Macka3''s outhouses to be pulled down, and the materials to be carried to his
garrison; and when Mr. Mackay complained of such oppressive measures,
he was threatened by Doctor Conolly to be sent in irons to Williamsburg.
"Mr. William Butler, (t»ne of the subscribers,) and an eminent trader at
this place, has been cruelly treated by Mr. Conolly, nay, was threatened to
be shot down, for daring to refuse carrying arms at Mr. Conoliy's militia
array, etc. That your memorialists are of opinion that Mr. Cont)lly has
taken all the pains in his power to foment the disturbance between us and
the Indians, for several reasons, particularly when a number of the traders
arrived here lately from the Shawanese towns, escorted by three Shawa-
nese chiefs, who were sent to the care of Colonel Croghan, till a handsome
present was made for them, by the traders for their fidelity, Doctor Conolly
ordered out forty-one of his militia to take them at all events, and to send
them to his guard house, which hellish plot being discovered, Mr. Butler, and
some other friends, conveyed the Indians and their presents over the river,
just as the guards surrounded Mr. Croghan 's house, for which Mr. Butler
has been severelv threatened.
"That a number of the subscribers, etc., have been very severely treated
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 319
Creek, firecl on them, and woimdocl one, and then ran off in the
most dastardly manner. What may Ik* the consequence GckI knowj*,
but it is well if the traders do not siificr; their horsifS and iJcltry
are not vet arrived.
**8<lly. A Ijirgt' bo'lyof AriiuMi muri brokoopoii Mr. .McKay's & Mr. Smitlia
Back-yard Gatrs «Sc KoM'iied th«' Villiaii Kielly, who was* swnrn rniis.tabK? for
'\Vei*tnu)reland County at that tliiM', and was con lined f*»r abiisinjj said Me-
Kii}' in bis own House; liv(! of tb('>»* nn*n prcsiMitcd tijoir Guns at Mr ]Mc-
Kny & Mr. iSniitb, also one of tbc Pnrty struck at Mr. McKay witlj bis
Gun and Lroko it intt» jucccs, wbilst anotb'T ] rocnted bis rifle tbrougb his
Parlour window, Swearinj; that be would ^boot down Mrs. McKay if she
did not inimodiatcly set <»j)en tlie doors of lier II<iu>e, upon which she fled,
liut WU8 lnirn(»diatelv a-^saulted bv oih» Aston (a Cai tain in sa'd C'onnoMv's
XppOHitmenl) with a drawn Sworil, who stabbed l:er in the Ann. Mr.
'^pcar was also Al>u-;ed & Scratched by sai<i .A^ton, at tin* same time.
'•■Ithlv. Said ('onn<»'lv, with an Armed force cd' twt) bundled men, sur-
oundpd th« C« urt Ilou-e, &«• , &c.
"5thly. He sent yEneas McKay, Devoroux Smitlj, & An<lrew McTarhine,
iii^ifttrates, under an Armed Guard to Sian town [Staunton] jail, in Vir-
lia, then proceede<l to sho«t dt»wn our Cattle, Sheep and Hogs, takeing by
•e (if yVrms any ]>art of our property In^ pleases, also Pressini; our Horses
' tiont applying for them or rendering any sntisfaetion to the .--ufrerers for
toini^.
iltlily. He pent an Armed (Juard to Town to Plunder the House of Mr.
ercux Smith, but was prevented by Mr. "William IJutler, at the llisquo
•lis life.
Tthly. lie, Connolly, with his whole >V»rce came tt> the House of Mr.
\ay & Broke open hi-s Gales, & Pulled down a Log Stalde «fc Sheep
-■'. tbreutcning to Pull down his Dwelling House if ho thought proper;
:iiii« again, acct»mpunied by one of his Officcrfl, to Mr. i^IcKays &
•d him in n Ijla>phemous, outrageous manner, threatening to send him
'US* t<» Virginia, next day.
:hly. He sent an .Aimed CJuard to Town, with a (ieneral Search AVar-
:■» search every House iii Town, without Exception, for the Kfleets of
that died the evening before in their F(»rt, that some of themselves had
■ I his Corj)!*!' off. In the Course of their Search tiiey Broke ()]>en a
>i a .Mans b-)U>e, that bears a Go(k1 Cbara( tiT liere, and took out sev-
liclos, and at the same time Insulted the owner,
■y. Ho sent a party who llobbed -Mr.Jnsejtb Spears's Carriers of On*
ad of Gun Powder about Six niiles from Town, which was sent bj
'•arfor the use of the Inhabitants of this Country, if necessity re
ihus Kobberv was conmiitted bv a Part v beaded bv the atforc^aii •
lio beat and Tnsolentlv abused the Pt'rson wh(» had said Powder in
when he Demanded a Receipt for the same.
■ ' are but a few of the manv Distresses we labour under, and with-
r-i'tion & Speedy IJedress, cannot long i-uj pk>rt ourselves under
!vcous Persecution & Tvranny.'*
318 The St. Clair Papers.
treated. The only piece of news from above, since my last, is,
that Mr. Conolly sent two parties down the river in pursuit of the
Shawunesc who escorted the traders, who. intercepted them at Beaver
by Mr. Conolly for our adherenco to the Pennsylvania Government, which,
A»r !»ri*vity sake, must be omitted.
**The j^remijiea considered, yniir memorialists most earnestly request your
Honor will fall upon some speedy method to relieve our distresses, and to
s<mkI us directions, as soon as possible, how to act on this very critical occa-
6i(*ii.
*' For a further explanation of our distresses we beg leave to refer your
Honor to the enclosed remarks, which are absolute facts.
".Eiicus Mackay, Frederick f'any, William Evans, Devereux Smith, Rob-
ert McC'ully, William Amberson, John Ormsby, George McCully, William
ilami'.toii, Uichard Butler, John Shannon, James Smith, William Butler,
Gabriel Walker, John Irwin, James (Vllara, John. Walker, Robert Elli-
ott, James Fowler, Benjamin Elliott, Richard Carson, Jt»seph Spear, Al-
exander W^ayue, Joseph Carrel, Andrew Robinson, Ralph Nailer, Stephen
Groves."
[R KM ARKS.]
u PiTTSBrRQH, June 25//*, 1774.
«*The Distress'd Inhabitants of this Place have just cause to Charge their
present Calamity & Dread of an Indian War, Intirely to the Tyrannical
and unprccedcnt Conduct of Doctor John Connolly, whoso de>ign, as we
conceive, is to Ixitti^r his alnost desperate Circumstances u])on the distrej^s
of the publick and the Ruin of our Fortunes, as will appear from the fol-
lowing Facts :
• 1st. On the 'Jotli day of January last, a number of disorderly persons as-
sembled tlHMn>elvcs here in Coiise<p«ence of his adverti^eInents, ^^as militia)
who, when dispersing, warit<>iily or nialiciiusiy fired upon some friendly In-
dians, in their Hutt> on the Indian Shore, wliich Conduct, together with So
uni«\j)e:ted an Ap, earance of so many People in .Arms at a lime, that they
exie't''d no Hostile Intention on our parts, greatly alarmed them, as a|>-
pcarr.l by Coniplaint nuuie by tin-ni at a Council with Alexander Mc [Kee],
Ksfj r. Indian Agent, and some of tlie Inhabitants of this Place, a few days
alter.
•*'Jn(lly. Michael Cresip[Cresap].in vindication of his own Conduct, alledges
that It was in ( "(»n>equenee of a Circular Letter from s>aid Connolly, directed
t() tlie Inhab.ta:it^ of tin; Ohio, that he murthered tin; Indians, and that in a
mar. inT iliut Savage Ferocity could ."carcj; (Mjual tV: in C*)ld Blood, with<»ut
th(! le i>t l*r'iV(M-!ition, ain«in.;>-t wijom waf som(» Delawarcs tl.at had been
empl.ivcd l»v .Mr. William Biitlor to Carrv (Joods ^ tend to the Relief of
his br.'tlicrs, wli.» wn> at that tinu- in the hidian Country, all of which prop-
erty tli"'y iiavf iici'M (Icprivi'd nf to a ConsidcTMhle amount; also, everv part
of >.ii<.l Conn'»l!y*."» ('(Midiu't to our friendly liidians. convinces us that ho
mi':ni> to force tluMii to a war, as lie both Rrl'usj's t<» prote< t cV: en<leavors to
m'lrdi'r tliose that, at the Hisqiie of their lives Came with (»ur Traders to
])"o^'ct them *S: t<) deliver a-suranccs to the publick, which can be produced
if re(piired.
Corrcspondencey Addresses^ Etc. 819
Creek, fired on them, and wounded one, and then ran off in the
most dastardly manner. What may Ix* the consequence G(k1 knows,
but it is well if the traders do not suffer; their horses and jK-ltry
are not vet arrived.
** Hdly. A largi' body of Armed men brokoopun Mr. McKay's & Mr. Smiths
Baek.yiird Gates & Rescued the Villian Kielly, who was Fworn cons-tabk* for
Westmoreland County at that time, and was c«>nllned ft>r abusing said Mc-
Kay in his own House; tivi; of those nien presente<l thoir Guns at Mr. Mc-
Kav & Mr. Smith, alsn one of the Pnrtv struck at Mr. McKav with his
(Jun and Lroko it into pieces, whilst another j re>ont«'d his rifle through his
Parlour window. Swearing that he would shoot d«»wn Mrs. McKay if she
did not immediately set ojn»n tl»c doors (»f Iier Ilousts uj^on which she fled,
but was Immediately assaulted bv one Aston (a Cai tain in sad Connollv's
Appointment) with a drawn Sw«)rd, wlio stabl>ed her in the Arm. Mr.
Sp<'ar was also Abused & Scratched by said Ast'»ii, at the same time.
'••Ithlv. Said ('onn<»llv, with an Armed force of two hundred men, sur-
rounded the ('« urt House, &c , &c.
**5thly. He sent ^Eneas McKay, Devcreux Smith, & Andrew McFarlane,
Magistrates, under an Armed Guard to Stan t«»wn [Staunton] jail, in Vir-
ginia, then pnx'cedr'd to shoot down our Cattle, Sheep and Hogs, takeing by
force of Ann** any part of our j>ropei-ty he pleases, also Pressi'ns^our Horses
without applying for them or rendering any satisfaction to the suffiTers for
so doimx.
"Othlv. He pent an Armed Guard to Town t<» Plunder the House of Mr.
Devereux Smith, but was prevented by 31 r. AVilliam IJuller, at the Kisque
of bis life.
"Tthly. He, Connolly, with Ins whole yorce came to the House of Mr,
McKay & Broke open his Gates, & Pull(?d dt»wn a Log Stable <5c Slieep
house, threuU'ning to Pull down his Dwelling House if be thought ])roper;
he cam(i again, acct»mpani«'d by one of his OflScers, to Mr. AIcKays &
abused him in a lUasjdiemous, outrageous manner, threatening to send him
in Iroi»s t<» Virginia, next day.
'•8thlv. He sent an Aimed Guard to Town, with a General Search AVar-
rant, to scarcli every House in Town, without Kxception, for the Kfl'ects of
a man that died the evening before in their F(»rt, that some of themselves had
Roblwd his C«»rpse (»ff. In the Course of their Search they Broke Open a
Chest in a .Mans h mse, that bears a Good Charaitt-r here, and took out sev-
eral Articles, and at the same time Insulted the owner.
"Othly. He sent a party who Piobbed Mr. Jose].h Spears's Carriers of On<
Horse load of (iun Powder about Six miles from Town, which was s«'nt bj
said Sp<'ar for the use of the Inhabitants of this Country, if necessity ro
quired; thus Robbery was committed by a Party headed by the art\»resai» •
Ast()n who beat and Insolently abused the Person who had said Powder in
Chartre, when he Demanded a I'ec**ipt for the same.
"These are but ii few of the many Distresses we labour under, and with-
out Protection & Speedy IJfdress, cannot long su] port ourselves under
such Greiveous Persecution & Tyranriy"
320 The St. Clair Papers.
Mr. McFarlanc has just arrived from Virginia, and reports that
four companies are on their march to Pittsburgh. I think he must
be mistaken, l)oth as their militia law is expired, and that it is not
an easy matter to conduct so large a body through an uninhabited
country, where no magazines are established. Any occurrences
worthy of your ni;tice shall be intimated by every opjwrtunity.
Governor Penn to Arthur St. Clair.
Philadelphia, June 28, 1774.
Sir : — The accounts which you have tmnsmitted of the temper of
the Indians, and the murdei^ they have already jierj^etratetl, are
truly alarming, and give every reascm to apprehend that we shall
not long be exempt from the calamities of a savage war. The de-
sertion of that country in consequtnce of the panic which has seized
the inhabitants, on this occasion, naist Ije attended with the most
mischievous effects, and prove ruinous to the immediate sufferers,
and distressing to the Province in general. Every measure, there-
fore, should be attempted to stop the progress of this evil, and to
induce those who have already gone off, to return to their habita-
tions; and, I must rely on you to exert all your prudence and ac-
tivity f )r this purpose. The steps which have already been taken
appear t ) me very proper, and I have no doubt, but that you will
continue your endeavours to restore the drooping spirits of the peo-
ple, and insj>ire them with a resolution to stand their ground, at
least till thev are satisfied of the intentions of the Indians towards
this Province. You mav assure them that Government sensibly
feels the distresses of their situation — that it will ha attentive to
their interests, and affird them every assistance and protection in
its power to give. With this disposition, I have issued writs for
convening the Assembly, on the 18th of next month; and shall
immediately on their meetinfr* lay this matter before them, and
have reason to expect that sucii measures will be adopted as may
effectually enable the Government to extend to them a relief, ade-
quate to its wishes, and tiieir wants. In the mean time I shall give
orders f )r such further suj)ply of ammunition to be sent up as will
be sufficient for the i)resent occasion.
I have written to Sir William Johnson, informing him of the in-
telligence we had received of these trausacti(ms, and requesting his
interposition with the Six Nations, to use their influence with the
Shawanese and Delaware?, to prevent further hostilities on their
Correspondence y AddresseSy Etc. 321
part, and to assure them of the sincere intentions of this Govern-
ment to continue their pacific disposition towards all our Indian
brethren. I have also written to Lord Dunmore, complaining of
Conoll/s outrageous and tyrannical behavior at Pittsburgh, and re-
presenting the dangerous tendency his military operations may have
to involve the Colonies in a general Indian War.
P. S. — My Commissioners who attended Lord Dunmore, could
not induce him to come into any reasonable temporary line of juris-
diction, and therefore things must remain in the disagreeable situa-
tion of interfering jurisdictions. In this unhappy situation I am
satisfied, you and the other magistrates will act a prudent part. It
is impossible in such a case to give particular directions. With re-
spect to the keeping up the rangers you have raised for the security
of the inhabitants, I shall recommend it to the Assembly to defray
the expense that shall accrue in that necessary measure ; and I can
not have the least doubt that they will approve of what has been
done on this occasion, as also the continuance of the same forces,
until their sentiments can be known.
R. L. Hooper to Arthur St. Clair.
lNodaie,Y
Dear Sir : — Yesterday I forwarded three letters for you by Mr.
Boss^ of Pittsburgh, and now I am in hopes of sending you the re-
solves of council last evening which was held in consequence of
your letters, etc. , by Doctor McKinney. I have hunted Mr. Tilgh-
man faithfully to day, but can not meet with him. I am now going
in search of him to get the Governor's letter for you ; but I will first
tell you that the Assembly is called to meet the 18th of next month,
and a considerable quantity of powder and lead is ordered to be sent
up immediately ; and this is all — except the full approbation of your
conduct — and it gave me great pleasure to hear one of the gentlemen
of the council express his sentiments of you on this occasion. I
think there does not remain a doubt but your measures will be adopted
by the Governor and Assembly, and your requests fully answered, but
'The letter, by referring to the time when the Assembly of Pennsylvania
was to meet, shows that it was written some time in Juno, 1774.
'Alexander Ross. He was, for a number of years, engaged largely in
trade with the Indians from Pittsburgh, in connection with Alexander
McKee. He was, on the 11th of January, 1774, commissioned a justice of
the peace of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, as previously indicated.
21
322 The St. Clair Papers.
the delaying time must be of very bad consequence to the country. I
intend to take up a certain Bond if I can, but as yet, I have Dot
had it in my power. I shall be ready on every occasion to serve you
and the inhabitants. You know I am diligent and active, and per-
haps you may have it in your power to turn the eyes of these peo-
ple on me. I have had frequaint conversation with Mr. Tilghman,
who is friendly.
I have just seen Doctor Smith who says an express is to be sent
off to you. I can not find the Secretary — he is attending the balL
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Penn.
LiGONiER, July 4th, 1 774.
Sir: — I have the honor to inclose the last piece of Indian
Intelligence, which came by Captain White Eyes a few days ago,
and am very happy tliat affairs have so peaceable an aspect,^ yet
I can not suppress my fears that it will soon be interrui)ted, as a
large body of Virginians are certainly in motion. Colonel Henry
Lewis is ordered to the mouth of Kcnhawa to build a fort there ;
and Major McDonald with about five hundred, is to march up Brad-
docks road and down to Wheeling to build another there ; and Cresap,
with throe others, are appointed to raise ranging companies. With
such officers as Cresap, no good can be expected, so that it is very
doubtful all attempts to preserve the tnmquillity of the country
will l>e fruitless.''
^ The intelligence brought by White Eyes was, in effect, that he was re-
turned from transacting the business which ho had been sent upon by his
brethren, the Knglish; and that he now had the satisfaction to tell them that
he had succeeded in his negotiations with all those tribes of the several nation$(
of Indians whom he had since seen and conferred with, upon the unhappy
disturbances which unfortunately had arisen in the Spring between the fool-
ish people of both parties, and that he had found all the nations fully dis-
posed to adhere to their ancient friendship and the advice of their \vise
men.
' In a proclamation issued by Lord Dunmoro, April 25, 1774, he recognized
that Pittsburgh and its dependencies were " in some danger of annoyance
from the Indians," and he ordered and required " the oflScers of the militia
in that district to embody a sufficient number of men to repel any insult
whatever," referring not only to the Indians, but to the Boundary Troubles
as well.
Karly in May, William Crawford, President of the Court of Westmore-
land County, under Pennsylvania appointment, having accepted a captain's
commission from Lord Dunmore, embodied, up the Monongahela and
Youghiogheny, one hundred men, and proceeded down to Chartiers' Creek to
CorrespoyidencCy AddresseSj Etc. 823
The men that have been raised here we have thought proper to
continue another month, as the harvest will, by that time, be over.
They have orders to assist and protect the people in the difierent
quarters where they are posted, and I hope by that means that it
will be secured.
The arms and ammunition are not yet arrived, but I hear they
will reach that place to-morrow or next day.
Last week Mr. Conolly issued an order to prevent any skins
being removed from Pittsburgh, till they paid duty as in Virginia.
There has been some appearance of the old seed of the Black
Boys, a number of the people had assembled to stop Mr. Somons's
goods, but I had got notice of it and sent a party to protect them,
and have issued warrants against them. Their ring-leader wiU cer-
tainly be taken this day.
William Smith to Akthur St. Clair.
•
Philadelphia, July 5ft, 1774
Sir: — ^The proceedings of Conolly are shocking and a high disgrace
to the Grovemment from which he pretends his authority, as well as
to this Government, for suffering such flagrant acts within its known
jurisdiction. No pains shall be spared you effectual and imme-
diate relief. When any thing falls in the way. Dr. McKenzie will
guard the people while they got their stock away. He then went down the
Ohio as far as Grave Creek lo watch the motions of the Indians, but, seeing
none, returned home with his command. St. Clair seems not to have been
advised of this, the first expedition down the Ohio, in " Lord Dunmore's
War."
It will be remembered that early in June, Conolly proposed to send a con-
siderable force down the river to build a stockade at Wheeling, and another
at Hockhocking (St. Clair to Governor Penn, June 16th, ante). Captain
William Crawford headed the force, which reached Wheeling without acci-
dent, and commenced the erection of a fort there. Meanwhile, Lord Dun-
more planned two expeditions: one to march down the Kanawha, under
Col. Andrew Lewis, to erect a fort at its mouth, and the other under Col.
Angus McDonald, to build one at Wheeling (which had already been an-
ticipated by Conolly ; and the work was actually begun by Crawford).
'*The Virginians, from their conduct, appear determined on a war. Col-
onel Lewis is supposed to be at the Canawes [mouth of the Great Kanawha]
with 1500 men and several parties have gone from this place to join him.
Major McDonald, Mr. Cresap and others, are expected here shortly, who, it is
said, are going down the river [Ohio] to build forts and station men at dif-
ferent places." — .^Eneaa Mnckay to Joseph Shippen, Jr^ from PitUhurgh,
July 8, 1774.
324 The St. aair Papers.
not be forgot. Something concerning your Fort Pitt afiairs will be
published from time to time, as we can produce intelligence.
James Wiijson * to Arthur St. Clair.
Carlisle, Jtdy 1th, 1774.
Dear Sir: — I was favored with your letter' by Mr. Anderson.
My connection with the county of Westmoreland, and the regard I
have for some valuable friends there, lay me, in my opinion, under
an indispensable obligation to do them every little service in my
power. The sentiments of the gentlemen who joined with me
in sending up the ammunition,' are, I believe, upon this subject, the
same. We only did our duty, therefore, upon that occasion. It
will always give me a very sensible pleasure to testify these senti-
ments ; and if any opportunity shall occur in which you think I
can be of the least use, I shall esteem it friendly in you to give nie
notice of it.
The Governor has summoned the Assembly to meet on the 18th
of this month. What measures that body will adopt in order to se-
cure and protect the frontiers of the Province, it is impossible to
foretell.*
In the interior parts of the Province the public attention is much
engrossed about the late conduct of the Parliament with regard to
America,* and the steps which the Colonies ought jointly to take to
maintain their liberties ; against which, to say the least of the mat-
ter, a very dangerous blow seems to be aimed. A general Congress
' Native of Scotland, lawyer of distinction, and afterwards signer of Dec-
laration of Independence, etc.
' This letter has not been found in the St. Clair Papers.
'Supplies sent to Westmoreland for use of the rangers raised by St.
Clair to protect the frontiers.
*When the Assembly met, Governor Penn communicated the facts set
forth in the foregoing correspondence, auked that an appropriation be made
to meet expenses incurred in arming the rangers, and that some method be
devised fur accommodating the Indian troubles. Appropriation made by
the Assembly, and the Governor advised to renew the peace with the In-
dians, and offer to act as a mediator between the Indians and Virginia. A
reward of one hundred pounds was offered for apprehending John Hinkson
and James Cooper for the murder of the friendly Indian, Joseph Wipey.
B Meetings to express sympathy with Boston were held in June at Lan-
caster, Chester, and other interior points.
CorrespondencCy Addresses^ Etc, 325
"itom. all the different Provinces will certainly be appointed. With
regard to the propriety of entering into a non-importation and non-
exportation agreement, the opinions of the people in this Province,
as well as the opinions of those in thp other Provinces, are not, as
far as I can learn, unanimous.
A meeting of deputies from the several coupties in this Province
is to be held at Philadelphia on the 15th inst., in order to concsrt
the preparatory steps to a general Congress.* Letters from the com-
mittee of the city and county of Philadelphia are, I presume, sent
up to you, informing you of this.
Please to offer my best compliments to Mrs. St. Clair.
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Penn.
Hanna's Town, Jidy 12, 1774.
Sir: — On Friday last I was honored with your letter of the 28th
idt., and I have now the satisfaction to acquaint you that the panic
seems entirely over, and that numbers of people are returning
daily.
It must be very grateful to every person concerned, as it is in a
very particular manner to me, that their endeavors on this occasion
has met with so full approbation from your Honor, and will most
certainly induce them to exert themselves on future ones. I had
yesterday an opportunity to acquaint them, as also a very respectable
body of people who were assembled here in consequence of a letter
from the Committee of Philadelphia, of your determination to af-
ford them every necessary assistance and protection. I read to them
that part of your Honor's letter, and they received it with great
satisfaction and thankfulness.
'The meeting on the 15th was attended by the distinguished citizens of
Pennsylvania: John Dickinson, Joseph Reed, Thomas Fitzsimmons, and
Thomas Miffiin attended from Philadelphia; James Wilson, Robert Magaw,
and "William Irvine from Cumberland. The last two sorvo4 as Colonels un-
der St. Clair during the war. James Wilson was a member of tho com-
mittee to prepare instructions to the delegates appointed to attend a general
Congress. The Assembly, on the 22d, voted that a Congress of Deputies
ought to be held "for obtaining redress of American grievances, ascertain-
ing American rights, upon the most solid constitutional principles, and for
establishing that union and harmony between Great Britain and tho Colo-
nies, which is indispensably necessary for the welfare and happiness of
both."
326 The St. Clair Papers.
I shall probably have occasion to write you again to-morrow, as I
had, yesterday, a letter from Mr. Croghan,* desiring a conference
on matters of great importance to the Province, which he would not
trust in writing. I believe, however, it is a proposal to open some
trading place ; that is, to form a town some where up the Alleghany,
as the trading people must leave Pittsburgh. Hinkston,' with
about eighteen men in arms, paid us a visit at court last week, and,
I am very sorry to say, got leave to go away again, though there
was a force sufficient to secure two such parties at the sherifi's
directions. I had got intelligence that they were to be there, and
expected to be joined by a party of Cresap's people, for which rea-
son the ranging party that were within reach had been drawn in,
but none of the Virginians appeared. It is said a commission has
been sent him from Virginia ; certain it is, he is enlisting men for
that service.
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Penn.
LiGONiER, July 17thy 1774.
Sir : — The business Mr. Croghan had to communicate was this :
That the Virginians are determined to put a stop to the Indian
trade with this Province, and that Messrs. Simons, Campbell, and
Conolly have obtained an exclusive privilege of carrying it on,
on the frontiers of Virginia. He recommends the laying out of a
town up the Alleghany at the Kittanniug, to which the traders
might retire, as they will certainly he obliged to abandon Pitts-
burgh, and from which the trade might be carried on to as much
advantage, as the distance from thence to Kuskuskies^ is much the
same as from Pittsburgh, and a very good road. He further re-
commends the building of a small stockade there, to afford them
protection in case of a war. The Indians will certainly quit Pitts-
burgh, PS it is at the risk of their lives they come there, to which I
was an eye-witness.
*See St. Clair's letter of the 17th, to Governor Penn, following.
*Thi8 is the same Hinkston that was charged with being one of the party
who murdered the Delaware, Joseph AVipey.
'A Delaware Indian town, of the Monsey tribe (»r clan, situated at the
Junction «)f tlie Shenango and Mahoning rivers, in what is now Lawrence
County, Pennsylvania. The phice was nearly north-west from the site of
the proposed new town at "the Kittanning," upon the Alleghany — thespot
where the present Kittanning, county seat of Armstrong County, is located.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 827
Croghan further says, that uuless somebody is sent up by the
Government to speak to the Indians very soon, that we shall see no
more of them, and that the Delawares, who are still friendly, will
be debauched.
I beg you to excuse this incoherent scrawl, as I am obliged to be
held up whilst I write it.
Hinkston has left the country.
John Conolly to Arthur St. Clair.
Fort Dunmore,* July 19(h, 1774,
Dear Sir : — A report, which has too generally prevailed in this
quarter, of the pacific disposition of the Indians, has unluckily lulled
the inhabitants into supineness and neglect, the effects of which have
been dismally experienced on the 13th inst., upon Dunkard Creek,
where six unfortunate people were murdered by a party of thirty-
five Indians. I have also received a letter from Colonel Lewis,
acquainting me that the Shawanese had attacked a body of men
near to his house, and had killed one and wounded another. What-
ever may be said of the cause urging the Indians to these steps will
be little to the advantage of these sufilering people ; some immediate
steps most undoubtedly ought to be pursued to check their insolent
impetuosity, or the country in general will be sacrificed to their re-
venge. The people of the frontiers want nothing but the counte-
nance of Government to execute every desirable purpose, and your
Province appearing backward at this critical juncture will most
indubitably be highly displeasing to all the western settlers. I am
determined no longer to be a dupe to their amicable professions, but,
on the contrary, shall pursue every measure to offend them ; whether
I may have the friendly assistance or not of the neighboring coun-
try will, I expect, depend much on your just representation of
matters.
Arthur St. Clair to John Conolly.
LiGONiER, July 22J, 1774,
Sir: — I received your favor of the 19th, yesterday, by Doctor
*The new name piven by Conolly to Fort Pitt. He not only had pos-
session of the fort, with a body of Virginia militia, as he termed them, but
had made con^idf^mMo rnpairs upon the f<»rtross.
828 The St. Clair Pampers.
McKenzie, and am extremely sorry for the misfortunes that have
happened upon Dunkard Creek.
It is very true, the assigning this or that cause for the inroads
which the Indians are frequently making will be of no manner of
advantage to the sufferers ; but I think the security into which the
people had fallen arose, not so much fi^m an idea of the pacific
disposition of the Indians, as that the great armed force sent down
the river would effectually cover them; in that expectation they
were certainly wrong ; it was an effect coidd never follow from such
a cause.
I agree with you, something ought to be done to prevent the dep-
redations the Indians may still make upon the inhabitants ; that is,
ample reparation ought to be made them for the injuries they have al-
ready sustained, and an honest oj)en intercourse established with them
for the future. This, I imagine, would be found a more cheap, easy,
and exi)editious manner of re-establishing the peace of this country
than any offensive measures whatsoever ; for, be assured, the rest of
the nations will not sit tamely by and see a people who have long
been aiming at taking the lead amongst themselves cut off, or even
much depressed, by the English.
The councils of this Province will, I hope, continue to be founded
in justi'^c, whether that may be dii<pleasiug to the western settlers
or not ; but you are certainly wrong to imagine my representations
have any influence in the matter. I sliall, however, represent mat-
ters as they occur to those in Government in the light they appear
to me, as I have done hitherto, and have uniformly declared that I
saw not the least probability of war, unless the Virginians forced it
on. The different maneuvers up and down and across the river
have now probably brought that event about ; who may see the end
of it God only knows.
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Penn.
LiGONiER, July 22(f, 1774.
Sir : — For some days by-past we had a flying report that some
people were killed upon Dunkard Creek, on the 15th instant, but
that a story of that kind should come so slowly through a country
exceedingly on the ahirin, induced me to give no cre<lit to it, and
to endeavor to prevent its gaining credit in the country. I con-
sidered it as raisedvon purpose to })revent the execution of Conolly's
orders to Cresap not to annoy the Indians, which I knew had been
CorrespondencCj Addresses, Etc. 829
given, but it was put beyond a doubt yesterday by letters from Mr.
Mounby, Mr. Mackay, and the inclosed deposition.^
Mr. Mackay writes me the friends of Pennsylvania are determined
to abandon Pittsburgh, and to erect a small stockade somewhere
lower down the road (I suppose about Turtle Creek,* where he has a
fine plantation), to secure their cattle and effects till they see further
what is to be done.
I had a letter from Conolly yesterday, in a style of familiarity I
should not have expected, but of itself a very extraordinary one ;
if you should think it worth your while to look over it, I have
inclosed it, and a copy of my answer.'
I am still sanguine enough to hope this Province will escape the
mischiefs of a war, as all the operations of the Indians are evidently
aimed at the Virginians, and seem designed to show them how
much they despise the notion of their carrying the war into their
own country. They have, however, a number of men at Wheeling,
and Conolly was to march this day to reinforce them. One of his
parties who had crossed to the Indian side fell in with the last of
our trader, peltry, escorted by some Delawares. They took the
trader and the Indians prisoners, and carried them to the mouth of
Beaver Creek, where their captain (Hogland) lay. He was exces-
sively enraged to see them alive, and they were kept all night in
that state of suspense that every moment would be the last ; in the
morning, however, they discharged them, on the trader's giving a
bond of five hundred pounds, to satisfy Captain Conolly that the
^ The following is tho doposition referred to :
**(Copy) July Uih, 1774.
** Personally appeared before me George Willson, a Justice of the peace,
John Pollock, David Shelvey and George Sbervor, and made oath on the
Holy Evangelist, that they were personally present in the Corn Field on
Dunkard Creek, where the late Murder on the 13th Instant happened, and
saw the corpse that was Buried, who ware sadly Massacred, andScalpted and
farther sayeth nt^t.
" Sworn to before G. Willson.
" N. B. — The above is incorrect, but I give it you as I got it, (that is,)
nine persons were working in a field, four was killed and sadly mangled. 3
escaped, the other two is missing. Cresaps is in Chace of them, but they
had a day's start of him."
' Turtle Creek flows from the north-east into the Monongahela, a short
distance beyond Braddock's field, in Alleghany County, east of Pittsburgh.
'See the two previous letters — Connolly to St. Clair, and the latter's re-
ply.
830 The St. Gair Papers.
Indians were Delawares. I took the trader's deposition on it when
last at Pittsburgh, which I also inclose.
I was very ill when I wrote last, of a bilious fever, but am hap-
pily recovering. I can not well recollect what I wrote, as it was
not copied, it being Sunday and my clerk abroad ; but unless mat-
ters are likely to be soon settled about Pittsburgh, it will be abso-
lutely necessary to erect a town at the Kittanning ; the trade must
else take its course by the lakes, which will carry it quite away
from this Province, and the communication with Philadelphia wiU
in time become very easy that way, and may now be done with very
little land carriage. There is an old trading path from thence to
Frank's Town,* on the Juniata, and another to the head of the West
Branch of Susquehanna.
I have distributed the arms all over the country in as equal pro-
portions as possible.
Captain Crawford, the President of our Court, seems to be the
most active Virginia officer in their service. He is now down the
river at the head of a number of men, which is his second expedi«
tion. I don't know how gentlemen account for these things to
themselves.*
^NEAS Mackay to Arthur St. Clair.
PirrsBURGii, J«7y 25, 1774.
Dear Sir: — Tlie last accounts brought in here from the Indian
country by Captain White Eyes I have transmitted to you yester-
day by express. I have there informed you that you should be fur-
nished with White Eyes's speech as soon as it could be procured
from Captain McKoe, from whom we have since obtained a copy,
which will be delivered to you by Richard Butler, who is kind
enough to go to Ligouier at the request of Messrs. Spear, Smith,
and myself, as well with these papers as consult you about other
matters that we are all equally interested in.' You know Mr. But-
^The site of an Indian village, in the present county of Huntingdon,
Pennsylvania.
* Reference is here made to William Crawford, at that time, as before
mentioned, President of the Court of Westmoreland County. He was, at
this date, busy in erecting a fort at Wheeling.
'See letter of St. Clair to Governor Penn, July 26, 1774, following.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 331
ler to be both a man of sense and a &,ithful Pennsylvanian ; there-
fore his reports are to be depended on. We are of opinion that
it is absolutely necessary that immediate application should be
made to Government in favor of the Delawares, that some steps
may be taken to reward the fidelity of that people, especially such
of them as will undertake to reconnoiter and guard the frontiers of
this Province, which they say they will do, from the hostile de-
signs of the Shawanese ; and as by that means they will be prevented
from following their own occupations, it would be no more than
right to supply their necessary wants, while they continue to de-
serve it so well at our hands.
There is nothing but the dread my family are in of the Indians
approaching this place in my absence that would prevent my going
in person to see you at this time, in your present dangerous in-
disposition. I hope to hear by the bearer on his return of your
getting the better of your disorder.
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Penn.
LiGONEER, Jvly 26, 1774.
Sir: — I have enclosed a letter I received last night from Mr.
Mackay, of Pittsburgh, together with the speeches and intelligence
brought by White Eyes, and a deposition respecting some Indians
having been seen in the country.* I thought them of consequence
*The "speeches and intelligence," referred to by St. Clair, were as fol-
lows :
I.
[WuiTK Eyks's SPliECn.]
Pittsburgh, July 23, 1774.
We are glad to hear from you the good speeches which you have now
spoken to us, and it also gave us great pleasure to hear from our brethren
of Pennsylvania, when they reminded us of that ancient friendship made
by our wise forefathers, which they have at this time handed to us, desiring
us to take fast hold of it.
Brethren, Sir William Johnson, with our uncles, the Five Nations, the
Wyandots, and all the several tribes of Chcrokecs, and Southern Indians,
have spoke to us of peace and friendship ; and you, our brethren of Vir-
ginia, have likewise desired us to be strong in holding fast the chain of
friendship; and we now tell you that we strictly observe to do it. And now,
brethren, I inform you that we will sit still here at our towns, Kakelellama-
332 The St. Clair Papers.
to be quickly communicated to you, and have forwarded them by
express, as it was quite uncertain when a private opportunity might
peking, Gnaddenhutten, and Tupickcong, upon the Muskingum, to hold fast
that chain of friendship between you and us. .
Brethren, you desired us that the road between us and you might be kept
clear and open, that the traders might pass and repass safe, which we aUo
have done, and we wish that it may continue further. We desire, therefore,
that you will not suffer your foolish young people to lie on the road to watch
and frighten our people, by pointing their guns at them when they come to
trade with you; for some of our people have been so scared that they came
home and alarmed our towns, as if the white people would kill all the In-
dians, whether they were friends or enemies. (A string of white wampum.)
Brethren of Virginia, wo now see you and the Shawaneso in grips with
each other, ready to strike; and we do not know what to say between you
further; you will be the best judges yourselves of what is to follow, as we
can do no more to reconcile you. But in the struggle between you, when
you have thrown down the Shawaneso, brethren, we desire you to look no
further, nor set down there, but return to the Kenhawa or south side of the
Ohio, the place that you then rise from; and when you have so concluded
this dispute, brethren, we will expect to hear from you, that we may
acquaint all other Nations of it, but hope that you will be strong, brethren,
and renew the ancient friendship with all other Nations, when you have
ended your di:«pnte with those people. (A string of black wampum.)
[Intolligonce received from Captain White Kyes:]
On my return to Newc(mier's Town with the speeches you charged me
with, I found that several parties of Shawaneso had set out to war against
you, contrary to their promise before to the Chiefs of the Delawarcs, who
desired me to return and inform you of it, as it would be to no purpose to
treat further with them upon friendly terms, but that they should be in-
formed of your speeches; thoy came forwarded by two of your people.
Brethren, we have now to acquaint you that the Shawaneso are all gone
from WagotomicH to Hssemble themselves at the Lower Towns; if there
was one yet remaining we would tell you. But as this is not the case, and
some of our people may be yet on their way up from amongst them, we
would have you consider and cross to them from the mouth of the Big Ken-
nawa, as our women and children may now be frightened when you come
near them, and the Shawaneso are all gone.
Brethren, one of the Shawaneso that has headed a party against you, has
sent us word that he was going to strike you, and when he had done it, he
would then blaze a road from the place he would do the mischief to New-
comer's Town, by which he \v<tuld see whether the peace was so strong be-
tween the whites and the Deluwares as they pretended. Keesnateta has
likewise sent us word that ho now saw his grandfathers, the Delawares, had
thrown them away, for which reason they wore now rising to go away,
though, he said, he was sure no other Nation had done it; and that it had
been an ancient custom with their Nation, that when they left any place in
CorrespondencBy Addresses^ Etc. 338
offer. All prospect of accommodation with the Shawanese and Vir-
ginians is certainly over for some time, but yet it does not appear
they have any hostile intentions against this Province. The en-
gaging the service of the Dela wares to protect our frontiers would
undoubtedly be good policy, if it did not cost too dear. I am afraid,
however, they will be very craving, but as they have offered it, it
should not be altogether overlooked. At the same time their friend-
ship should be secured on as easy terms as possible.
I doubt, with the utmost prudence that can be exerted, but these
Indian disturbances will occasion a very heavy expense to the
Province. The necessity of establishing some place of security for
the trade (if it is considered as advisable to carry it on at all), is in-
the manner they wore doing, whoever remained behind them, they always
turned about and struck them.
Brethren, the day we got into Newcomer's Town a party was discovered,
whose intentions were to come to Fort Pitt to put Colonel Croghan and
Alexander McKee, with Guyasutha, to death, and also waylay us, which we
passed; as by killing us, they say, no more news will be carried between the
white people and the Indians. I could inform you of a great deal more, but
these are the most material occurrences and facts, which you may depend
upon.
My brother is lately come from the Wabash Indians, who told him they
would exp^^ct to hear the truths of the accounts from that quarter on his re-
turn; and I havft sent a message by him to them, desiring them not to listen
to the Shawanese, who would only endeavor to draw them into troubles and
leave them by themselves, which had been tl)eir constant practice.
[Mr. Croghan addressed Captain White Eyes as his particular friend.]
Brother, I now speak to you as a friend to both parties, your Nation and
the English, and not by any particular authority, and I am convinced from
the speeches you have now delivered, that your Nation has the sincerest in-
tentions of preserving entire that friendship subsisting between you and us;
and I observe from your intelligence that the Shawanese are withdrawn
from one of their towns in your neighborhood, which is an evident proof
that they do not mean to be friends with you or us; therefore, brothers, I
would have you consider well whether you would not in the present cir-
cumstance think it prudent for some of your people to accompany ours when
they go to chastise the Shawanese, in order to enable them to make a proper
distinction between our friends and our enemies.
[Captain White Eyes' answer to Colonel Croghan:]
I am glad to hear you, and I will consider what you have said, but cannot
immediately return you an answer. I will send your message to our Chiefs at
Kaskaskia, and as soon as I have their sentiments and advice will speak to
you, which I expect in two days; in the meantime, you may be assured that
their sentiments will not deviate from that strict friendship subsisting
between us.
8S4 The St. Clair Papers.
creasing daily. A small parcel of goods which Mr. Spear has sent
to one of the Delaware towns has enraged the commandant at Pitta-
burgh to an exceeding degree, and he threatens '' the persons who
carried them shall be tried for their lives on their return." I men-
tioned the Kittanning; it is certainly a proper place, both on account
of some natural advantages of situation with regard to the interior
part of the country, and that its being in one of your manors, the
settlers would have an opportunity of procuring lots on easy terms ;
at the same time it would not be foreign to your interest. I find,
however, they — the traders at Pittsburgh — would wish to fix upon
some place nearer that town, for which I can see no reason; unless
they imagine the property they leave behind them will be more un-
der their eye, or which, I think more probable, Mr. Croghan directs
them to some spot where he has a right, and which may serve his
interest ; for though I believe he is zealous in the service of the
public at present, he will never lose sight of his own particular in-
terest. If they do remove, I will endeavor to persuade them to the
Kittanning at once ; but if they are unwilling, your ordering a town
to be laid out there, and a small stockade to be built, will effectually
determine them before they have gone far in another settlement.
Captain White Eyas and John Montaur are preparing a party to
join the Virginian militia if they cross the river to attack the lower
Shawancse ; and I have been solicited to order some of the rangers
to join them. This I have positively refused, and have sent orders
to the person intended, on no account whatever to attempt to pass
either of the'rivers. So far from joining the Virginians, who have
taken such pains to involve the country in war, it would, in my
idea, be not improper that the Shawauese should know this Gov-
ernment is at |)eaco with them, and will continue so, provided they
do not infringe it themselves, and that a boundary be given them,
the doing mischief on the east side of which would be considered a
declaration of war and bring all the weight of this Grovemment
ujwn them.
We begin to be impatient with respect to the rangers ; their second
month is just expiring, but whilst the country is in such commotion,
and the harvest not yet got in, they can not be dismissed. I have
not the least fears about the expense, and the Association may safely
depend on the generosity of the Government, more especially as
they have such assurances from your Honor of your approbation
of the measure, and your assistance towards relieving them from
the expense.
P. S. — If you should think proper to allow some presents to be
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 83&
made the Indians, I would be very glad the sum were specified. I
am very little acquainted with Indian affairs, and I do not trust Mr.
Croghan too much ; he has been used to make expenses, and would
not be very sparing where he thought he had the purse of a Province
to make free with, and too great parsimony might spoil all. I have
agreed with the express for six shillings a day. Mr. Croghan says
he expects some of the Six Nations to join White Eyes' party.
Governor Penn to Arthur St. Clair.
Philadelphia, 6^ Av^gust, 1774.
Sir: — I have received your letters of the 22d and 26th ulto.,
inclosing several depositions and letters relative to the present sit-
uation of affairs in Westmoreland.
As I find by all intelligence you have from time to time commu-
nicated to me, that the Shawanese, as well as the Delawares, have
discovered a strong aversion to entering into a war, either with
Virginia or this Province, and, on the contrary, have given repeated
proofe of their sincere disposition to live in peace and harmony with
both colonies, I have, with the advice of my council, thought it
expedient to send messages to those tribes, expressing the great
concern of this Government at the late unfortunate disturbances
between them and some of His Majesty's subjects belonging to the
Colony of Virginia, at the same time declaring our resolution to
preserve the treaties of peace and friendship existing between us
inviolate, and earnestly advising the Shawanese not to strike the
people of Virginia, as they, as well as the people of this Province
are all subjects of one and the same great King, who will be as
much offended at any injury committed against any one part of his
subjects as another, but to exert their best endeavors to settle the
differences that have arisen between the Virginians and them, and
to continue to live in friendship with all His Majesty's subjects.*
^Tbe messages to the Shawanese and Delawares were in these words:
[To THE Shawanese.]
" By the Honorable JOHN PENN^ Esquire^ Oovemor and Comrnander-in*
Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of Newcasilef Kent^ arid
Sussex, on Delaware.
** A Message to the Chiefs and Warriors of the Shawanese Indians.
Brethren : — When I had heard that you had taken care of our traders,
and had sent somo of your young men to conduct them home in safety, it
made my heart glad, because I was satisfied that you kept fast bold of the
336 The St. Clair Papers.
As to the proposal of engaging the services of the Delawares to
protect our frontiers, I would only just observe that it is a matter
chain of friendship which was made between our forefathers, and renewed by
us, and you may be assured that 1 shall always remember this instance of
your kindness, and that I shall hold fast that end of the chain which is in my
hands, so long as you hold yours. But, brethren, it gives me great concern,
and my heart is grieved to hear of the difference between you and our
brothers, the people of Virginia. If any of the wicked people of Virginia
have murdered any of your people, you should complain of it to the Gov-
ernor, and ho will have them punished. You should not, in such cases, take
revenge upon innocent people who have never hurt you. It is a very wicked
thing to kill innocent people because some of their countrymen have been
'.vicked and killed sumo of you.
"Erethren, if you continue to act in this manner, the people of Virginia
must do the same thing by ymi, and then there will be nothing but war be-
tv.'cen you. Consider, brethren, that the people of Virginia are like the
Icavei upon the trees, very numerous, and you are but a few, and although
you should kill ten of their people for one that they kill of yours, they will
at last wear you out and destroy you. They are able to send a great army
into your country, and destroy your towns, and your corn, and either kill
your wives and children or drive them away Besides, brethren, the Vir-
ginians, as wel as our people and you, are children of the Great King who
lives beyond the great water; and if his children fall out and go to war
among themselves, and some of thom are wicked, and will not make peace
with the others, he will be very angry, and punish tnose who are in fault.
Therefore, brethren, let me advise you to forget and to forgive what is past,
and to send to the Governor of Virginia, and offer t«» make peace.
"I shall write to the Governor of Virginia. iiimI iMid(*av(>r to persuade him
to join you in mending the chain of friendship b(»twoen you» which haa
been broken, and to make it so strong that it may nove'r be broken again ;
and I hope, brethren, if he be willing to do this good thing, that you will
be of the same mind, and then we shall all live together like friends and
brothers."
" Given under my hand and the lesser tjeal of the said Province, at Phila-
delphia, the sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord, 1774."
[To THE DeLAWAUES.]
*' By the Honorable JOHN PENN, Esquire^ Governor and Commander-ir^
Chief of ihe Province of Pennsylvania, and Counfirs of St uratfUc, Kent, and
SiMSCXj on Delaware.
"^ Me.ssaf/e 1o ihc Ch'^efn and Warriors of ihe Delaware Indians.
^''Brethren: — I was grieved at my heart when I heard that some of our
foolish young men had killed our brother, Joseph Wipey, and that the Vir-
ginians had killed some ot your people below Fort Pitt. I was fearful that
you would suffer your young men lo take revimi^e upon our innocent people,
but when 1 l)eaid I lint y.»u had a good heart, and viewed these things in
their proper light, and that you remembered the chain of friendship made
by our forefathers, and would not take revenge upon us for what the Vir-
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 337
in the present situation of Indian affairs too delicate for me to in-
termeddle in.
Since my last letter to you, I have considered of what you men-
tioned in a former letter, and now repeat, respecting the establish-
ment of some place of security for carrying on the Indian trade, as
you say that Pittsburgh will certaiuly be abandoned by all our
pet)ple ; and I am now to acquaint you that I approve of the meas-
ure of laying out a town in the i)roprietary manor of Kittanning,
to accommodate the traders and the other inhabitants who may
choose to reside there ; and, therefore, inclose you an order for that
purpose. But I can not, without the concurrence of the Assembly,
give any directions for erecting a stockade or any other work for
the security of the place which may incur an expense to the
Province.
With respect to the continuance of the two hundred rangers in
the service, it must altogether depend upon the intelligence we re-
ginians or some of our foolish young men had done, it gave mo the greatest
satisfaction, and niacio my mind easy.
" Brethren, you may depend that so long as you are inclined to peace and
friendship you shall find me in the same mind, for why should we fall out
and CO to murdering one another for what our foolish young people do, and
what neither of us approve of? In such cases, let us endeavor to find out
such foolish young me and punish them for their wickedness. I have oflTered
a reward of fifty pounds apiece for those two wicked people, who, it is said,
murdered Joseph Wipey, and, if they can be taken, I shall do every thing
in my power to have them punished.
•' I am very sorry to hear that your grandchildren, the Sbawanese, have
a difference with our brothers, the Virginians, and I wi&h 1 could make
them friends. I shall write to the Governor of Virginia, and recommend it
to him to endeavor to make peace with them; and I would advise you to
go to the Shawaneso, and persuade them to forget every thing that is past,
and make up all their diflTerences with the people of Virginia, so that we
may all live together in peace and quietness, like friends and brothers, for
what can they get by being a war with one another? whoever of them gets
the best, both will be very much hurt.
" Brethren, 1 live a great way from you, and have a great deal of busi-
ness to do with my people at home, otherwise I would go to see you, and
shake hands with you, and smoke a pipe with you under the tree of peace,
as we and our forefathers used to do. By all means, brethren, be strong,
and keep fast hold of '»ne end of the covenant chain, and you may be as-
sured I will keep fast hold of the other, and when any of our people are so
wicked as to kill any of yours, or do you any harm, let me know it. and I
will do every thing in my power to have justice done.
** Oiven under my hand and the lesser seal of the said province, at Phila-
delphia, the sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord 1774.
22
i..J^H
338 The St. Clair Papers.
ceive of the situation of our affairs with the Indians. At present I
think it very improper to discharge them ; and it is not improbable
that if the commotions between the Virginians and the Indians
should not soon be at an end, it may be necessary to keep them on
foot for the protection of our people till the meeting of the Assem-
bly on the 19th of September.
I herewith send to your care the messages above mentioned, with
a belt of wampum accompanying each, and desire you will engage
some trusty, intelligent person to carry them, and interpret the
messages to the Indians. A young man of the name of Elliot^ who
has been trading at the Shawanese toNvus, and lately came from
thence, has offered his services to carry any messages from Grovem-
ment to the Indians, and may probably be a very proper person to
employ on this occasion. lie was to leave this place yesterday, on his
return to Westmoreland. I should be glad to have his deposition
taken as to what he knows respecting the late disturbances between
the Virginians and the Indians, from the beginning of them.
You hint something in your last letter about making presents to
the Indians, but though such a step at some future convenient time
might be useful and proper, I am of opinion it would be very unad*
visable under the present circumstances.
Arthur St. Cl^vir to Governor Penn.
LiGONiER, August 8, 1774.
Sir: — I am just returned from Pittsburgh, where the Pipe,
Guyasutha, and the White Mingo are arrived, and bring favorable
accounts from the Indian Nations about the lakes. They say they
are all disposed to continue in friendsliip with the English; but the
Wyaudotts, the Hurons, and the Tawas have been waivering. The
Shawanese had applied to them, and it was so long that they heard
nothing from our ])eople, that they were inclined to assist them, but
those chiefs have persuaded them to sit still, and to send to the
Wabash Indians to be quiet likewise ; so that it is probable they
arrived amongst them in a favorable time.
Some deputies from the Six Nations are also arrived. They have
brought a very large belt to Mr. Croghan and Mr. McKee, inform-
ing them of the death of Sir William Johnson, and of their inten-
tions, notwithstanding, to adhere firmly to the treaties subsisting
betwixt the English and them, and to endeavor to retain the other
Nations in peace. They also have sent a belt by these deputies to
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 339
the Delawares, and to the Wabash Confederacy, recommending it to
them to remain in peace, and to inform them that though their
great friend is dead, the council-fire kindled by the English and
them continues to burn as bright as ever ; such is their mode of ex-
pression. From these circumstances it is to be hoped that the fracas
with the Shawanese will blow over without any very bad conse-
quences, though that depends upon others, which must be brought
about in a very little time, as five hundred of the Virginians
are marched to destroy Wakatomica, the town the Shawanese lately
abandoned.^
Should these meet with any check, which is not improbable, some
of the Western Nations will certainly join them ; but if they re-
turn without, and are satisfied with destroying that town, matters
may probably be made up; but I doubt they will not stop there, as
you see by the inclosed copy of a letter from Lord Dunmore to Mr.
ConoUy, which accidentally fell into my hands, that his Lordship
is very full of chastising them ; and the twenty-fifth of next month
is fixed for attacking the great Shawanese town on the Scioto. Your
Honor will please to take notice, that the hint I gave you before of
a design to interrupt the trade of this Province, however improbable
it might appear, was not without some foundation.
Mr. Hanna returned from Philadelphia yesterday, and gives an
account that the Assembly have provided for the men that were
raised for the defense of this county to the tenth instant, or longer
if necessary, and that he himself is appointed Senior Captain, ab
initio, Mr. Caret the next, and a number of others who have never
served an hour. The last part of his intelligence I gave no credit
'In July, 1774, Major Angus McDonald arrived over the mountains,
with a considerable force of Virginia militia, which, when embodied with
those already raised in the West, amounted to seven hundred men. He-
Donald went down to Wheeling, in order to take command, as there the
whole force rendezvoused. A stockade fort (Fort Fincastle) was erected
under the joint directions of Major McDonald and Captain William Craw-
ford.
On the twenty-sixth of July, about four hundred men, having left Wheel-
ing, arrived at the mouth of Fish Creek, on the east side of the Ohio, twenty-
four miles below. Hero they determined to move against the Shawanese
villages upon the Muskingum River, in what is now Muskingum county,
Ohio. The men were led by Major McDonald. Captain Crawford re-
mained at Fort Fincastle. The expedition proved successful. Wakatomica,
near what is now Dresden, Ohio, and other Shawanese towns, were destroyed,
and considerable plunder secured. This was the first effective blow struck
by Virginia troops in Lord Dunmore's War. — Butterfield' 8 Waahingion-
Crawford Letters^ p. 90.
340 The St, Clair Papers.
to, as he has no commission, nor any letters from any person about
Government ; and I do imagine, that as the command of them had
been originally committed to me, without giving me some intima-
tion of it. Nor is it reasonable that these men should take rank of
the officers who have, in former wars, faithfully, as I am told,
served this Government. Trifling as this affair Ls, it is likely to
create much uneasiness ; but I am certain your Honor will not al^
low those who have done no service, to rob those who have, of their
just reward ; besides, the Association is bound to pay those they
employed. I must own I have been remiss in not fully informing
your Honor who they were ; but I beg you to reflect upon the
severe sickness I have just passed through. Some of them, had
there been the least prospect of its being a permanent aflfUir, I
should not have recommended to you; but we were under the
necessity of employing such people as had influence amongst
the mob and could get the men ; and you will please to consider
that it is by such acts that they mu:?t still be managed, as there are
no laws by which obedience or discipline can be enforced. I have
told Mr. Hanna peremptorily, that I should retain the direction of
the troops till I had your orders to the contrary; and I fondly
hope this explanation will not disoblige you.
Notwithstanding what I said to Mr. Smith on the subject of join-
ing the Virginians, he thought proper to join a small party of Dela-
warcs and Mingoes, with eight men, in the character of volunteers,
and 2)roceeded to Wheeling. The Virginia detachment had marched
two days before they arrived ; and Captain Crawford, who com-
mands them (the President of our Court), told him it would fatigue
them too much to overtake the party, and that they had better re-
turn, which accordingly they did ; and by what I learn from him,
they seemed ecjually jealous both of him and the Indians.
I can recollect nothing else at present, and your Honor may prop-
ably think I might have spared a great part of what is already
written.
ARTium St. Clair to Governor Penn.
LrooxiER, Augud 2Tyih, 111 A,
Sir: — Agreeable to your request, I now enclose you the deposit
tions of some of the inhabitants of Pittsburgh, respecting the treat*
ment they have nu^t with from the Vir<rinian officers.^ Not anv of
^ From the 22d to tho *24th of August, inclusive, St. Clair took depositions
of s«'V(?n ro?iid«Mita of AVfstmoroland County — James Fowler, Samucsl St.
Correspondence J Addresses, Etc. 341
the persons who saw the Shawanese after they had been fired upon
on their return, are now there, so that I would not inquire into that
circumstance.
The message to the Delaware?, with the belt of wampum, I de-
livered to some of their j)rincipal chiefs, at Mr. Croghan^s, on Bun-
day last. Mr. Croghan and Mr. McKce were of opinion it w<juld,
perhaps, be taken ill by the Six Nations that they were not in-
cluded. I therefore took the liberty to add them in the addrass to
the message, and had a fair copy made out and given to them with
a belt. They were received seemingly with great satisfaction by
both, and they declared the fii-mest purposes of remaining in peace
themselves, and restoring it between the people of Virginia and the
Shawanese. At the same time I acquainted them with your orders
for erecting a trading j)lace at the Kittanning, for which they are
very thankful, as they are in want of many things already, and can
not come to Pittsburgh and purchase; and a number of them will
probably be there on Monday next, which is the time I have ap-
pointed for laying out tlie town. Mr. Sj)ear and Mr. Butler set out
this day with their goods and other effects.
Instead of sending the message to the Shawanese by a white man,
I procured the Pipe, a faithful and sensible Delaware chief, to go
and acquaint them with the message his nation had received from
your Honor ; that you had recommended it to them to speak to the
Shawanese not to strike the Virginians, and that he had seen a mes-
sage and belt for them, which, if they were well dis]K)sed, some of
their people might come and receive it at Appleby. I thought this
the most advisable way, as the jxiople at the fort are extremely jeal-
ous of any person going amongst them, and had threatened the
young man you mention to go with them ; and some proposals of
accommodation, I understand, have been made them by Mr. Con-
oily, to which, if they should not listen, they would be very apt to
allege it was owing to their hearing from this Province.
It is impossible to tell what will be the consequence of the Vir-
ginia operations. I still hope they will not be able to bring on a
war. I think Lord Dunmore must soon see the necessity of peace.
Clair, ^Eneas Mnckay, William Amhorson, John Shannon , Richard Butler,
and Ge<>rge A&ht.«n. Th«<y reccmnt tho annoyances they and others had
suffered because of Conolly's oppressive acts — stich as pressing of horses
from their owners, threatening to send various parties in irons to Virginia,
searching houses, assaults upon Pennsylvaniang, killing of sheep and hogs,
and talking other projxTty, <'nnfiii orient of citizens in Fort ])unniore, and
other outrages.
842 The St. Clair Papers.
The season is now far advanced, and the country is exhausted of
provisions. Should another body of men be drawn together, they
could not be supported ; and I believe their last exploit has not
given them much stomach for another. There was, indeed, such
confusion amongst the troops, and dissension amongst the officers,
that had they met with any number of the enemy, they must cer-
tainly have been cut off. Preparations, however, are making, and
his Lordship is hourly exi)ected. The 10th of August, which was
the time your Honor fixed for keeping uj) the rangers, w^as passed
before your letter reached me ; but as you were pleased to gay their
standing till the 19th of September would depend upon that intelli-
gence you might receive from Captain Thomson and myself, we
thought it best to continue them, being both of opinion that, at this
time, it was very necessary, it being, in some measure, the crisis of
the dispute with the Shawanese ; and that great numbers of people
are now gone down to bring back their families, which they removed
when they thought themselves in more immediate danger.
I am sorry I troubled your Honor with my foolL«h grievances. I
hope I shall always feel the spirit of the station I may be called to
act in ; but particular circumstances, I believe, had, in that case,
set it rather too much on edge. I will not often offend in the same
manner. I must do Mr. Caret the justice to say he is a very good
man, and would fill that or most other places with reputation.
An express arriveii a day or two ago from Detroit. Mr. Conolly
had ap[)lied to the commanding officer at that i)()st to stop the trade
with the Shawanese; but this he refuses, l)()th as they have no pros-
pect of war, and that for such a step he must have the orders of the
Couiniau<kT-in-Cliief at least. He says all the Indians in that coun-
try seem to be peaceably disp)sed. A letter by the same messenger,
from a niercliant at Detroit to a merrhant at Pittsburgh, gives a
quite contradii'tory account of matters ; says the Indians in that
country will all join the Shawanese ; that some of them have come
in from the frontiers of Virginia, and have brought scalps; that the
general rendezvous is appointed on the Wabash, and that they ex-
pect but a very sliort time to have any intercourse with them, and
desires him to write to Simons, at Lancaster, not to send the goods
he had ordered.
This moment 1 have heard from Pittsburgh that Mr. Spear's and
Mr. Butler's goods, that were going to Appleby, are seized by Mr.
Ccmolly's orders ; and that Mr. Butler, with three young men, his
assistants, are in confinement in the common guard-house ; and that a
woman who kept house for Mr. Butler has been drummed all around the
Correspondence^ AddresseSy Etc. 343
town, for the great crime of going to 8ee him in his distress. This
is a degree of tyranny and oppression beyond every thing that has
yet happened. I shall be able to give you a more circumstantial
account to-morrow, when Captain Thomson will be here, who, I un-
derstand, was present when it happened. It will oblige me to put
off my journey to Appleby, as all my stores, provisions, etc., were
with Mr. Butler's goods.
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Penn.
LiGONiER, Augu^ 27, 1774.
Sir : — The very extraordinary news from Fort Pitt, that I men-
tioned in my letter of the 25th, proves too true. Captain Thomson
was there, and informs me that Mr. Butler was not only made a
prisoner, but treated with every instance of insult and abuse. The
crime it seems they are charged with, is a suspicion of trad-
ing with the enemy Indians ; but for this there can not be the least
foundation, as their destination was no secret, and I had given pub-
lic notice, in writing, of the design of laying out a town up the
river, and the time when. It seems this is the act of Captain Aston,
Conolly being gone to meet Lord Dunmore ; but, in truth, it is the
act of Mr. Campbell, who Ls their Counsel-General, and whose plan
the removing any of the trade from Pittsburgh broke in upon.
Captain Thomson offered any security they pleased to demand, but
they would accept of none, and for some time would not permit any
of their acquaintance to visit them, and jostled Mr. Smith and Mr.
Mackay out of the fort in the most insulting manner imaginable.
The treatment these people have met with, for a length of time, has
been sufficient to break their spirit; but it has not succeeded, and
those at that place, who are friends of this Province, will meet me
at Appleby to-morrow, and are making up another cargo, that they
may have something to keep the Indians easy that will be there.
^NEAS Mackay to Arthur St. Clair.
Pittsburgh, 4/A Sept, 1774.
My Dear Sir : — On my return to this place, last Friday evening, I
received the disagreeable information of two friendly Delaware In-
dians being massacred on their way from this place to Mr. Cn)ghan'8,
in ox»l blood, by notorious villians that premeditated the matter be-
fore l:nn«l, and stationed ilionisrlves behind brush near the road-
344 The St. Clair Papers, .
side upon the occasion. It is impossible to discover the murderers at
this time, and much more so to bring them to condign punishment,
because they have all the force and power the place can aflTord in
their favor, but there is strong presum])tion for jwinting out the per.
petrators by name.
Happily for this place, about an hc)ur after the murder was com-
mitted, Lieut.-Colouol Angus McDonald,^ of Virginia, arrived here,
with a small party escortiug stores for the intended expedition
against the Sliawancsc, and was greatly exasperated at the authors
of that cruel murder, and exerted himself both as an honest man
and a man of experience and judgment, in order to repair the dam-
age done to our friendly Indians, and promised them further satis-
faction on my Lord DunmoKc*s arrival here, who is exi>ected hero in
a few days. Colonel McDonald has no other business to detain him
here at this time, but his own humane disposition to protect both
the friendly Indians and the unhappy inhabitants of this place fix)m
the insults of the militia, so long the oppressors of this quarter, now
imder the command of George Aston, and I may say Walter Gra-
ham, two of the greatest miscreants that ever drew the breath of
life, except the black gang that are influenced by their example
and counsel. Because Col. McDonald signifies his disapprobation
of tlieir hellish i)lots and c<mduct, ho is hourly insulted and threat-
ened by thorn, as well as we are, although tlioir superiors in every
degree. Matters must soon come to a crisis, for, notwithstanding
tlie re])eatod acts of tyranny we liave already exi^orienced, what we
now feel far sur}>ass{'s all.
We dare not venture to enjoy the comfort of peaceable rest or
sleep at night for fear of our houses being broke open about our
ears, and our persons maltreated. As to jwor Mr. Butler, he l<H)k3
upon himself in hourly danger of his life, although still confined in
their common guard-liousi^ and Col. ^McDonald is greatly distressed
that it is entirely out of his power to render him the least relief, for
thev will obev no orders from him, and tlie verv advertisements ho
put up on the gates of tlic fort, offering £50 reward to any person
that would discover the nnirderers of tlie Indians, although given
in charge by himself to the officers tlien upon guard, and also to
tlie sentries then upon duty, these advertisements wore pulled off
and destroyed in the same night.
I am greatly concerned to hear that Mrs. St. Clair is so indisposed.
I hope by this time she found relief, whieh, I ])niy God, may be the
^ Tt wom1<1 soom l)y tl)i> tluit ^IcDrtiiul*! had Ihmmi promoted from major to
ru'iil.;iiant-<-oloncl, after liis arrival in tlio Wt'st.
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 345
case. My Lord Dunmore is expected here about the middle of this
week, when I wish, from my heart, Mrs. St. Clair's state of health,
and other circumstances, would admit of your waiting on his Lord-
ship.
Arthur St. Clair to Joseph Shippen, Jr.
LiGONiER, October 17, 1774.
Sir: — Having accidentally met with my friend, Mr. MacKay, at
this place, I take the liberty to introduce him to you. lie has an
answer to the messages the Governor sent to the Shawanese and
Delawares not unfriendly, but which you will very well under-
stand.^ Mr. MacKiiy is one of the magistrates that was sent to
Virginia. He is a warm friend to this Government, and has some
idea of his own importance. I wish you would please to introduce
him to the Governor, and let him tell his story. I need not tell
you how far a little attention will go with people of a certain char-
acter; but this you may depend on, he is an upright, honest man.
Excuse my mentioning it, but these gentlejnen's expenses on that
Virginia trip should certainly be paid them. I know, however, he
will not mention it, nor would he forgive me if he knew that I had
done it. I don't know how it is, but I am very apt to get into mat-
ters I have no sort of business with, and which, indeed, does not
become me.
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Pknn.
Haxxa's Town, November 2, 1774.
Dear Sir: — A hasty opportunity just offers whilst we are in an
adjourned court, and as the ^ktsoii is returning, I will beg the favor
that you will send us the last taxation and insolvent acts, neither
of which wo have, and have occAsion for at this present juncture,
and our board can not do business without the taxation act.
We have no news of Lord Dunmore that can \yo dejxinded on,
since his departure from Hockhocking for the Shawanese town ; but
a report prevails that Colonel Lewis has been attacked at the mouth
of the Kenawha, and had one hundred and twenty men killed and
wounded, notwithstanding which he got the better of the Indians.'
*Tho answer hero mentioned hu.s not b(?cn found.
*Lord Dunmore left 'Williamsburg, Virginiu, July 10. 1774, for the fron-
tiers, reaching Frodericksburg on the fifteenth, and Winchester some days
after. Here he remained some time, to get jn order as many men as possi-
346 The St. Oair Papers.
I hope I shall soon be able to send you some authentic intelligence
of the operations ot the Virginia troops, and request you will ex-
ble for service against tho savages. Such as were raised in the counties of
Frederick^ Berkeley, and Dun more, were put under command of Adam
Stephen as Colonel. About the end of August, they marclied for Pittsburgh,
accompanied by his Lordship. In September, while Dunmore was in the
last mentioned place, he succeeded in getting together a few individuals of
the different nations of Indians living beyond the Ohio River, to bold a
treaty with them. They promised to meet him at the mouth of the Hock-
hocking River to make peace. Captain William Crawford had returned
home from building the fort at Wheeling, and having received a Major's
commission, again moved down the Ohio, this time at the head of five hun-
dred men. He marched by land, while Lord Dunmore, with seven hundred
men, floated down the river. Tho army reached Wheeling, September
SOth, and Crawford was dispatched with his detachment of five hundred to
erect a stockade at the mouth of tho Hockhocking — Dunmore arriving with
the residue of the army in time to take part in its construction. Mean-
while, Colonel Lewis, with the southern division of the army, was moving
down tho Great Kanawha. It hud been determined by his Lordship to have
that oflicer, on his arrival upon the Ohio, move up stream and join bim at
the mouth of the Hockhocking. The savages who, at Fort Pitt, promised to
meet Dunmore down the Ohio, with additional members of their respective
tribes, failed to arrive. Only two chiefs niudo their appearance, and both
these were Delawares. But that nation, it was well understood, was not
hostile; so no treaty could bo lundt; witli the enemy.
At this time, Dunmore was ignorant as to whether Lewis had reach«*d tho
Ohio or not, a messa;;e sent by him having arrived at the mouth of tho
Great Kanawha in advance of that officer. Another express was thereupon
dispatched, which, on the eighth of October, found him at Point Pleasant
(the mouth of the Great Kanawha), where he arrived two days previous.
But it was impossible for him to move up the Ohio to meet Dunmore, on ac-
count of the non-arrival of supplies and ammunition, and of a portion of
his troops. Mt-an while, scouts had been sent to Dunmore by him, who re-
turned 0:1 tli<^ thirteenth, with an order from his Lordship to march directly
toward the Shawanoso towns on the Scioto, and join him at a certain point
on the way. Governor Dunmore now put his division in motion for the
same destination. On his way to tho Indian villages, ho was overtaken by
a couri(*r from Lewis. a»*qiiainting him with tlie hard-fought battle of the
tenth of October, at Point Pleasant, whore his army contended all day long
with a largo fono of Shawanejse and othrr savages, only to claim the victory
at niirhtfail, afl^r a sevcro l(»>s in killed and wounded. On the seventeenth,
Lewis cr(»ssed tho Ohio, and took up h':> Lne of march f(»r the Scioto, to join
Dunmore.
His Lordship was met, before ho reached iho Indian villaijes, with a depu-
tation from the ent'niy, anxious f(.>r an accommodation; for a peace 1 ad al-
ready been conquered by the Virginians, at a .«:acrifice of many valuable
lives, in the battle at Point Plea-ant. So tho Governor found little difficulty
in arranccing for a treaty. But the arrival of Lewis and his gallant troops.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 347
cuse this scrawl, which I am obUged to make, surrounded by a
number of not the best bred men you ever saw, one of whom is
peeping over my shoulder.
The proclamation has done some good already.^
Arthur St. Clair to Governor Penx.
LiGONiER, December 4ih, 1774.
Sir : — ^The war betwixt the Indians and Virginians is at last over.
I promised myself the pleasure of giving your Honor the earliest
account of its issue, but I have not yet been able to get at a true .
state of the Treaty of Peace ; a peace, however, is certainly made
with the Shawanese, one condition of which is the return of all
property and prisoners taken from the white people, and for the
performance of it they have given six hostages.' The Mingoes that
live upon Scioto did not appear to treat, and a party was sent to
destroy their towns, which was effected, and there are twelve of them
fresh from the red field of conflict, breathing revenge against the Bavages,
was an element difficult to control. However, no order of Dunmore was
intentionally disobeyed by Lewis, who was commanded to return to Point
Pleasant. A peace was negotiated by Dunmore with the Shawanese,
which put an end to the war. — BuUerfielcP a Washington-Crawford Letters^
p. 96-99:
*This was dated October 12, 1774, and was intended to counteract the ef-
fect of one issued by Lord Dunmore, at Pittsburgh, September 17th. (Seo
letter from St. Clair to Penn, December 4, 1774, post.) It required all per-
sons west of the Laurel llill to retain the settlements made under the Pro-
vince of Pennsylvania, and to pay due obedience to the laws of that Gov-
ernment; also, all magistrates and other officers were to proceed as usual in
the administration of justice, etc.
* The treaty wus entered into at what was called "Camp Charlotte," in
what is now Pickaway county, Ohio, whither Lord Dunmore had marched
bis army from the mouth of the Hockhocking. The Shawanese villages
were in the immediate vicinity. The terms of the agreement were these:
The Shawanese were to give up all the prisoners in their possession ever
taken by them in that and previous wars with the white people; atso. all
negroes and all the horses stolen or taken by them since the war of 1763.
No Indian, for the future, was to hunt on the east side of the Ohio, nor any
white man on the west side, as it was acknowledged that it had been the
cause of disturbances. As a guarantee that the Shawanese would perform
their part of the agreement, they gave up four of their chief men to be kept
as hostages, who were to be relieved yearly, or as they might choose.
848 The St. Qair Papers.
now prisoners in Fort Pitt.^ It is probable, from these circumstances,
we shall have no more trouble with them, and things have come to
*The Mingoes did not like the terms agreed upon between Lord Dunmore
and the Shuwunese, though their chief, Logan, sent in his acquiescence in
his world-renowned speoch. But his clan determined to run away, and thus
avoid giving their assent to the ai^reement. What happened them is best
related by one who took part in pursuing them:
*'The 8hawanese have complied with the terms [of the treaty], but the
Mingoes did not like the conditions, and had a mind to deceive us; but Lord
Dunmore discovered their intentions, which were to slip off while we were
settling matters with the Shawanese. The Mimioes intended to go to the
lakes [Lake Erie], and take their prisoners with them and thoir horses which
they had :jtolen.
"Lord Dunmore ordered myself, with two hundred and forty men, to set
out in the night. Wo were to march to a town about forty miles distant
from our camp, up the Scioto, where we understood the whole of the Min-
goes were to rendezvous upon the following day, in order to pursue their
journey. . . .
"Because of the number of Indians in our camp, we marched out of it,
under pretense of going to Ilockhocking [where Fort Gower had been
erected] for more provisions. Few knew of our setting off anyhow, and
none know where wo were going to until the next day. Our march was
])errorinod with as much speed as possible. We arrived at a town called the
Salt- Lick Town [within tlio proent limits «>f Franklin county, Ohio], the
ensuing niglit. ami at (iaybreak w(? gutarouml it witii one-half our force, and
the remainder were si-nl to a small villatre half a mile distant. Untortu-
natelv. one <»f our men was di>cov<'red hv an Indian, who lav out from the
town some distance i)y a log, which the man was creeping up to. This
obliged the man lo kill tiie Indian. This happened before daylight, which
did us much damage, as the chi(»f part of the Indians made tlieir esca[>e in
tlie dark; bi'.t we got fourteen })ri<()ner<i, and killed .six ot the oncmiy. wound-
ing several more. We got all their baggai^e and horses, ten ot tln'ir guns,
and two white j^risoners. The plunder >old lor lwi» hundred pounds sterling,
besides what was rctunu'd to a .Molniwk Iiidian that was there. The whole
of the .Mingoes were readv to >XiiV{. and were t«) have set ( ut the morninjr
we attacked them. Lord Dunmore \\n> eleven ])ri-oners and has returneti
the ri'St to thr nation. The resi<hn? art" to b«! return«'d upon compliance with
his Lordship > demands.'" — Major \\ iUimti Cravftjrd to WashitujinUy in the
*' W(is}ihi/)fnn-('i'<nrf<,r(f fj'ffr/'s." ]>. ')4-^)^K
The destruction of the Salt-Lick 'I'own. by Major Crawford, was the only-
actual li^htini^ done by that ])art of the army which was under tiie com-
mand of Lord Dunmore in ]ior<on. It was the last lighting done by Craw-
f«»rd until the Ktjvolutionary War came on. in which he to<»k an active partf
but. in leading a force from \V«'>tern Pennsylvania and North-western Vir-
ginia, in 1782. aijain-t th«' hostile Wvandots upon the vSaridusky river, he
was taken |»risoner and tortured to death by the Dela wares, within the
present limits of Wyaiul't eoimty. Ohio. — ('rairfnyff s Cnmpaifjn Afjtiittsf
JSatK/usk)/. IJy C. W. Buttertield. Cincinnati: Kobert Clarke «& Co., 1873.
Correspondence J Addresses, Etc. 349
a much better eud than there was any reason to have expected.
But our troubles here are not yet over. Tlie magistrates apixunted
bv Lord Dunmoro, in this country, seem determined to enforce tlie
jurisdiction of Virginia, and have begun with arresting one of your
Honor's officers.
The 12th of November, Mr. Conolly sent a warrant for Mr. Scott
to appear before him, or the next justice, to answer for a numl)er
of offenses committed by him under a pretended authority from
Pennsylvania. The warrant Mr. Scott did not choose to pay any
regard to, and the same evening a number of armed men came to
his house to take him by force to Fort Burd.^ There he found Lord
Dunmore, Mr. Camplxill, and Mr. Penticost, ready to sit in judg-
ment upon hhn. Much passed amongst them, but the event was
that he was obliged to enter into recognizance, with two sui-eties,
to appear at the next court, to be held at Pittsburgh, for the county
of Augusta,' on the 20th day of December, if the court should
happen to be held there that day, or at any further day, when the
court should be held there, to answer for having acted as a magis-
trate of Pennsylvania, contrary to Lord Dunmore's proclamation,^ or
^Forl Buni, it will be remembered, was at Redstone, now Brownsville,
Pen nsv Ivan in.
2 Lord Dunmore's proclamation was, in effect, that the rapid settlement
made to the westward of the Alleghany Mountains by His Majesty's sub-
jects within the course of a few yours had become an object of real concern
to His Majesty's interests in that quarter; that the Province of Pennsyl-
vania had unduly laid claim to a very valuable and extensive quantity of
His Majesty's territory, and the executive part of that Government, in con-
sequence thereof, had most arbitrarily and unwarrantably proceeded to abuse
the laudable adventures in that part of His Majesty's dominions, by many
oppressive and illegal measures in discharging of their imaginary authority,
and that the ancient claim laid to that country by the Colony of Virginia,
founded in reason upon pre-occupying, and the general acquiescence of all
persons, together with the instructions he had lately received from His Maj-
esty's servants, ordering him to take that country under his administration;
and as the evident injustice manifestly offered to His Majesty, by the immod-
erate strides taken by the Proprietors of Pennsylvania, in prosecution of the
wild claim to that country, demanded an immediate remedy, ho did thereby,
in His Majesty's name, require and command all of His Majesty's subjects
west of the Laurel Hill to pay a due respect to his said proclamation, thereby
strictly prohibiting the execution of any act of authority on behalf of the
Province of Pennsylvania, at their peril, in that country. A counter proc-
lamation was issued by Governor Penn, October 12, 1774. (Soo the previous
letter— St. Clair to Penn, November 2, 1774.)
850 Tlie St aair Papers.
be committed to jail. He chose the recognizance, the circumstanoes
of his family and health rendering the other very inconvenient.
Thero is no doubt that the recognizance is in itself a mere nul-
lity, but, after what has been done already, it is hard to say what
may not be attempted, and it is very certain the people Lord
Dunmore has clothed with authority pay little regard to the rules
of law or the dictates of reason. It would be exceedingly satis-
factory if your Honor would please to give us directions for our
ci)n<luot, and this case of Mr. Scott requires it particularly. I have
wrote to Mr. Wilson,^ of Carlisle, for his advice, fearing it would
lie impossible to know your mind in proper time, and for the nec-
essary legal steps. I believe he may be depended on, but it is very
doubtful if his answer can arrive before the time they have appointed
for their court ; at any rate, we must endeavor to prevent a trial
until you can have an opportunity of writing, if it should be by re-
moving the indictment to Williamsburgh.
I account it a fortunate circumstance that they began with Mr.
Scott, who, with a great deal of firmness, possesses a good share of
natural understanding. In the course of an examination, which
continued near two hours, he told Lord Dunmore that he had only
one short answer to all his questions, which might save his Lordship
a good deal of trouble, ** that he acted under commission from your
Honor and in olxjdience to your proclamation." His Lordship was
pleased to reply, that you had no right to give any such commission
{)T authority to issue such proclamation. Mr. Scott told him that
was a matter of which he was not a proper judge, and would abide
by the consequences.
I am sorry to be obliged to give your Honor so much trouble on
so very disagreeable a subject, but I hope 'the time is not far distant
when it will he put to an end.
Arthur St. Clair to Go\t:rnor Pexn.
Hannastown, Dec, ISth, 1774.
Sir: — Being this far on my way to Pittsburgh, I found a consta-
ble from Virginia here who had made two men prisoners by virtue
of a warrant from Major Small man. The offense they had been
guilty of, it seems, was assisting the constable in executing a judi-
1 James Wilson, lawyer, and intimate friend of St. Clair's. In a letter
awUj he is referred to as having made an argument in behalf of tbo claims
of Pennsylvania.
Correspondence J Addresses^ Etc. 351
cial warrant. Mr. Hanna had committed the constable, which I
could not help approving of; but as there is some danger of his
being rescued by force, I have advised the sending him to Bedford,
or, at least, the sheriff should remove him to some other place pri-
vately.
The Court, it is said, will certainly be held at Pittsburgh on the
20th. I am personally threatened, but I promised Mr. Scott to be
there at that time, to give him some countenance, at least, if I can
not give him assistance at his trial. I had the honor to give you
an account of his arrest a short time ago.*
Your Honor will judge from these circumstances what a shocking
situation we are in; to add to the distress of which, the militia are
plundering the people within the neighborhood of Pittsburgh of the
very subsistence for their families.
I met with this opportunity of writing accidentally, and would
not let it slip, as I thought it of consequence that you should be
early acquainted with what is passing.
James Cavet to Arthur St. Clair and Others.*
PirrsBURGH, May 1»S, 1775.
OenUemen : — I am sorry that it is so much in my power to doubt
the Governor's attention to this unhappy country. We have not
*In his previous letter of December 4, 1774.
' The time between the date of this letter and the previous one was largely
taken up in the Western Country with stirring events, caused by the con-
flict of jurisdiction between Pennsylvania and Virginia concerning which
so much has already been given. The proceedings ot the Pennsylvania
Provincial Council for one day, will give an idea of the 'troubles that beset
the trans- Alleghany region during the winter of 1774-75:
" At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Wednesday, 25th January, 1775,
present, the Honorable John Pknn, Esq., Governor; William Logan, An-
<lrew Allen, Benjamin Chew, Edward Shippen, Junior, and James Tilgh-
nuui. Esquires.
••The Governor laid before the Board two papers delivered to him by
Captain St. Clair, which were read, and are as follows, viz:
• \V^esimorela?id Ckmnty, ss:
** Before us, Robert llunna and Arthur St. Clair, Esqs., two of His Maj-
esty's Justices for Westmoreland county, personally appeared Samuel
Whitesill, keeper of the jai • of the said county, and, being duly sworn,
according to law, deposeth and saith, that, on this instant, 24th of Decem-
ber, a number of armed men came to the jail of said county, and ordered
him to open the prison doors, and turn out a certain William Thomas then
352 The St. Clair PajKrs.
had, since our confinement, the least account from him, and I think
it is beyond doubt he got our packet. Our express is returned, and
he says he gave the letters t^) Doctor Plunket, at Sus<|uehannah,
who would certainly send them. Our situation, and that of the
well-afioctfd inhabitants of this place, is become almost intolerable;
it is impj^sible for any person to conceive the cruel mode of proceed-
ings at this place, unli^ss those who are unhappy to be eye-witnesses
thereof. Mr. Smith, in particular, wiU, (if not by some means pre-
vented), in a short time l>e absolutely ruined. Mr. Hanna and
myself will, at this court, l)e confined in the guard-room of Fort
Dunmore, if we don't give bail, and God knows whether it will
in his custody on sfundry cxocutiinis; that hr> bolieves a oertain William
Christy and Sinion Girty, who seomed to be officers, from their dross, were
at the head of their party. That hf, this deponent, refused to deliver his
prisoner, or open the door where ho was confined; that they then talked of
throwing down the house, and stripping off the roof, on which he (this do-
ponent) being afraid of ill consequences, both to his person and property,
did open the door to allow the prisoner to speak to the party, and one of
them rushed in, seized him, and drag*jed him out, and also turned out a cer-
tain William Dawson, who was likewise in his custody on execution; and
and that it was Conolly himself who laid hands on Thomas and dragged
him out; and further suith not. Samuel Whitesill.
"Sworn and subscribed, December 24, 1774, before us.
•' KOHKRT Hann'a,
" Aktuur St. Clair."
" Whereas, I am well informed that certain persons, by written instruc-
tions, directed to different people through this country, under the denomina-
tion of collectors, are apparently authorized to break open doors, cupboards,
etc., and to commit sundry acts of violence, in order to extort money from
the inhabitants, undrr the appellation of taxes; these are therefore U> ac-
quaint all His Maj(i-ty's subjects, that, as there can be no authority legally
vest'-d in any persons, for such acts, at this juncture, tliat such attempts to
abuse public liberty are unwarrantable, and that all piMsons have an un-
doubted natural, as well as lawful right to repel such violence, and all His
Majesty's subjects are hereby required to apprehend any person whatever,
who may attempt the seizure of their effects, in consequence of such imag-
inary authority, to be dealt with as the law directs.
"Given under niy hand at Fort Dunmore, this, 30th day of December
1774. JoHX Conolly."
" Captain St. Clair, appearing at th«' Board, and representing that Wil-
liam Crawford, Esquire, President t»f tln' Court of Westmoreland county,
hath lately j«»ined with \\w Ciovi'rnment of Virginia in opposing the juris-
diction oi Pennsylvania in that county, tiio Board advised the Governor to
supersede him in his oflSce as justice (tf the peace and common pleas. A
supersedeas was accordingly ordered to be issued.'
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 858
be in our power so to do, for we are informed by some of our
friends that none other will be acceptable but those who will come
into open court and swear they are worth whatever sum is in the
recognizance, and no doubt it will be an enormous sum. Mr. Smith
was this day taken with a writ of one hundred thousand pounds
damages. But I need not descend into particulars ; every part of
their conduct appears that they not only want the jurisdiction of
this quarter, but also to rob every man of his property.
And, gentlemen, it is by your friends here thought advisable that
the sheriff, with a party of fifty men, or thereabouts, should come
up and take us who arc in confinement, and also as many of these
rascals as possible, as there will be no strength to oppose you, there
being but eighteen men in Fort. It is surprising what a pusillani-
mous temper must prevail amongst the people in general to suffer
the peace and welfare of a whole country to be destroyed by such a
handful of villains. But let the people be called upon by the
sheriff, and certainly they will not refuse to come. If such a step
be thought l)est, it ought to be managed with secrecy and dis])atch.
Pray send off the express by Tuesday night to us with advice, for
if we are not taken off we must give bail, if it can be had, and the
thoughts of so doing is no small mortification after hanging out so
long. I have no time to say any more, but acknowledge myself
your humble servant
P. S. I must beg your pardon and patience also, for writing so
long an epistle, but I had almost forgot to acknowledge the receipt
of your flavor of the 9th, and also to inform you that Mr. Scott is
bound by the sheriff to appear here next court, and I suppose will
share the same fate of Hanna and myself.
Akthur St. Clair to Joseph Shippen, Jr.
LiGoNiER, May 18, 1775.
Dear Sir : — I yesterday received the enclosed letter from Mr.
Cavet, with the contents of which I request you will make the Grov-
emor acquainted.^ You see Hanna and he are very unea^^y, which
is really not to be wondered at, as they have been now upwards of
three months in confinement, for paying obedience to his Honor's
proclamation, and have not had a single line from any person about
government, or any direction how to conduct themselves. The Gov-
ernor in these times must be occupied by objects of much greater
^See the previous letter — Cavet to St. Clair, May 13, 1776.
354 The St. Clair Papers.
magnitade; bat I wish he could spare a few minutes for their
a&irs, which is truly a business of the last consequence to them,
threatening them with no less than absolute ruin.
We have an account that Lord Dunmore has been obliged to
abandon his government; it is the only piece of good news that has
reached us since the disputes with Great Britain took so serious a
turn; but I doubt the truth of it.
The Pittsburgh Court is now sitting ; whether they do business or
not, I have not heard. The proposition for the relief of Cavet and
Hanna, though I believe it practicable enough, I would do nothing
in without the Grovernor's concurrence, as it might be attended with
serious consequences.
Yesterday, we had a county meeting, aud have come to resolu-
tions to awe and discipline, and have formed an Association, which
I suppose you will soon see in the papers. God grant an end may
be speedily put to any necessity for such proceedings. I doubt their
utility, and am almost as much afraid of success in this contest as
of being vanquished.
Akthur St. Clair to Governor Penn.
LiGONiER, May 25, 1775.
Sir: — An express from Pitt,slnirgh, with da<«patches for your
Honor, having called here this morning, I embrace the opportunity
to inform you that a commission is come up from Virginia to
collect the Colony duty on all pel trie? exported froni that place,
and that notice has boon given to the traders there to conduct them-
selves accordingly. I think they will find some way to evade pay-
ing it, and those that are not yet come in will certainly carry them
past. 'Tis a shocking thing that people should l)e obliged to such
shift, and the trade of the Province be destroyed, by the obstinacy
and caprice of one man. I flatter myself, however, it will not be
of long continuance. Lord Diinniorc's seizing the magazine has
raised such a ferment that he will not probably visit the frontiers
soon,' and by the j)rorogation of his Assembly, the invasion law,
under which it seems the garrison of the fort was kept up, will ex-
pire; T think the ninth of next month is its period, and I am in-
formed Conolly is preparing to decamp.
' Hefurc news arrived of the battle of Lexington, Lord Dunmore had or«
dorcd (April 21st) the powder belongini; to Virginia to bo taken from the
public store at Williamsburg, and placed on board an armed vessel in the
river. This caused great excitement, which was increased by the newB from
Lexington.
Correspondence, Addresses, Etc. 855
We have nothing but masters and committees all over the coun-
try, and every thing seems to be running into the wildest confusion.
If some conciliating plan is not adopted by the Congress, America
has seen her golden days , they may return, but will be preceded
by scenes of horror. An association is formed in this county fbr
defense of American liberty. I got a clause added, by which they
bind themselves to assist the civil magistrates in the execution of
the laws they have been accustomed to be governed by.*
Hanna and Cavet are still pressing me to do something for their
relief, and are very desirous they should be brought off by force ;
their project was, that writs should be issued against them, and that
the sheriff should take a posse with him and bring them away, and
make prisoners at the same time of their persecutors. I believe 'tis
very practicable, but I gave them to know that without positive di-
rections from your Honor I would advise no such step, and that I
thought you would not direct any that might have a tendency to
embroil the Provinces. However, it is no wonder that they are un-
easy ; they have been long confined, and must have suffered consid-
erably by it.
Lord Dunmore has issued a proclamation, disclaiming the pro-
ceedings of the surveyors in taking entries of lands, and ordering
them to return the money received for them, but has spared their
names ; but I have seen none of them ; they were spirited away, it
seems, as fast as they appeared.
If the Fort should be evacuated next month, pray, sir, would it
be proper to endeavor to get possession of it, or to raze it? That
may possibly be done by themselves.
Mr. ConoUy has sent out for some of the principal men of tho
Indians to come and receive the prisoners, and the Pittsburgh com-
mittee has petitioned the General Congress to hold a treaty with the
Western tribes.
*Thi8 clause was the fourth one, and read as follows:
**4^A. That we do not wish or advise any innovations, but only that things
may be restored to, and go on in tho same way as before the era of the
Stamp Act, when Boston grew great, and America was happy. As a proof
of this disposition, wo will quietly submit to the laws by which we have
been accustomed to be governed before that period, and will, in our several
or associate capacities, be ready when called on to assist the civil magistrates
to carry the same in execution."
This was the first step taken by St. Clair as a Revolutionary patriot. It
shows a conservative spirit, and an unwillingness to do any thing that might
tend to anarchy or violations of just laws.
^^^ . St. Clair Papers.
Valentine Crawford to George Washington.^
Jacob's Creek, June 24, 1775.
Dear Sir : — ^I am very sorry to inform you I received a letter
from Mr. Cleveland, of the seventh of June, wherein he seems to be
in a good deal of distress. Five of the servants have run away,
and plagued him much. They got to the Indian towns, but by the
exertions of one Mr. Duncan, a trader, he has got them again. He
has sent three of them up by a man he had hired, with a letter to
my brother William or myself, to sell them for you; but the man
sold them himself somewhere about Wheeling, on his way up, and
never brought them to us. He got £20 Pennsylvania currency for
them, and gave one year's credit. This was very low, and he did
not receive one shilling. This was contrary to Clev^eland's orders,
as the latter wanted to raise some ca^h by the sale to purchase pro-
visions. I think it would l)e advisable, if the men they are sold so
low to are not good, to take them from them, and sell them again.
But the man shall not Ix^ stopped for want of money, for I will
furnish him, and will assist Mr. Simpson in getting started as quick
as possible with his canoe and provisions. Mr. Cleveland left some
corn at Mr. Simpson's when he went down, and I will get him some
flour to load his canoe.
Mr. Cleveland sunk a canoe going down, and lost five or six casks
of corn and several other things. James McCormick and Charles
Morgan found a bag of clothes and several other things, a few days
after, as they were going down the river. They delivered them to
Mr. Cleveland again, as they knew they belonged to his company,
by some pai)ers they found in the bundle.
Cleveland does not mention of his getting any but the three
servants he sent to be sold, but ^Ir. Duncan told me yesterday, at
Fort Dunmore, that he got the whole five who ran aw^ay. Dr.
Craik's manager hiis had very ])a(l luck ; for, in the canoe that was
sunk, he lost all his pai)ers. He was much at a loss to find his
land, or at least, to find the corner trees; but I have sent him all
the plats and junctions I had from the doctor; and lest a letter I
have written to the latter should miscarrv, vou can inform him of
ft •■'
that fact. I h()\}e to be down in Fairfax as soon as ever I reap my
harvest, and will then settle all niv accounts with you.
We have chosen committees out here, and are raising an inde-
jjendent company — regulating matters the lK»st we can ; but an un-
^ The reason why this loiter is here inserted, is given in a note to the neil
letter — St. Clair to Shippen, July 12, 1776.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ etc. 357
happj confusion happened the other day. The Pennsylvanians
came to Fort Pitt with the sheriff and about twenty men, and took
Major Conolly about midnight, and carried him as far as Ligonier,
the very night before we were to have the talk with the Indians.^
Several 6^ the Pennsylvania traders, by the Indians' story, were
endeavoring to put ill into their minds. On Major Conolly being
taken, the people of Chartier's came in a company and seized three
of the Pennsylvania magistrates, who were concerned in taking off
Conolly — George Wilson, Joseph Spear, and Devereux Smith.
They were sent in an old leaky boat down to Fort Fincastle under
guard. Our court,* however, had no hand in this. It was done by
a mob or set of Conolly's friends who live on Chartier's Creek.
The members of our committee wrote a very spirited letter to the
gentlemen of the Pennsylvania committee, demanding Conolly
back. All signed it, and sent it with an express. On its receipt,
they immediately sent Major Conolly back. Things now seem to
be a little moderated. I believe the Indians want nothing but
peace ; but it seemed to alarm them very much to hear our great
man was stolen. Indeed, it alarmed us all, as Major Conolly was
the man that had transacted all the business with them before. No
other person was so able to settle business with them as he. I hope
you will excuse the length of my letter.
P. S. — Please* give my compliments to Mr. Lund Washington.
Tell him his people are well, and in a very good way to make a good
crop of com.'
* In the treaty made at "Camp Charlotte," in October, 1774, between
Lord Dun more and the Shawanesc, it was arranged that a supplemental
treaty should be hold in the ensuing spring, at Pittsburgh. His Lordship
was to inform the chiefs by a message when it would suit him to meet them
there, to settle some minute matters that could not well be attended to at
the first meeting. Trouble with the Colony put it out of the power of Dun-
more to again visit Fort Pitt. So Major Conolly was deputed to take
charge of affairs with the Indians. Only a few Dela wares and Mingoes
could be induced to attend upon his call. While encjaged in preparations
to have a "talk" with the assembled chiefs, he was arrested as above
stated.
•That is, the Courts of West Augusta— a Virginia Court held at "Fort
Dunmoro," Pittsburgh— the justices being appointed by the Virginia Gov-
ernment. The records of this Court have been preserved. In the fall of
1770, the District of West Augusta was separated from Augusta County,
and three counties — Yoh<»gania, Monongalia and Ohio — erected out of it.
The Court of West Augusta was continued as the Court of Yohogania, but
the place of its meeting was removed from Pittsburgh.
•From TJui Washingfon-Crawford LciUr.% pp. 101, 103.
358 The St. Clair Papers.
Arthur St. Clair to Joseph Shippen, Jr.
LiGONiER, Jvly 12ih, 1775.
Dear Sir : — In my last I gave you an account of the taking of
Mr. Conolly, and mentioned some of the consequences I appre*
hended from it.* They have since been disagreeable enough to Mr.
Smith, Mr. Speare, and Colonel Wilson, who were immediately
made prisoners by way of reprisal, and sent off in a flat to Wheel-
ing, where they were detained till the news of Conolly's return,
and in the mean time were exposed to every species of insult and
abuse. An attempt has since been made to carry off the sheriff,
but miscarried, which probably saved us another visit at court, as
they found we w^ere provided for them, but I have certain informa-
tion that process is in the hands of the Virginia sheriff against our
sheriff and many of the magistrates, and the Committee at Pitts-
burgh have resolved that Lord Dunmore's proclamation respecting
the country west of Laurell Hill shall be complied with, so that we
may exi)ect fine work.
Whilst Connolly was at my house endeavoring to procure bail, I
treated him with a go(xl deal of civility, by which, with the help
of a cheerful gla^s, I got at some of his designs. He is immediately
to go Eiiglaiid with White Eyes and some other Delaware chiefs, to
solicit for them a confirmation of the country which thev now live
in, great part of which is within the lK)unds of this Province, and
Lord Diunnore is to hack it with all his interest. They are to repre-
sent to the King's ministers that they have received the Christian
religion, have got notions of property, and in a 'great measure
changed their way of life, and can not change their place of abode
as they have heretofore done, and which they must again do if
Pennsylvania is allowed to extend bevond the Ohio. Ridiculous as
this may ai)i)ear, I thought i)rojx?r to mention it, for though the
Proprietary's rights can not be injured by any such proiX)sal, it may
raise difficulties in the way of a future j)urchase or further settle-
ment of the Pnjvince. Lord Dunniore has als(> some design on the
Islands in Delaware, and he ((/onolly) has been procuring all the
information he could respecting them ; if you please acquaint the
Governor if you think it worth while.
*Thc letter referred to bus not been found. In Us place is given the one
preceding — Valentine Crawford to George Washington, June 2 J, 1775 —
covering, a.s to ('i>n(illy'3 arrest, the same ground, probably, as tlu; missing
one from St. Clair.
Correspoadencey Addresses, Etc, 359
I have not a word to say about public matters, tbe people are all
mad, and I hate even to think of the consequences. Heaven restore
peace to this distracted country I
William Smith to Arthur St. Clair.
Bedford, Sept, 4ih, 1775.
Dear Sir: — I have just seen yours of the 2d inst. to my brother.
Copies of the calculations by Mr. Rittenhouse and myself, signed
with our names, were sent to Virginia. I wish I had known that
they would have been of any use on the present occasion.^ But you
know the line or parallel to Delaware, at five degrees distant, crosses
the Ohio near the mouth of Charles Creek,' and includes Fort Pitt,
near six miles — of this there can not be the least shadowof a doubt
If the Virginia delegates choose to attend to this point, wo shall en-
able Mr. Wilson to satisfy them at Philadelphia. In the meantime,
it is but just that the possession of Fort Pitt should continue where
it wuH before, viz., under the government of Pennsylvania.
The Indians, I hope, will have no applications about land mat-
ters made to them now. This is not the time for such things.
I am sorry you have had such a bad look-out for foreign flour.
I wish it may fall in my way as I go down to hasten some, God
grant that the Indians miiy be persuaded to a strict neutrality, and
may not Britons on either side ever einj)loy Indians against Britons,
or make them a P(^rt of arbiters of our differences, if it be possible
to avoid it.' SFr. [John] Ormsby contracted with Messrs. Fisher,
Carmick, and myself, in the year 1770, for some lands. We have
long since paid his order to Capt. Little for every acre surveyed,
agreeably to the contract, and he sent us down the conveyances as
made to himself from the persons in whose name the lands were
taken up, but when we sent him the conveyance he ought to make
to us, he neglected executing it. I inclose a copy for him to exe-
cute, and I beg you will get it done, and take the acknowledgment,
and send it carefully to my brother. I hope Mr. Ormsby will not
decline fulfilling his contract, or force us to any disagreeable meas-
ures. We have paid the surveyor, and fulfilled our part in every
resj>ect.
'"Why St. Cluir was desirous of ol)tainin«; these copies, appears evident in
his letter to (Jovernor Punn, of September 5, 1775, hereafter given.
* Chartier's Creek,
'Reference is hero made to a treaty with the Indians to bo hold at Pitts
burgh on the 10th of that nionih.
860 Ike Si. Clair Papers.
Thohas Smith to Abthub St. Clahl
Bedford, Sept. 5ft, 1775.
Dear Sir : — I am just favored with yours, and am sorry it is not
in my power to comply with your request ; but I have neither of
the papers or calculations you mention. I have just asked my
brother (who is here), and he has none of them with him. How
far it might be expedient in one point of view for the Congress, yet
to settle even temporary boundaries, might, perhaps, deserve some
consideration. If such a thing could be done with propriety, it
would be of the greatest utility to the peaceable inhabitants in your
county, and I have always thought, since the dispute began, that it
was set on foot by a designing tool, with a more insidious view than
was at first generally imagined, viz., m order to set the Q)lome8
at variance with one another. Could it be viewed in that light, it
would at present have a greater tendency to a speedy settlement
amongst the people themselves of a temporary boundary, without the
interposition of the Congress, than any other argument that could
be used. If they shall judge it proper to intermeddle in the mat-
ter at all, and if the Virginia delegate has a real intention of set-
tling it in any reason, the Monongahela will be greatly in favor of
the Virginia, even by Mr. Hooper's map, which I have before mo,
but which I -^nu not venture to send up without his permission, and
since he made that map, which is dona by actual survey of the Mo-
nongahela, he has got the canij)s of Dela wares, by which it appears
that Fort Pitt lies three or four miles farther east than he has placed
it. By comparing his map and your and Rittenhouse's lines, Fort
Pitt is at least fi)ur and at most not much above six miles within
this Province, as nearly as I can recollect the distance you made it,
Mr. Hoojx^r may be considered as an undoubted authority on the
side of Virginia. I believe he is a gentleman of candor and veracity,
and you know he was a warm and y'mhnt Croghanite at the time
when he made it. I am going to the woods to-morrow morning. I
need not tell you that I write now in haste.
P. S. There is not one barrel of flour in or about town, and Mr.
O'Hara requests you would endeavor to supply yourselves, which he
thinks you can now, after the rain, easily do.
Correspondence, Addresses, Etc. SCI
Abthub St. Clair to Gtovernor Penn.
Pittsburgh, September Ibih, 1775.
Sir : — Curiosity led me to this place, to be present at the treaty
with the Indians, which was appointed for the 10th instant, and
that I might have it in my power to give you the earliest notice if
any thing happened that appeared necessary for you to be apprised
of. The treaty is not yet opened, as the Indians are not come in,
but there are accounts of their being on their way, and well dis-
posed.* We have, however, been surprised with a maneuver of
the people of Virginia that may have a tendency to alter their dis-
position. About one hundred men marched here from Winchester,
and took possession of the Fort on the 11th, which has so much
disturbed the delegates from the Congress that they have thoughts
of removing to some other place to hold the treaty. They did every
thing in their power to prevent their coming to the Fort, but to no
purpose.' This step has already, as might naturally be expected,
served to exasperate the dispute between the inhabitants of the
country, and entirely destroyed the prospect of a cessation of our
grievances, from the salutary and conciliating advice of the dele-
gates of the respective provinces, in their circular letter ; ' and they
are so sensible that, if something is not soon done to prevent it, the
dispute must end in open violence ; that they have warmly recom-
mended to the Congress, without loss of time to direct a temporary
^EflTorts wero made, in 1775, to hold a treaty with the Western Indians,
at Pittsburgh. It was proposed that the meeting should take place Septem-
ber 10th. To forward the movement, Capt. James Wood was sent beyond
the Ohio to various tribes, inviting them to Pittsburgh at that time. The
object was conciliation, and to obtain their neutrality. The result to the
16th of September is detailed above.
.*0n the 11th of September, Captain John Neville took possession of Fort
Pitt, for the purpose, avowedly, it seems, to ''cover and protect the border,"
in the event hostility should be brought on in the Western country with the
Indians, at the instigation of the British. The fears expressed by St. Clair,
and entertained by others, seem not to have been well founded. Neville
took no part in the boundary controversy.
'The continued collisions and disorder at Pittsburgh could not fail to at-
tract the attention of all the patriotic citizens of the two States, and on the
25th of July, 1775, tlic delegates in Congress united in a circular urging the
people in the disputed region to mutual forbearance. The circular had
these words: '« We recommend it to you that all bodies of armed men, kept
up by either party, be dismissed ; and tiiat all those on either side who are
in confinement, or on bail, for takinir part in the <*(»nt('*<t. !)«» "li-^oharffed."
362 The St. Clair Papers.
line.* It may be necessary, if that measure meets with your appro-
bation, to furnish some of your delegates with the draughts and
calculations respecting the western extent of the province. I take
the liberty to mention this, that, supposing agreeable to you, the
proper officer may be directed to supply them ; that the Congress
may have it in their power to take the matter up, with a prospect
of at least no disadvantage to the Province. I am sensible, Sir,
this is out of my way ; but the regard I have for your interests, and
the gratitude I feel for your favors, must plead my excuse, as they
are my only motives.
1 Although Congress took no authoritative action to settle the boundary
between the two States, mutual forbearance during the opening scenes of
the Revolution had the effect to allay the excitement concerning the conflict
of jurisdiction. This continued until 1779, when proceedings were oom>
menced which, finally, ended in an amicable arrangement and the comple-
tion of the boundary line. But an element of discord was already removed
by the disappearance of Conolly from Pittsburgh. On the 8th of June,
1775, Lord Dunmore abandoned his palace in Williamsburg, and took refuge
on board a man-of-war. On the *25th of July, Conolly left **Fort Dun-
more/' on a visit to his Lordship, already plotting in the interests of
the mother country against the colonies. He never returned; his rule was
at an end, greatly to the relief of South-western Permsylvania. St. Clair,
who had so ably championed the interests of Pennsylvan a, was soon called
to take part upon a broader stage of action. This letter closed his corre-
spondence with Governor Penn.
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN ST. CLAIR AND WASHINGTON.
SCHUYLER, REED, WILSON, AND OTHERS.
Resolutions Adopted at Hannastown.
Word reached the inhabitants of the western part of Pennsyl-
vania, in the second week of May, 1775, of what the patriots of
Lexington and Concord had dared for liberty on the memorable
19th of April, and they met at Hannastown, on the 16th, to take
into consideration the alarming situation of the country. The fol-
lowing resolutions, drawn up by Arthur St. Clair, Esq.,* were imani-
mously adopted :
Besolvedf That the Parliament of Great Britain, by several late
acts, have declared the inhabitants of the Massachusetts Bav to be
in rebellion, and the minis tr}', by endeavoring to enforce those acts,
have attempted to reduce the said inhabitants to a more wretched
state of slavery than ever before existed in any state or country.
Not content with violating their constitutional and chartered priv-
ileges, they would strip them of the rights of humanity, exposing
lives to the wanton and unpunishable sport of a licentious soldiery,
and depriving them of the very means of subsistence.
Remlved^ That there is no reason to doubt but that the same
system of tyranny and oppression will (should it meet with success
in Massachusetts Bay) be extended to other parts of America; it is
therefore become the indispensable duty of every American, of every
man who has any public virtue or love for his country, or any
bowels for posterity, by every means which God has put in his power,
to resist and opjKjse the execution of it; that for us we will be ready
to oppose it with our lives and our fortunes. And the better to en-
able us to accomplish it, we will immediately form ourselves into
a military body, to consist of companies to be made up out of
the seveml townships under the following association, which is de-
clared to be the Association of Westmoreland Countv :
*The conservative and temperate cbaract(;r of this declaration at Hannas-
town, to which no exception was taken by any person present on tliat occa-
sion, was in harmony with the loyalty of the views St. Clair iield at that
time. These are more fully set forth in a letter written by him a year later
to Lieutenant-Colonel Allen. See p. 375.
(86«)
364 The St. Clair Papers.
Possessed with the most unshaken loyalty and fidelity to His
Majesty, King George the Third, whom we acknowledge to be our
lawful and rightful King, and who we wish may long be the be-
loved sovereign of a free and happy people throughout the whole
British Empire : we declare to the world, that we do not mean by
this Association to deviate from the lovalty which we hold it our
bounden duty to observe ; but, animated with the love of liberty,
it is no less our duty to maintain and defend our just rights (which,
with sorrow, we have seen of late wantonly violated in many in-
stances by wicked ministry and a corrupted Parliament) and trans-
mit them entire to our posterity, for which we do agree and asso-
ciate together :
1st. To arm and form ourselves into a regiment or regiments,
and choose ofRcers to command us in such proportions as shall be
thought necessary.
2d. We will, with alacrity, endeavor to make ourselves masters
of the manual exercise, and such evolutions as may be necessary
to enable us to act in a lx)dv with concert ; and to that end we will
meet at such times and places as shall be appointed either for the
companies or the regiments, by the officers commanding each when
chosen.
3d. That should our country be invaded by a foreign enemy, or
should troops l)e sent from Great Britain to enforce the late arbi-
trary acts of its Piirlianicnt,^ we will cheerfully submit to military
discipline, and to the utmost of our power resist and oj)pose them,
or either of them, and will coincide with any j)lan that may be
formed for the defense of America in general, or Pennsylvania in
particular.
4th. That we do not desire any innovation, but only that things
may be restored and go on in tlie same wa v a?i 'oefore the era of the
Stamp Act, wlien B(>ston grew great and America was happy. As
a proof of this disposition, we will quietly su])mit to the laws by
which we have been accustomed to be governed before that pe-
riod, and will, in our several or ass xiate capacities, l>e ready when
called on to assist the civil magistrate in carrying the same into ex-
ecution.
r)th. That when the British Parliament shall have repealed their
late obnoxious statutes, and shall recede from their claim to tax us,
and make laws for us in c^very instance, or some general plan of
union and rcccmciliation has been formed an<l accepted by America,
this our Association shall 1k» dissolved ; ])ut till then it shall remain
* Conditions mentioned bv St. Clair in his letter to T.ieut.-Colonol Allen
as alone justifying taking up arms. Sre p. JITO.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 865
in full force ; and to the observation of it, we bind ourselves by ev-
ery thing dear and sacred amongst men. No licensed murder I No
&mine introduced by law !
Resolved y That on Wednesday, the twenty-fourth instant, the
township meet to accede to the said Association, and choose their
officers.*
CoLOXEL St. Clair to Presidext of Congress.
Mardi 2dth, 1776.
Sir : — I observe that, in the vote of Congress for raising five bat-
talions in Pennsylvania, there is no provision made for surgeons'
mates, sergeant-majors, or quartermaster-sergeants. I beg leave to
reprej*cnt to you that each of these officers is very necessary to a
battalion. Part of a battalion may frequently be detached to a
* The Assembly of Pennsylvania, on the 30th of June, 1775, passed an act
creating a Council of ISaloty, whose duties were the raising of troops, fur-
nishing supplies, etc., fur defense. On the 18th of July, the Council recom-
mended the enrolment of all able-bodied men into regiments or battalions,
"with proper officers. Agreeably to this, the militia of Westmoreland county
were enrolled, and Arthur St. Clair was elected Colonel. September 26th,
Council ordered XI 00 to be sent to Westmoreland county towards the pay-
ment of arms, accoutrements, etc.
At a meeting of Council, November 29, 1775 — "The commissioners and
assessors of Westmoreland county returned the order sent them some time
past, signed by Bcnja. Franklin, or Michael Hillegas, Esq., Treasurer of this
Board, for one hundred pounds, dated 2yth September last, and informs this
committee that they have purchased from Colonel St. Clair 100 firelocks for
the use of said county, at 403. each ; for the payment of them they have
drawn an order on this Board for two hundred ])ounds; this Committee in-
formed them by letter that they would take tlio said firelocks for the use of
the armed boats, and requested they would get new ones made for their
county, agreeably to the Iwesolve of As.^embly.
^^Resolved, That the committee of accounts do pay Colonel St. Clair two
hundred pounds, and take his note, conditioned to return said money, in case
the above mentioned firelocks are not delivered to this committee j an order
was accordingly drawn in his favor on Thomas Wharton and others, the
committee of accounts, for said sum of two hundred pounds."
January 3d, 1776, Kobert Morris, by direction of Congress, waited on the
Council of Safety, and informed them that Congress "had received the
recommendation of tlie eight gentlemen sent up yesterday, as suitable per-
sons to fill the offices of Colonels, and that they agreed to appoint Arti.ur
St. Clair, Esqr., Colonel of the 2d Battalion; John Siiee, Colonel of the 3d
Battalion; Anthony Wayne, p:sqr.. Colonel of the 4th Battalion; Robt. Ma-
gaw. Colonel of the 5th Battalion, of the four battalions of Pennsylvania
troops to be raised for the Continental Service." — Proceedings of Council,
866 The St. Clair Papers.
distance, where it may be impossible for the surgeon to attend them
without neglecting the rest of the regiment. And as to mates being
readily found in Canada, I do assure you it is scarcely possible to
find a person that has any knowledge, either as physician or sur-
geon, in that country, some few excepted who have left the army
and settled there. The duty of the adjutant would be insupporta-
ble without the assistance of a sergeant-major, and the quartermas-
ter-sergeant is also very necessary, as not only the quarters or en-
campment of the corps falls under the quartermaster's direction, but
the receiving and issuing the provisions and the care of all the reg-
imental stores, which it is impossible one man can at aU times exe-
cute ; and these men ought to be acquainted with accounts.
I also beg leave to mention to you the necessity of providing
tents for the troops in Canada. The season of year is at hand when
they must occupy other grounds than they have been confined to in
the winter, or be exposed to have their posts insulated, and, perhaps,
carried by a force much inferior to theirs, were they encamped in
one body, or in such manner as to be capable of supporting eacb
other. And tents will become still more necessary, if there should
l)e a iioci'ssity to attack Quebec in force, which may probably be
the ciLse.*
*Soon after this letter was written, St. Clair started with his regiment to
Canada. On the llith April he was at Fort Edward, waiting for Lake
Champlain to open so that boats could descend. Ho was detained until near
the cloj^e of the month before he reached the command of Major-General
Thomas. On the 10th of May his regiment was at Fort DeschambauU.
Three days before his arrival — May 7 — a council of officers, presided over
by General Thomns, had voted to retreat to the river Sorel. This was be-
cause of the re])orted arrival of several British vessels at Quebec, and the
disgraceful flight of the American truops from before that place, who left
three hundred sick, cannon and stores in the hands of the enemy. When
General Arnold heard of this decision, he proc^eeded to Sorel to see if he
could secure a reversal and a return to Dcschambault, where there was still
a considerable force. Colonel St. Clair reached the Sorel on the 16th May.
and directly aided in preparing mea-sures for the retreat of the army from
Canada — a measun; declared to be necer-sary by the Commissioners of Con-
gress, unless there was ppejnl}' relief, -who wrote to the President of thai
body with great plainness. May 11th, Dr. Benjamin Franklin returned to
Philadelphia to j)ersonally present the case to Congress. Samuel Chase and
Charles Carroll, the other C()mmi!».sioners, wrote fn)m Montreal, May 17, to
President Hancock, ''we want words to describe the confusion which pre-
vails through every depaitment relating to the army. YoUP troops live
from hand to mouth; they have, of late, beer, put to half alh)wance in sev-
eral places, and in some they have been without pork for three or four days
past. Although there is plenty of wheat and flour in the country, it waa
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 867
General Thompson' to Colonel St. Clair.
Camp at Sorel, June 2, 1776.
Sir : — ^You are immediately to proceed with the detachment under
your command to Three Rivers, where you will endeavor to surprise
with difficulty that either could be procured a few days ago, for ready spe-
cie " "In our present critical situation, few, very few, will accept of the
Continental paper money in pay. A prosperous turn in our affairs would,
we think, give it a currency in that part of the country which wo possess, the
most valuable and plentiful in Canada. AVc think it impossible to subsist
your forces in Canada in any other manner than by contract
Your Generals are now obliged to be contractors and commissaries; and
your Commissioners, who have neither ability nor inclination, are con-
strained to act as generals. Such is Uie confusion which now prevails, and
will prevail till a totally new arrangement takes place, and a strict discipline
is introduced into the army; of the latter you must despair, unless soldiers
can be enlisted for a term of years, or for the continuance of the war. The
enlisting men for a year, or for a less time, occasioned the death of the
brave Montgomery. TJie recent disgraceful flight is the principal source of
all the disorders in your army. The sending soldiers into Canada, whose
times expire in a month or two after their arrival, is only putting the Colo-
nies to an amazing expense, to corrupt and disorder the rest. No duty
must be expected from soldiers whose times are out, let their country stand
ever so much in need of their services; witness the unfeeling flight and re-
turn, at this critical juncture, of all the soldiers, and a greater part of the
officers, who are entitled to be discharged."
General Thomas was unable to ascertain the strength of his army, such
was the confusion which enlisting men for a short time created. This offi-
cer was taken down with the small-pox, and removed to Chambly, where he
died 2d /June. Before the 27th May, however, he had, on learning of the
arrival of reinforcements for the enemy, ordered Colonel Maxwell to re-
treat from Three Rivers to Sorel. Ho had also, without consultation with
the other general officers, given orders for the removal of all the artillery
and artillery stores from Sorel. These facts were communicated to the
President of Congress by the Commissioners under date of the 27th May.
They declared General Wooster, who had been invited by General Thomas
tn take command, as totally unflt to conduct the war, and advised his recall.
The Commissioners added that there was no discipline among the troops,
and cl;u1 1 not be while short enlistments continued. " Your army is badly
paid, and sn exhausted is your credit that even a cart can not be procured
without ready money or force The army is in a distressed con-
dition, and is in want of the most necessary articles — meat, bread, tents,
shoes, stockings, shirts, etc. The greatest part of those who fled from
Quebec left all their baggage behind them, or it was plundered by those
whose times were out, and have since left Canada." They added that the
* See note 1, next page.
>
368 The St. Clair Papers.
the enemy posted there, making prisoners of as many as possible,
and cutting off all who oppose you ; at the same time you will be
careful to secure yourself a retreat. In executing this order, you
will march to St. Francis Eivcr, where a sufficient number of bat^
eaux will meet yon, and from thence it is left to your own judgment,
from the information you may receive, to proceed either by land or
water to Nicolet, and from thence to Three Rivers, or directly from
St. Francis to that place, in whichever way the design of your party
may be best concealed. If you march to Nicolet, it will be proper
to detach one or more bateaux, well armed, to watch the mouth of
the lakes, and prevent any boats or canoes carrying intelligence.
Artillery, ammunition, arms, and public stores must be brought
off, if possible ; but should that be found impracticable, they fsre to
be dest roved.
I need not point out to you the necessity of your business beirg
army did not exceed four thousand; above four hundred were sick, and
threc-fourttis baa not yet bad the small-pox. Such was the extreme want it
was found necessary to seize flour by force, and give receipts for the quan-
tity, lor the payment ot whicli they had pledged the faith of the United
States. They had advised this step to prevent a general massacre. "We can
not conceal our concern that six thousand men should be ordered to Canada,
without taking care to have mai^azines formed for their subsistanco, cash to
pay them, or to pay the inhabitants for their labor in transporting the bag-
gage, stores, and provisions of the army. We can not And words strong
enou_:xh to describe our miserable situation. You will have a faint idea of
it if vou liirurc to yourself an army broken and disheartened, half of it
under inoculation, or other diseases; soldiers without pay, without discipline,
and altogethtM- reduced to live from hand to mouth, depending on the
scouts and precarious supplies of a few half-starved cattle and triffing quan-
tities of flour, which have hitherto been picked up in different parts of the
country.''
MJrigadier-Gcneral William Thompson was a native of Ireland. He em-
igrated to America, and settled at Carlisle, Pa., where he died {September 4,
1781. He was captain in the cavalry service during the French war in Can-
ada, and made tin^ acquaintance of St. Clair in that country at Quebec. He
resided for a time at Pittsburgh, and was one of the purcliasers of old Fort
Pitt when it was abandoned by the British. In June, 1775, be was ap-
pointed colonel of a regiment of riflemen, joined the American forces ut
Cambridi;e, and, November 10th had a skirmish witn the British at Lech-
mere point. He was aj)j)ointed brigadier in the Continental service, March
1, 1770; soon after succeeded Lee in command at New York, and in April
was ordered to Canada to join (General Sullivan, who had been placed in
command of that d<*j)artment. He arrived before General Sullivan, and
about the same time jjs St. Clair with his Pennsylvania reinforcements.
When (jeneral Thunnis was ]>rostrated with smallpox, in the latter part of
Correspondence, AddresseSy Etc. 369
executed with vigor, and that the most proper time for it is before
day. I wish you success and honor.
May, General Wooster declining to assume the command, General Thomp-
son, as the ranking efficer, took charge of the forces. At this time the move-
ment to Three Kivers, which was made under the order above given, was
planned. The Canadians had variously reported the British, who had taken
possession of that point after Colonel Maxwell had abandoned it and re-
treated to the mouth of the Sorel, as numbering not more than from three
to eight hundred. This was a misstatement, but the movement would have
been successful against a larger force, if a guide had not misled the Ameri-
cans, so that when they arrived at Three Rivers it was broad daylight, and
the enemy, who had been apprised of the attempt, were prepared for them.
General Thompson was himself in command, having been sent by General
Sullivan to reinforce St. Clair, and had the misfortune to be taken prisoner
in the first action. He was permitted to return to Pennsylvania on parole,
but it was two years before he was exchanged. A letter from him to St.
Clair, after his return, will be found on page 379.
For an account of the battle of Three Rivers, the reader is referred to pp.
18 — 21 ante. The credit for the successful withdrawal of the American
army from Canada, in the face of a superior British force, thoroughly ap-
pointed in every respect, is very largely duo to General (then Colonel) St.
Clair. The following extract from a letter of an officer at Fort George to
his friend in New York, taken from the files o( the New Hampshire Gazette^
August 3, 1776, will give the reader a striking picture of the condition of
the array as it withdrew to the Isle aux Noix:
" I never knew the fatigue of a campaign until I arrived at Canada. The
most shocking scenes that ever appeared in a camp were constantly exhib-
ited to view. When General Sullivan arrived in Canada, the army was torn
in pieces by sickness and other unaccountable occurrences. A whole regi-
ment was not to be found together. General Sullivan, with his usual activ-
ity and alertness, collected together a debilitated, dispirited army; tried the
strength of the enemy, who were at least four to one, and performed one of
the most remarkable retreats that was ever known. No person who was not
present can conceive a tenth part of the difficulties attending it : the enemy at
our heels; three thousand of our men sick with the small-pox ; those who were
most healthy like so many walking apparitions; all our baggage, stores, and
artillery to be removed; officers, as well as men, all employed in hauling
cannon, etc. Our loaded bateaux were all moved up the rapids six miles;
one hundred of them were towed by our wearied men, up to their arm-pita
in water. This was performed in one day and a half; our sick and baggage
all safely landed at St. John's, and from thence to Crown Point, with the
loss of only three cannon, which were but poor ones."
The fightmg was done by Thompson and St. Clair, but General Sullivan,
after the way was pointed out to him by St. Clair, showed great energy in
the conduct of the movemont towards Crown Point. Thence, by order of
General Schuyler, the army retired to Ticonderoga.
24
^70 The St. Clair Vapers,
Thomas Smith* to Arthur St. Clair.
Philadelphia, Axigvist 3, 1776.
Dear Sir : — I was favored 'with yours by Colonel Allen, and 1
thank you for that unreserve with which you communicate your
sentiments. I need not say that when I found what turn afiairs
were like to take in Canada, I was anxious for mv friend. I felt for
your situation before you wrote. I sincerely believe that the bad suc-
cess there is owing to the cause to which you ascribe it in your let^
ters to our common friend,^ for he does me the honor to show me
them sometimes ; he is a fine fellow, but has enemies — created, I
sincerely l)elieve, by his sui)erior talents. Their malice has hitherto
been impotent; but they are such industrious,, undermining, de-
tracting rascals, that I hardly think they will rest till they have got
him out,' and a ready tool in his place.
I have been in town ever since May. I was then chosen Repre-
sentative for our county. Immediately on my coming to town I fell
sick with a very severe bilious colic, which had well nigh done for
me. I relapsed so frequently that I was obliged at last to undergo
a very severe course of physic, which confined me for two months,
and reduced me to a perfect skeleton ; but I have every appearance
of enjoyiug a more perfect state of health than I have for some
* Thomas Smith, a native of Scotland, who camo to America at an early
age, and settled at Bedford, Pa., studied law and became distinguished at the
bar. February 9, 17G9, was ajipointed Deputy Surveyor, and soon after bo-
came Prothonotary, Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions, and Keoorder
of Bedft^rd Coi.u^y. In 1775, was appointed Colonel of tho mili'ia, and in
the year fullowins was chosen a member of the State Constitutional Con-
vention. In 1780, was elected a member of the Continental Congress.
From 1701 to 17'J4, he waw President of the Judicial District of Cumberland,
Mifflin, Huntington, Bedford and Franklin Counties; and from 1794 to 1809,
be w'as Judge of tho Suj)reme Court of Pennsylvania. lie di(^d in Juno of
the last named year. Judge Smith was one of th<! most intimate friends St.
Clair had; acted as his legal advfser, in which capacity ho often told St.
Clair he ought to choose him guardian to look after his finances — so liberal
was St. Clair in all money transactions — and held the same political views.
Although H member of the convention that framed the Constitution of 1776,
he was never reconciled to some of its provisions, and afterward united with
James Wilson and Arthur St. Cluir in moving for a new Constitutional Con-
vention.
-James Wilson, the distinguished statesman and jurist.
3 Out of Congress. The opposition succeeded for a time, but Mr. WiUon
was afterwards returned.
CorrespondencCj AddresseSj Etc. 871
years. Hardly was I able to walk about when the convention met.'
I was chosen one of them — a pretty solon you will say. No matter,
we have now sat three weeks, and agreed upon the fundamental
principles of our Government. They are somewhat singular, how-
ever. The most of us have not had our judgment warped in fevor
of any other, and not a sixth part of us ever read a word on the
subject. We are only to have one Legislative branch, viz: the
Assembly, who are to be chosen annually, and a rotation to take
place every three years. Instead of having a Legislative G)uncil,
it seems we are to have a convention every three, fi\^y or seven
years,' (it is not yet settled which), who are to inquire into and sup-
ply defects, deviations or abuses in the Constitution. In what
manner the executive and judicial are to be chosen I can not
yet say, as we only settled the other points last meeting. I
was in a small minority.' I believe we might have at least
prevented ourselves from being ridiculous in the eyes of the
world were it not for a few enthusiastic members who are totally un-
acquainted with the principles of government. It is not only that
their notions are original, but they would go to the devil for popu-
larity, and in order to acquire it, they have embraced levelling
principles, which you know is a fine method of succeeding. Don't,
therefore, be surprised if in the next letter I write to you, I should
inform you that we had passed an Agrarian Law.
With regard to any thing in the civil line that may concern you,
I hardly think the convention will do any thing, but it must rest
over until the government is formed and the supreme executive ap-
pointed. Should any thing of the kind come ujx)n the carpet while
I am present, I hoi)e you will not be overlooked. I am in hopes a
temporary line l)ctween us and Virginia will Ikj soon settled by the
two conventions. I am one of a committee to confer with their
delegates on the subject. They are authorized by their convention,
and made the proposal — the bearer will inform you what line they
propose<l.
Mrs. St. Clair came soon to Bedford after I went up and before
* The State Constitutional Convention of 1776.
«The Council of Censors. The first was chosen by the electors of the
State seven years after the adoption of the Constitution. St. Clair was
elected from Philadelphia, and was one of the most active and influential
members of it.
»Mr. Smith opposed the Constitution. He found fault especially with
those clauses whicli put the legislative power in a single branch, and which
restricted the power of the executive.
372 The St. Clair Papers.
you went away. You know there is nothing coming in from the
office; however, the bearer will mention that matter to you. I
really wish to see you again. I have some reason to hope that you
will soon be advanced to a higher rank.
President of Congress to Arthur St. Clair.
Philadelphia, August 10, 1776.
Sir : — The Congress having yesterday been pleased to promote
you to the rank of Brigadier-General * in the Army of the Ameri-
can States, I do myself the pleasure to enclose your commission,,
and wish you happy.
General St. Clair to the President of Congress.
Camp at Ticonderoga, Sept 2, 1776.
Sir: — ^I received your favor of the 10th August, enclosing my
commission as Brigadier-General, and return you thanks for the
trouble you took to transmit it.
I am extremely sensible of the honor conferred upon me by the
ap{M)intment, and it shall l)e my study to convince Congress that
they have not mis})liiced their confidence.
My most resj)ectful compliments wait upon Mrs. Hancock.
*For some weeks prior to the 9th August, St. Clair had been commanding^
a brigade under General Gates, who had recommended his promotion in
stnmg terms to Congress. On the 26th July, Colonel Matt. Ogden,in writing
from Ticonderoga to Major Aaron Burr, uaid: "We are in great want of
brigadier-generals — three at least; I mean for the men who are now here.
General Arnold will command the water craft on the lake in person. There
are three brigades commanded by the Colonels lloed, Stark, and St. ("lair.
The last of these, I sincerely wish, was appointed a brigadier by Congress.
There is no bettor man. The other two have full enough, already." The
promotion of St. Clair was announced by General Washington in General
Orders Augu^^t rJth. His brigade was the fourth, and consisted of his own,
DeHaas's, Winds's, Wayne's, and Nelson's independent regiments. The
promotion excited tlu^ jealousy of Arnold who, although a brigadier, did
not like to see any other otRccr of ability placed on the same plane with
himself; and Colonel Maxwell, a very meritorious officer and friend to
St. Clair, thought it hard he should be overlooked for the benefit of a junior
officer. At this time the army at Ticonderogu numbered over nine thousand
effective men. After the destruction of the fleet under Arnold, Generals
Gates, Schuyler and Arnold called lustily for several thousand more troops.
See correspondence of these olficers with Washington (Sparks)^ and with
President Hancock {Force's Atnerica7t Ai'chives).
Correspondence y Addresses^ Etc. 378
Thomas Smith to General St. Clair.
Philadelphia, 22d Augxust, 1776.
My Dear Friend : — I was favored with yours * last night by Cap-
tain Rippy. I now know by experience, what I always believed,
that elevation does not make you forget year friends. You will,
perhaps, be of opinion that I am not that sincere friend you take
me to be, when I inform you that the intelligence you gave me on
that head gave me far le.ss pleasure than you supposed it would ;
the reason is, I knew it long before, for no sooner was you apjwinted
Brigadier-General but our worthy friend Wilson communicated the
agreeable news to me, upon which I wrote to most of our friends to
whom I knew the news woidd give pleasure.
It Ls not your elevation alone that I congratulate you upon ; but
I can assure you, from undoubted authority, that your military
character stands as high with Congress as that of any general on
the continent, and I flatter myself that you have as good a chance
for even a more elevated rank than that to which you are lately
raised. Whatever has been said, or whatever may be said to the
contrary, I tliink every man's own heart will tell him that self has
a considerable share in the direction of all our thoughts and actions.
I feel an instance of it upon this occasion, for though I do sincerely
rejoice at the elevation of a much esteemed friend, yet I am not
without my fears that I shall by that means be deprived of the
pleasure which I enjoyed in the company of that friend.
IfeeL the truth of your sentiments with regard to the Constitution
that we are about forming. In several sects of religionists in the
diflferent ages of the world, and in some even now, inspiration was
supposed to have a considerable share in the direction of their ac-
tions, and they very gravely supposed themselves gifted with it. 1
believe we shall have the honor of first introducing the same doc-
trine into modern politics. A motion was made, without a blush,
by a member, that whatever might require the consideration of the
House might be printed before any resolve was pasvsed upon it, for
the use of the members, as several of them could read priyit better
than writing. Our principle seems to be this: that any man, even
the most illiterate, is as capable of any oflice as a person who has
had the benefit of education ; that education perverts the under-
standing, eradicates common honesty, and has been productive of
all the evils that have hap^Kiued in the world. In order that inspira-
* The letters of St. Clair to .Judge Smith have not been found.
874 The St. aair Papers.
tion may be our only guide, every person who is to be chosen into
any office that was formerly supposed to require some degree of
human knowledge and experience to enable the person to execute it
with justice— every such person, I say — is to be turned out before
he can })ossibly acquire any experience — e. g., in the form of gov-
ernment now debating in the House. The committee have brought
in one article, that the justices of the peace shall be chosen by the
people in the respective districts wherein they reside ; turned out
every seven years and a new set chosen in the same manner. We
are not come to it yet, but by the complexion of the House I have
reason to think it will pass. We are determined not to pay the least
regard to the former Constitution of this Province, but to reject
every thing therein that may be proposed, merely because it waa
part of the former Constitution. We are resolved to clear every
part of the old rubbish out of the way and begin upon a clean
foundation. You know that experimental philosophy was in great
repute fifty years ago, and we have a mind to try how the same
principle will succeed in politics! You learned fellows who have
warped your understandings by poring over musty old books, will
perhaps laugh at us; but, know ye, that we despise you.
The situation of this country, as well as that of blhid Britain,
must give great anxiety to every person who is not callous to the
feelings of humanity. They seem to have been in the same situa-
tion for some time past with regard to their intellects as the builders
of Babel were in respect of their [out]. God knows how the de-
structive dispute will end. I think the ruin of Britain is inevitable,
and her existence as a jK)werful kingdom is near at an end. We
will uudoubtirdly feel sorely the effects of the dispute; but I can
not help l)eing of opinion that, according to the course of human
affairs, we must, in the end, prevail.
As to your verbal intellifrence, vou will have heard before this
can reach you that part of it is true and part false, as is always the
case. No news here. Mr. Woods came down last night. Your
familv are well — not increased when he came awav.
As for myself, I have tlie honor to serve the public and receive
notliing for it ; hut that it puts it out of my power to serve myself
by g<»ing to the woods, for, as there is at present, and like to be
through our great wisdom, a suspension of all law for a considera-
ble time, nothing is to Ix? done in that channel, and from the temper
of the times no person has any security, let his conduct have been
what it will, that he will not be superseded by any being of a day.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 375
General St. Clair to Lieutenant-Colonel Allen.*
TicoNDEROGA, September 1, 1776,
Dear Sir: — ^This is my third to you since yours of , the 25th of
July. Whether the former have reached you or not is douhtful, as
our communication seems not to be much more open than hereto-
fore ; how that happens, God knows, but certain it is few letters to
or from this army get on. *
I wish you had returned to the regiment. Though I well know
your sentiments, I really expected you would have come back. ** Th6
osier keeps its footing when the dak is torn up by the roots.** You
know my "way of thinking, and you know likewise the obligations I
have to your family — obligations which no change of circumstances
can ever cancel. But you will excuse me, my dear sir, when I say
that I believe it M7)uld have been true policy to have given some
way to the temper of the times.
If I remcmlwr rightly, there were two points on which we were
perfectly agreed : First, that independence was not the interest of
America if the liberties of America could be otherwise secured;
Secondly, if foreign troops were employed to reduce America to ab-
solute submission, that independence or any other mode was justifi-
able. There is now no doubt about the employment of foreign
troops, which I own I think was the watchword to every man of
property in America ; for I doubt very much whether, if Great
Britain should succeed by force, if much odds would be made by
the lordly conquerors betwixt friends and foes, or if nature and for-
» William Allen, a Pennsylvania Loyalist, son of the Chief Justice of
Pennsylvania, belonged to ono of the wealthiest and most distinguished
of the old families of that Province of the Penns, and, after the first year
of the revolution, espoused the British cause. Ho was a lieutenant-colonel
in the Continental service in the early part of 1776, and served under St.
Clair in Canada. After the retreat of the Americans to Crown Point, he
returned to Philadelphia, and, in common with other friends of the Penns
at this period, concluded that the only safety for the country was in ad-
herence to the mother country. Ho obtained leave to resign his commission
in the Continental service, and, at the close of 177G, joined Lord Howe. Ho
endeavored to enlist a regiment of Pennsylvania Loyalists in 1778, but Y\e
was disappointed. Less than three hundred joined him. Ilia regiment took
part in the defense of Pensacola apainst the French and Spaniards. IIo waa
in New Brunswick in 1783. Li the letter nbovo given, St. Clair, mindfv\\ of
obligations to Chief-Justice Allen, endeavor* to dissim^o the son ^^^«^ t,\v^
step which he had avowed it \m piirpoHo to take in tho letter to wHicb. t\iia
is the reply.
876 The St. Clair Papers.
eigu avarice and rax)a<Mt)r would not be glutted with the indiscrimi-
nate spoil of both. I uin persuaded many worthy men would not
have wished times to go as they have done, because they thought it
not consistent with the true interest of America, which might have
long been happy in a regulated (not an absolute) subordination to
Great Britain, amongst whom I think I may reckon your venerable
father ;but that fatal proceeding* has cast the die.
Do not, my dear sir, imagine my late promotion has altered my
sentiments. I will ov;n to you I am pleased, not flattered, with it.
I have come to that time of life (and some how or other have always
had a way of thinking what some people call philosophy, but it is
nothing but constitution,) that puts me out of danger of that flutter
and emotion that sudden and imcxpected elevation gives some peo-
ple. I assure you I would rather experience the heartfelt satis-
faction of discharging one social duty, one debt of gratitude, than
have as jnany ''Honours" and ** Excellencys" affixed to my name
as would fill a quire of paper. To your father and brother, and Mr.
Penn, I have obligations that I must ever feel — that I will never
forget You know I am a bad jx)Htician, but if you have not al-
ready taken too decisive a part, I can not say one word more about
the matter; and when I reflect on your own good sense and the
superior understanding and experience of many of your friends, it
would be insolence to } ou to ofTcr advice.
We have made this a very strong j>ost» The old French lines are
repaired ; and redoubts upon redoubts constructed, and men enough
to defend them. If they come we shall certainly give a good ac-
count of them. General ^\jrnold in down the lake with the fleet,
three schooners and a sWp, and, I think, ten gondolas, mounting in
all above one hundred guns. The time is certainly near now, and I
wish you were here to share the honour, for we shall certainly beat
them. We shall make up for the Three Eivers ; but wherever you
are, my best wishes sliall ever attend you.
Your baggage l^Iajor Pcull takes to Albany — all but your bedding.
Your mattress and bhiukets I let Mr. Clason have, his having been
i^lolcn one day out of the Genera Fs house ; the rest I will keep ; let
me know the price, and the money sliall be remitted for the whole.
I thank you for the maniuise. I will take all tlie care I can of it,
and bring it with me when I return; if I return not, you do not
' Many hopod f^r tin honorable accommodation with the British govem-
TDcnt after a show of rceistuncc, but the Doclurutiou of Independence diB-
ptlled that hope.
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 877
want firiends here who will do me the kindness to send it. Next
time I will tell you all about the mojxRj.
Colonel Joseph Wood ^ to General St. Claib.
Philadelphia, September 3, 1776.
Dear Oeneral: — ^I this moment received yours of the 2d inst., and
return you many thanks for your kind concern for my health, which
I am sorry to say is not so well as I could wish or ex^KJct, consider-
ing the length of time, fixjm so small a wound ; * but one reason is,
I can't get. quit of the fever ; two or three days I seem perfectly
well, after that comes on an inflammation in my leg which spreads
all over it, then I am forced to keep my bed five or six days, and
bathe and poultice it, and so I go on. God knows when I shall
have the pleasure of being in the field again. I long to be with
you. I intend setting off next week, sick or well, making all the
haste my health will permit. I am more easy that I have two such
field oflicers as Craig ^ and Butler; * their commissions I have, and
shall bring them with me. I hope they will do well — hope, did I
say ? — I am certain they will do every thing possible for the good
of the regiment.
I am in doubt about our army at New York — a letter fix)m an
officer of rank this day says they aro in want of ten thousand men ;
if so, the Lord have mercy on them all. The militia going and re-
turning with such speed smells strong of cowardice, and dispirits
^Joseph "Wood isuecceded St. Cluir as Colonel of the Second Pennsylvania.
He was commissioned as major, and "^ns ordered to Canada with the first
companies of the regiment, in January, 1776. He was promoted to lieuten-
ant-colonel, vice "William Allen, July 22, and colonel 7th September, 1776.
He died in March, 1789.
'Wound received at the battle of Three Bivers.
^Thomas Craig, commissioned as captain in St. Clair's recjiment, January
6, 1776; lieutenant-colonel, . September 7, 1776; appointed colonel Third
Pennsylvania Regiment, 1777. Died at the age of 92, January 14, 1832.
♦Thomas Butler, third of the famous brothers who were conspicuous dur-
ing the Revolutionary war. Was studying law with Judge Wilson when
the war began, and enlisted a company for St. Clair's regiment, in which ho
obtained the majority. At the battle of Brandy wine ho rooeived the thanks
of Washington for gallantry, and at Monmouth ho defended a defile in the
lace of a heavy fire while his brother. Colonel Richard Butler, withdrew his
regiment. He was present at the defeat of St. Clair in 1701. He was bom
in Pennsylvania, 1754, and died at Now Orleans, September 7, 1805.
378 The St. iJlair Papers.
the troops. I dined yesterday with five or six of the Congress ; they
think a few days will decide the matter one way or the other. It
may, for us, but not f )r the enemy — they can retreat to their lines.
You must know, before this, we have given up New York, and
must do what they wish for — fight them in the open field. You
know how we are provided for that. Some of our men are brave —
must be to make a stand against double their numbers, and six
times better armed. We can only hope that God will fight our
battles, as in old times.
Mr. Wilson, with his lady, started for Carlisle to-day. He de-
sired me to give you his best compliments, and, when he returns,
will send you a letter a mile long, to make up for the short ones, or
the very few lie has wrote you.
God bless you. All the family join in good wishes for your jnros-
perity in every form, but none more so than, dear sir, your afileo-
tionate friend, etc.
CoLONEi. Robert H. Harrison to General Schuyler.
Newark, November, 26, 1776. — 3 o'clock P. m.
Sir: — By command of his Excellency, I have the honor to trans-
mit you the inclosed resolve^ of Congress, the original of which tliis
' Rrsiitrrd — That General Washington be directed forthwith to order under
bis iriiriKMiJMto command such of the forces, now in the Northern Depart-
merif. as have been raised in the States of Pennsj'lvania and New Jersey,
and that the commanding officer in the Northern Department be directed
to apply to the Legislatures of the Eastern States, to afford him such assist-
ance as they may stand in need of. — JournaUt of Congress^ Saturday, No-
vember 23, 177G.
This resolution was in consequence of the movement of Genflral Howe
toward Philadelphia in force. General Washincjton had but few troops to
interpose, and his situation was very critical. It was at this time that St.
('lair was directed to join him with his brigade. Scarcely any halt was
made at Albany. As soon as boats were procured St. Clair proceeded south-
ward, but was intercepted by an order from General l^ee to join his divis-
ion, which was following in the rear of the British army, notwithstanding
"Washington had ordered him several weeks before to join him.
After the capture of General Lee (see p. 28), General St. Clair prtmeeded
immediately tf» join General Washington. On the lOth December, we find
the latter proposing to send him to command the New Jersey militia that
had been recruited in that part of the State where General Lee had been
operating. The time of service of General St. Clair's own troops being
about to expire, and they promising to re-enlist for the war if furloughed, he
permitted them to return home, and out of his own private funds supplied
Correspondence^ AddresseSy Etc. 879
minute came to haiid ; and I am to request you, in his name, to
have the purport of it complied with, by sending down, with all
possible expedition, the whole of the troops belonging to the States
of Pennsylvania and Jersey which are in the Northern Depart-
ment, to join the army under his immediate command. You will
please to order them to fall in on the communication leading from
New York to Philadelphia, at Brunswick, or between that and
Princeton, and to direct their march by a back and secure route,
that it may not be liable to be interrupted by the enemy. I have
mentioned Brunswick, supposing and hoping that we shall be able
to make a stand there ; however, his Excellency begs you will di-
rect the commanding officers of the troops to send him frequent ex-
presses, to advise of their approaches, and by which means their
destination may be explicitly pointed out. At present it is conjec-
ture. It must depend on several circumstances. I have not time
to add much, therefore shall only inform you that the enemy are in
possession of Hackensack, and are now pushing this way.
James Wilson to General St. Clair.
Baltimore,^ December 30, 1776.
My Dear Sir : — With peculiar pleasure I congratulate you on the
victory at Trenton.' I take it the tide is now turning, and will soon
run high in our favor.
I have written to General Washington, recommending Colonel
Irvine to a regiment, and Mr. Robert Smith (a young gentleman of
great merit, who studied law with me), to a troop of horse. You
will oblige me much by adding your influence to the recommenda-
tion, and by letting me know the result of it as soon as possible.
General Thompson to General St. Clair.
Carlisle, January 11, 1777.
My Dear General : — This will be handed to you by your old and
some of the money necessary to pay expenses of ro-enlistment. General
St. Clair entered actively into the work of the campaign.
^ Congress was holding sessions at Baltimore.
* For an account of the victories of Trenton and Princeton, and St. Clair*g
brilliant part in them, pee i)p. 80 t<» 44 of this volume.
380 The St. Qair Papers.
very worthy friend, Major Dick Butler,' who longs much to see
you. The bad treatment the Major and some other officers of the
regiments have met with, requires the notice of every General in the
army who wishes to serve his country, and as I know well your
steady attachment to both your friends and country, make no doubt,
when you are informed how matters stand respecting the officers in
Colonel Mackay's regiment, but you will take such steps as will en-
able those who think themselves injured to vindicate their characters,
and purge the army, as soon as possible, of those who have acted
out of character as gentlemen and officers.
The. good of the service has obliged me to make use of arguments
with the Major and Mr. Huffnagle, to engage them to continue in
the regiment after tliey can have a hearing before a court-martial.
I must confess tliey have suffered much, but they must be prevailed
on to continue, or the usefulness of the regiment will be lost. We
both know the Colonel to l)e a good officer j and a man of strict honor
and great goodness of heart, but it wUl be impossible for him alone
to manage the regiment or get duty done, if the Major and Mr.
Huffnagle leave him. From what I have been well informed of, I
think some of the officers must go to the left about, and Huffnagle
will make an excellent Major, and as the ranks of the captains are
not yet fixed, it can't give any great uneasiness to them ; but in case
it should, I don't know any of them fit to be raised a step higher —
two only excepted — that ought to mount a ladder.
My dear 8t. Clair, when la.st I had the pleasure of seeing you,*
I even envied vou the fatitriies you had then to encounter. I now
most heartily rejoice on account of your successes, and more and
more wish t<^> share the dangers and honors that may await you.
P. S. — If you can't possibly reconcile Butler and Huffnagle to
stay in Mackay's regiment, you must see and provide for them in
one of tlic new ones. Good officers must not be lost.
' Kiohard Biitlor, the most ciistingui.shed of the fighting; Butlers. He was
soon promoted to be Lieut«»niint-Coloncl of Morgan's rifle corps, and subse-
quently Colonel of the Ninth Pennsylvunia. He was agent for Indian
nffuirs in 1787-88, and in 1791 was commi^^aioned a Major-General, com-
manded the right wing of St. Clair's army moving against the Indians, and
was killed November 4, of that year.
2 At the battle of Three Kivers, where General Thompson had the mis-
fortune to bo captured. lie was permitted to go on parol, but the delay in
his exchange bore hard on his spirits. He blamed Congress with it in a let-
ter to ^^t. Clair, written in April this year, in which ho said that as he was
n«)t permitted to curse that body, ho would turn his wrath against the Con-
stitution of Penufiylvania, which ho cursed with great heartiness.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 881
James Widson to General St. Clair.
Carlisle, January 14, 1777.
My Dear General : — It is long since I have had the pleasure of
hearing from you ; but am sensible that you have as good, if not
better, reasons for not writing than ever I had. The active and
glorious scenes in which you have lately borne a share are a sufficient
apology to your friends for not being favored with your letters. It
comforts mo to hear of you when I can not hear/m/zi you.
I have enjoyed nine days at home ; and in that time have seen
my family increased by the addition of a fine young boy. The sit-
uation of public affairs is so interesting that I find myself incapable
of fixing upon those tranquil pleasures in my library, of which I
have often formed such fond ideas when perplexed and distracted
with business.
While I can not forbear thinking of the public, I believe it will
be best for me to continue acting in it (provided that can happen
with propriety), and return to Baltimore as soon as I can leave Mrs.
Wilson.
I feel very sensibly for General Mercer's misfortune ; and for the
loss the service will sustain in being deprived for some time of his
valuable talents. I hope, however, he will, recover and do well.^
Colonel Mackay and Major Butler will inform you of the very
extraordinary proceedings of the Captains and subalterns in the
Westmoreland regiment. They have gone so far as even to sus-
pend the Major.* You know his worth and character. From all
the accounts I have had from gentlemen upon whose judgments I
can rely, I am satisfied that he has great merit as an officer ; and
that his merit has been the cause of the persecution raised against
him. But I need not stimulate your own friendshij) for him.
These committee appointments play vengeance. K the Captains
and subalterns succeed in this stroke against their Major, I have no
doubt but that the next one will bo aimed at the head of the Colonel.
Indeed, I have good reason to conclude that this Ls part of the plan
originally laid.
^This refers to the bjittle of Princeton, in the early part of which General
Mercer was mortally wounded. As he was left in the care of the Quaker
family named Clark, where ho fell, his fate was not known at the time thiB
letter was written.
"This is the same difficulty referred to in the letter of General Thompson.
On account of appointments being made on recommendation of committees,
the subordinate otEcers attempted to dictate who should be field officers.
882 The St. Clair Papers.
General Arthur St. Clair to James Wilson.
MoRRiSTOWN, February 10, 1777.
Dear Sir: — I was favored with a letter from you yesterday. I
heartily congratulate you on the addition to your family. As Mrs.
Wilson has recovered, such a nine days was worth an age. I wish
it was possible that you could enjoy the tranquil pleasures of retire-
ment, but it is not a time to think of them; and believe me, my
dear friend, although it is not much to your taste, your figure is at
least as respectable in public as amiable in private life.
Colonel Mackay is not yet come up, and I have just heard that he
lies sick at Trenton, but I have made the (xencraP acquainted with
the confusion and the causes of it that prevails in that regiment,
and I have no doubt that the authors will meet with their deserts.
This willbe handed you by Major OUendorf, an officer, I believe,
of merit, and who, it seems to me, h^ been sent here upon a wild
goose chase. Most of the foreigners that have yet been employed
are mere* adventurers, but I do not believe that in his case ; he has
behaved well here. After all tliis j^reface, I don't know what should
follow, but it is next to imposvsible that an utter stranger, and one
who has not the language of the country, should succeed in raising
a corps, and the ex]>en?es attending frequent journeys are so much
greater than the allowance that it can not but disgust those who
have no attachments but tlie profession of a soldier. If some of-
ficers were appointed to him wlio have connections, his corps might
he raided, and I am fully persuaded it would not be long before he
would discipline them.
This moment I received vours of the 28th ultimo. I am very
sorry that neither Colonel Irvine nor Mr. Smith have succeeded,
which I informed you of before. The General does not choose to go
so largely into the horse as Congress has empowered him ; at least
until he sees the regiments he has already officered nearly complete ;
wlien that hap])ons, and more horse sliould be thought necessary.
Colonel Irvine has, I believe, his promise, and I have it likewise for
Mr. Smith; and the general has pleased to express unea.siness that
application hud not be^n made earlier.
Tlie enemy are still in Jersey, but thevhave very little rest. We
give them a brush every other day, and we are certain that they
are in great want of both forage and provisions. They can not
possibly stay here. But where will they go to? Perhaps to Dela-
^ General WHsliiiigton.
(.Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc, 383
ware River. That is, however, my way of thinking ; and had we
somebody at the head of the army in New York, they would soon
be obliged to go somewhere else ; but I must not speak ill of my
superiors, and indeed I do not know the man at all.
Major Ollendorf waits for this letter. I assure (you) I have not
ceased to write by every opportunity. You will get them all by
and by, and I shall continue to do so, for I know but few things in
this world that gives me greater pleasure.^
Tom Smith is here, and I write this at Colonel Biddle's office, who
sends a whole bundle of correspondence.
St. Claib Promoted for Gallantry at Trenton and
Princeton.
Baltimore, February 22, 1777.
Sir : — ^The Congress having been pleased to promote you to the
rank of major-general in the army of the United States, I do my-
self the pleasure to inclose your commission. Confident of your
ardor in the cause of America, and of your attachment to her liber-
ties, I am persuaded you will, on all occasions, show yourself every
way deserving the honor your country has now conferred upon you.
With the warmest wishes for your health and prosperity, I have
the honor to be, sir, your most obedient and humble servant,
JoiiN Hancock, Preit
You will please to acknowledge the receipt of this letter and com-
mission.
Hon. Major-Geneilvl St. Clair.
James Wilson to Major-Gexeral St. Clair.
February 20, 1777.
My Dear Sir: — Yesterday, Congress proceeded to the promotion
of general officers. There was much difficulty and delicacy in set-
tling the principles on which the promotions ought to be founded.
I expressed my sentiments in favor of adhering to the line of action
before marked out, but said that if it were proper to deviate from
that line, you witc the officer in whose favor the alteration ought to
be made. Lord Sterling, General Mifflin, yourself. General Ste-
*The original letter is in the possession of Lewis J. Ciflt, BsQk Cincinnati.
384 The St. Clair Papers.
phen, and General Lincoln were chosen major-generalB. I need not
express my satisfaction at your promotion. I feel peculiarly
pleased that I have seen the event take place before I leave Con-
gress.
I am exceedingly hurt that our deserving friend, General Thomp-
son, was passed over. It is a misfortune sufficient to be a prisoner.
I am, however, willing to believe that the only reason with many
gentlemen for omitting him was an apprehension that a promotion
would increase the difficulty of his exchange.
If you have not already engaged yourself, you will much oblige
me by appointing Billy Bird your aid-de-camp. You will recollect
that, when he first entered into service, I was solicitous he should
be formed under you. You know, however, of his activity. He
is young, but he is far from being perfect in sense and judgment. If
he is not yet exchanged, I hope his exchange will soon take place.
I have been informed that he has either obtained, or has a prospect
of obtaining, a lieutenancy in the Light Horse. But I would, on
every account, prefer what I now recommend him to. '
I have good reason to believe, and think it not improper to hint,
that the important command of Ticonderoga is destined for your
next campaign.* I presage it a theater of glory.
CoLONFX Wayne- to President of Congress.
Ticonderoga, February 2, 1777.
Sir: — Inclosed is the return of this garrison, together with the
appraisement and receipt for goods sent to the public store. You
^ Judge Wilson's prediction was correct. But, after St. Clair's promotion,
and before his appointment to the Northern Department, ho continued to
serve under Washington. On the 10th of March, General Washington asked
General Gates, who was in command at Philadelphia, to resume the office of
adjutant-general, and notified him that lie should send Major-General St.
Clair to take his place. Gates was looking for something else; declined the
place of adjutant-general, and on the 2oth of March was appointed by Con-
gress to the command of the Northern Dep:irtment, in place of General
Schuyler. On the *J2d of May following, ho was superseded by General
Schuyler. General St. Clair had been selected to servo as second in com-
mand, but he did not leave his post at Philadelphia until General Schuyler's
restoration.
2 Colonel Anthony W^ayno had been placed in command of the garrison
at Ticonderoga in the latter part of the preceding November, with instruc-
tions to complete the fortifications. Little could be done at that, as the want
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 885
^ill observe that only two small regiments of militia have yet ar-
rived to relieve the old garrison, and that the Second and Fourth
regiments of Pennsylvania, whose times were expired near a month,
have marched for Philadelphia ; the Sixth regiment, belonging to
the same State, will also march the 8th instant ; their times expired
the 9th of January, so that if troops don't shortly arrive, this gar-
rison will be left very weak indeed. I have wrote timely and fre-
quently to General Schuyler on the occasion, and have once more
urged him to push up troops and provisions with all possible dis-
patch. I am sorry to say that this post has been much neglected,
and unless speedy and vigorous measures are used in gathering in
supplies, the season will be lost in which it can be done ; and per-
haps, after all the expense and trouble in endeavoring to render the
post tenable, it will be left an easy prey to the enemy, owing to a
lack of troops and supplies. I shall omit nothing in my power to
guard against a surprise, and although our numbers are few, yet I
am under no apprehension but I shall be able to maintain this post
(unless provisions fiiil) until a sufficient reinforcement can have time
to arrive. I hope soon to have it in my power to give you some in-
formation of the motions or intentions of the enemy in this quarter.
Colonel Anthony Wayne to IVIajor-General Gates.
0
TicoNDEROOA, Febnuiry 4, 1777.
My Dear General: — ^This garrison now consists of only four weak
regiments — one Pennsylvania, one New Jersey, and two regiments
of militia from the State of the Massachusetts Bay, amounting in
the whole to about twelve hundred, sick and well. That from Penn-
sylvania will march the day after to-morrow ; we shall then be re-
duced to nine hundred. I have not been able to prevail on the
Eastern troops to stay one hour longer than the expiration of their
time.
I have done every thing that lay in my power to render this post
tenable, by surrounding the works with wide and good abcUia.
I have also provided timber for the block-houses, which will be
erected in a few days, and dropped the notion of pickets, as we
of clothing and hospital stores rendered the condition of the men so wretched
as to preclude all other thought but that of trying to preserve life until
spring should come.
25
386 The St. Clair Papers.
could not man them. Cumberland Bay is yet open ; otherwise we
should, in all probability, have received a visit long since from the
enemy, who, as I learn, had collected all the sleighs in Canada for
the purpose.
I have a prospect of being soon reinforced from the eastward. In
the present debilitated state of the garrison we can do little more
than mount the proper guards, keep out the usual scouts, and find
firewood, a stock of which I wish to have beforehand in case of an
attack, which probably will not be before the lake breaks up, unless
Cumberland Bay should close soon. I should esteem it as a particular
favor if you could get me relieved, my health being much impaired.
I have been necessitated to act as quartermaster, commissary, en-
gineer and commandant, and worried with wretches applying for
discharges or furloughs, as you used to be, until I am become a mere
skeleton.
I am next to inform you that this post has been too much ne-
glected, and I fear, notwithstanding all the expense and trouble we
have had last summer and this winter to render it tenable, it will be
left an easy prey to the enemy for want of proper supplies to main-
tain an army in the spring, owing to a supineness somewhere.
Present my most respectful compliments to General Washington
and Generals Mifflin and St. Clair.
Colonel Anthony Wayne to General Schuyler.
TicoNDEROGA, February 4, 1777.
Sir: — I have the pleasiu*e to inform you that an officer, with part
oi Colonel 's regiment, arrived here last evening from Num-
ber Four, and says the whole regiment, consisting of upwards of
three hundred men, may be expected in two or three days. They
are from the State of New Hampsliire, and enlisted during the war.
They are coming at a very seasonable time, as the Sixth Penn-
sylvania Battalion are just about to leave the ground, and our gar-
rison so debilitated that we were hard pushed for men to furnish the
necessary guards, scouts, and fatigues.
I have a scouting party down the lake as far as Gilliland's Creek,
where it is said some Indian tracks have lately been discovered.
The enemy have given out that they intend paying us a visit,' but
that they can not do so unless Cumberland Bay shuts up ; as yet it
is open, and probably will c(jntinuc so during the winter, unless
tlicre comes very severe weather indeed.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 387
I have been necessitated to stop a number of sleighs to haul the
abatis, treating them with kindness and paying them for their
labour. I have heard no complaint, and conclude they are well
content.
I have in view a project of driving piles across the channel oppo-
site one of the redoubts, to which a boom may be fixed that will be
a sufficient barrier against the enemy's vessels. This will require a
goofl deal of labour.
If it should meet your approbation, please to order up one of the
engineers to superintend the work.
I shall be able to communicate to him the plan and manner in
which it may be executed.
Colonel Anthony Waynk to General Schuyler.
TicoNDEROGA, 2Srd Marchy 1777.
Dear Oeneral : — ^It is the opinion of those who are best acquainted
with Lake Champlain, that it will be navigable in the course of two
or three weeks at farthest. It is, therefore, my duty to inform you that
we have not more than twelve hundred men, sick and well, officers inr
dudedy on the ground ; four hundred of which are militia, whose times
expire in ten days ; nor from what I can learn, by the best authority,
is there any probability of a sufficient number of troops arriving
from the eastward, for a very considerable time, as few, if any of
their regiments are near full, and great part of those who were en-
listed have deserted or are straggling through the country. Add to
this, that their officers seem seized with a general torpor (which can
not be accounted for), especially at a time when every effort is ab-
solutely necessary to push on the troops, and to give them some idea
of duty and discipline previous to their entering into action.
I must beg, sir, that you would once more endeavor to rouse the
public officers in those States from their shameful lethargy before it
be too late. I do assure you that there is not one moment to spare
in bringing in troo])s and the necessary sup[)lies. The few men I
have on the ground are put to hard, very hard duty ; but they go
through all with a ready cheerfulness, conscious of the pressing ne-
cessitv.
Whilst I am writing, Mr. Adams, who lives at Lake George
landing, has arrived almost spent. He, with Captain Baldwin of
the Bangers, belonging to Stillwater, and twenty-one men, were
made prisoners at Sabbath-day Point by a party of Ox^hnawago In-
dians and Canadians, amounting to about twenty, under the com-
888 The St. Clair Pampers.
mand of Captain McCoy, of the Regulars. Lieutenant Henry,
with five others belonging to Colonel Van Schaiek's regiment, are
killed. Adams and two of the soldiers were taken last Wednes-
day afternoon. Captain Baldwin and the other prisoners were sur-
prised and taken asleep, at the Point, about three o'clock the next
morning. Lieutenant Henry defended himself with great bravery
for a considerable time, dangerously wounding two of the Lidians
with his navy. He at last fell, worthy of a better fate. Adams
says he informed him of another party hovering round this post ;
but, if that was true, I believe they would not have mentioned it.
He further says that the Indians came by the way of Omergotchy,
and that he was set at lilx}rty on account of being weakly and a
former acquaintance of Captain McCoy, who also informed him that
the enemy arc collected at St. John's, Chambly, and Montreal, and
their vicinity. I have sent Captain Whitcomb, with a party of
Rangers, to bury the dead, and hope soon to retaliate on the Brit-
ish butchers.
Colonel Wayne to Governor Bowdoin and Council of
Massachusetts Bay.
TicoxDEROGA, 2bth Match, 1777.
Gentlemen: — A party of Cochuawago Indians, under the com-
mand of a Captain McCoy, of the British forces, have killed sev-
eral of our people, and taken Captain Baldwin, with twenty-one
men, prisoners, at a j)lace called Sabbath-day Point, on the 20th
instant, by which means the eueniy, who are now all collected at Mon-
treal, Chambly, 8t. John's, and their vicinity, will be but too soon
informed of the debilitated state of this garrison, which at present
does not consist of more than twelve hundred men, sick and well,
officera included, four hundred of which are militia from Berkshire
and Hampshire, in your State, whose times expire in ten days — hut
this in confidence.
It is the opinion of those who are best acquainted with the Lake
Chami)lain, that it will be navigable in the course of two or three
weeks at farthest, so that we have eveiy reason to expect that the
enemy here in full force as soon as that happens, being ready pre-
jMired for the purpose.
Ft is my duty, therefore, to requei^t you, in the most pressing
manner, to use every ix)ssible means in pushing on the troops —
properly equipped. Kearly one-half of those who arrived are destitute
of arms and accouterments, and sent on without any officers, except
a few subalterns. For God sake, rouse your field and other officers
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 889
^m their lethargy. It is their duty to be on the spot, in order
to maneuver their people, and to give them some idea of discipline
previous to their entering into action.
* I would beg leave to suggest that the most speedy way of for-
warding the baggage and other necessaries, through tJiese bad roads,
will be by pack-horses ; you can not use too much dispatch ; there
is not one moment to sjmre
I am confident that you have too just a sense of the importance*
of thLs place to sufter it to be lost for want of timely succors, when
in your power to throw them in. I shall, therefore, say no more on
the subject, than just to assure you that nothing shall be wanting
on my part to render the post tenable, and to defend it to the last
extremity.
Captain Reyman, a gentleman well acquainted with this lake, and
a worthy officer, who is charged with this express, will be able to
give you such other information as you may require.
Just as Captain Reyman was setting oft*, he was taken violently
ill. Lieutenant McLean is, therefore, charged with the express.
He is another trusty officer.^
Colonel Anthony Wayne to President John Hancock.
TicoNDEROGA, 2d April, 1777.
Sir: — ^The enclosed return will clearly show you the debilitated
state of this garrison. It has been very fluctuating of late. The
militia are now all gone, and those contained in the return are raised
on the new establishment. I hope soon to receive a considerable
reinforcement, as General Schuyler has dispatched expresses to the
neighboring States for that pur]x>se. I have also sent to the State
* This loiter, the first draft of which was retained by Colonel "Wayne, and
is included among the St. Clair Papers, is also found in the Massachusetts
Archives, Vol. 196, p. 324, and bears on it the following official indorsements,
which show that great care was taken to read Colonel Wayne's communica-
tions, if nothing was done worth mentioning for the relief of Ticonderoga:
In Council, March 30, 1777. Read and sent down
J NO. Avert, Dpy Secy.
In the House of Representatives, March 31, 1777. Read and committed
to Mr. Speaker Benj. Preble, Mr. Story, and Col. Bliss, with such as the
Honorable Board shall join. Sent up for concurrence.
J. Warrkn, Spkr.
In Council, March 31, 1777. Read and concurred, and Jabez Fisher, Jna
Taylor, and \Vm. Phillips, Eijq'rs, are joined.
Jno. Avery, Dpy Secy.
390 The St. Qair Papers.
of the Massachusetts Bay, urging the Council to push on the troops
and necessary supplies with all possible dispatch.
There will be an open navigation on Lake Champlain before this
reaches you, and I have reason to expect the enemy here in full
force as soon as the ice will permit. We are preparing to receive
them. The ready cheerfulness with which officers and men un-
dergo all fatigue and difficulties, I take as a happy presage that
they are determined to defend the post to the last extremity. I
can't forbear mentioning my surprise at the total neglect of the
navy. You may rest assured that the enemy have not more than
four vessels of force on the lake, exclusive of two taken from us,
and about twenty-five or thirty flat-bottomed boats. It is said that
they are building four more. Even then they w^ill have but ten,
and I am well convinced that in the course of eight weeks we could
build vessels sufficient with those we alreadv have to command the
lake ; and as to rigging, strip but the one-third of the prizes taken
from the enemy, and now laid up to the eastward, they will be more
than sufficient for the purposes ; this once done, an army of two
thousand or three thousand men will be sufficient not only to gar-
rison this post, but put the enemy in constant alarm and oblige them
to put a large army of observation in Canada.
On the contrary, let them remain in command of the lake, they
need not more than one thousand land forces, with what savages
and Canadians they can raise, to oblige us to maintain an army of
at least five thousand men to watch their motions, whilst the re-
mainder of their forces may be sent round and act in conjunction
with their troops to the southward. But was a fleet to be created,
they dare not show one man from Canada. The very expense of
paying and maintaining three thousand extraordinary for six months
WH^iild ^ivc you the command of the lake. You must at one day
have it ; thi* sooner, therefore, tlie better.
Colonel Anthony Wayne to Colonel Van Sciiaick.*
TicoNDEROOA, 13f/i April, 1777.
Sir : — Your favor of the 7th inst. I have just received. I wish
* Gozon Van Sclmick, son of Mayor Van Schaick of Albany, and one of
the best soldiers in the American army. He participated in the French
war, being advanced from lieutenant, by regular promotion, to lieutenant-
colonel in the First New York regiment. On the breaking out of the Rev-
olution, he was made colonel of the Second New York regiment ; Nov,
Correspondenccy Addresses^ Etc. 391
that the arms and cash were arrived. There were two howitzers at
Half Moon; if they are not yet sent forward, pray order them with
such ammunition, ordnance, and ordnance stores as are at Albany
(for this post) to be sent forward with all possible dispatch, let the
expense be what it will. If the roads are bad, it's only adding a
sufficient force of horses to the carriages. Our situation admits of
no delay.
I have reason to believe the enemy are advancing. A strong
party of them were discovered three days ago at the Four Brothers ;
and some of their boats were plying between that and Gilliland's
Creek. Previous to the receipt of this intelligence, I had sent a de-
tachment under Lieutenant-Colonel Bassett to that place for prov-
ender. I have since ordered another party in armed boats to try
to bring him off and cover his retreat. I hope they will effect it.
Colonel Anthony Wayne to Major-General Schuyler.
TicoNDEROGA, 14<A AprUy 1777.
Dear Oenercd : — A scouting party returned yesterday from Onion
River, with advice that the enemy have a strong detachment on the
Four Brothers, and that their boats were seen plying between that
and Gilliland*s Creek. Previous to the receipt ot this intelligence,
I had sent a party under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Bas-
sett to that creek for provender, and have since dispatched another
detachment in armed bateaux to bring- him off and cover his re-
treat. I hope they will effect it, as the loss of his party would be
too sensibly felt. We have received but a very small reinforce-
ment since the last return I made you.
I can't account for the happiness of the Eastern States with re-
spect to this post on any other principle but the general received
notion that no attack will be made here. However, a few days will
I)r<>bably reduce this matter to a certainty, as the lake has been nav-
igable about a week.
22, 1776, was placed in command of the First New York battalion, and af-
terwards sent to Cherry Valley to protect the inhabitants against the Indians;
served as brigadier-general under Lord Stirling at the battle of Monmouth,
and in April, 1779, at the head of a select force, destroyed the Onondaga set-
tleiiients, and received vote of thanks from Congress. Appointed brigadier-
general by. brevet October 10, 1783. He was born 1737; died July 4, 1789.
392 The St. Clair Papers.
James Wilson to Major General St. Clair.
Philadelphlv, 21ih March, 1777.
My Dear Sixi—rl have l)eeii favored with two letters from you
since my return to Philadelphia. Your promise to write to me
once a week gives me great pleasure, hut it will give me still greater
pleasure to see you soon. This, I have some hopes, will be the
case, as General Gates is now apix)inted to the command at Tieon-
deroga.^ I can more than conceive what you feel at your long ab-
sence from your family.
You particularly oblige me by reserving a place for Billy Bird.
As some late difficulties arc now removed from the cartel, his ex-
change, I hope, may soon take place.
I have resumed my seat in Congress. My reason is, that if at
any time I can be useful to my country, I can at Hm. Pennsylvania
is in the greatest confusion ; - i)erha])s order may, at last, arise from
it. The very critical situation of public affairs is of much advan*
tage to the Assembly and their friends.
I shall write you more fully, soon.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
MoRRLSTOWN, 18^1 ^j>ri7, 1777.
Dear Sir: — I am favored with vours of the 15th.' I have wrote
* "The Congress ha vo directed General Gates to take General Fernioy
with him to Tic«)nder()ga, and >uch other French officers as he may think
proper. General St. Clair being ordered to Ticonderoga, b^it previously to
repair to this city to a wait the further order of Congress, you will please to
direct him to re}wiir here accordingly as soon as possible." — PrcsUletit Han'
cock to (Jrncral Wdshingtou, April 4, 1777.
*The return of Mr. Wilson to C<^ngress was in compliance with the ear-
nest entreaties of General Washington, who greatly needed at this time the
8uppt)rt o^ the best men of the country. The situation in Pennsylvania is
described by tht» ConimandiM'-in-C'liief in a letter to General Schuyler, writ-
ten at Morristown. in March (See Spc.-ks, Vol. lY., p. 3W): "The disaffeO'
tion in Pefinsylvania, which I fear is much beyond anything you have con*
ceive«l, and the depression of the people of this State, render a strong sup'
port necessary to prevent a systematical submission ; besides, the loss of
Philadelphia would j)rove a very great injury, as we draw from thence al*
most all our supjilies."
*This letter ha< n(»t been found among the St. Clair Papers, but the 8ub»
jects on which it treated are indicated in the above reply. The communi*
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 398
fully to Congress upon the inexpediency and indeed danger of form-
ing a camp at Bristol before I am reinforced more strongly here,
and I hope they will accord with me.
I am of opinion, with you, that General Howe will never attempt
Philadelphia without first making a stroke at the army collected
here. At the same time that I thank you for the desire you express
for serving in this department, I applaud yoiu* resolution of submit-
.ting cheerfully to whatever post is assigned you.*
President Hancock to General St. Clair.
Philadelphia, April 30, 1777.
Sir : — The Congress having received intelligence of the approach
of the enemy towai*ds Ticonderoga, have thought proper to direct
you to repair thither without delay. I have it, therefore, in charge
to transmit the enclosed resolve, and to direct that you immediately
set out on the receipt hereof
Colonel Anthony Wayne to General Gates.
Ticonderoga, 25^ April, 1777.
Dear General: — Our force is so very small that, after furnishing
the necessary guards — garrisoning the block-houses and half man-
ning the vessels, together with the usual scouts — we have very few
cation of Washington to Congress, referred to in the above letter, is not
included in Sparks's collection.
* St. Clair had expressed a desire to bo under Washington, but, while not
being pleased with the resolve of Congress assigning him to Ticonderoga,
he proceeded to that post with the alacrity of a good soldier.
* General St. Clair's appointment to the command of Ticonderoga gave
great umbrage to General Sullivan, who thought he should have been first
preferred. On the 16th March General Washington took notice of his
pique in a kind but severe letter, which opened in these words: "Do not,
my dear General Sullivan, torment yourself any longer with imaginary
slights, and involve others in the perplexities you feel on that score," and
then proceeds to justify the assignment of St. Clair and other officers, and
concludes: ** But I have not time to dwell upon a subject of this kind. I
shall quit it with an earnest exhortation, that you will not suffer yourself to
he teased with evils that only exist in the iuiai^ination, and with slights that
liave no existence at all; keeping in mind, at the same time, that, if distant
mrmies are to be formed, there are several gentlemen before you in point of
xank, who have a right to claim a preference.'^
894 The St. Clair Papers.
men left for fatigue. Our whole force, officers, artificers, saflofs,
mariues, artillery, rank and file, sick and well, don't amount to
nineteen hundred — one-fourth part of whom are destitute of anns,
so that I have been necessitated to substitute spears in their place.
And, from w^hat I can learn, there is not much probability of our
having any great addition to this force, for a very considerable
time — so that the militia are absolutely necessary to assist in putting
the place in some better position of defense, as we can't out of this
debilitated army furnish fatigue men sufficient for the purpose. I
have sent Lieutenant Barber to Albany for four hundred stand of
arms, as it will require that number to complete those who are now
on the ground without any. You will please to order then\ on
with all possible dispatch. We have secured the pass between
Mount Independence and Ticonderoga in such a manner that the
enemy's ships can not get through below ; and, in case of an at-
tack, you may rest assured that this post shall be defended until
succours can have time to arrive.
State of New Hampshire in Committee of Safety to Dele-
gates IN Congress.
May 10th, 1777.
Oentlemen: — About one-half of the troops proportioned to this
State to raise as their quota for the Continental Army have marched
for Ticonderoga, iiud most of them, we suppose, are at that place by
this time. Another quarter will be on their march in a very few
days, and tlic remainder as soon as possible. Every nerve is exert-
ing among the friends of the country to engage and forward them.
They arc but very ill clothed, and, as cloth can not be procured
on any terms for that purpose, unless Congress will order Colonel
Laugdon to let the State have some out of those in his hands, which
we desire you to endeavor to procure. We have scarce any stock
of lead and flints, and only three small field pieces in the State;
therefore would liave you solicit orders to Colonel Langdon to keep
in this State three or four field pieces, and such quantity of lead and
flint as the general concern will admit of; a company of artillery-
men will voluntarily euij^age in this town. A great number of our
militia are without fire-arms, and the greater part they have are but
ordinary — if there is such a supply on the continent that consist.
eutly a small magazine might be left in this State, to be used only
in ca.se of an attack, it might be of great advantage. We have
Correspondence^ AddresaeSj JBte. 895
many circumstances come to hand which make it probable a descent
will soon be made on our coast. We have made several discoveries
of combinations made by the Tories in Hillsborough and western
parts of Massachusetts Bay, and upper part of this county ; we
have reason to believe, by information of persons on oath, that
some have combined to take arms and join the enemy, when an op-
portunity offers ; though we hope their numbers are not large. We
have just heard a hogshead of entrenching tools is discovered under
a barn in Holies, and a considerable of liquors, some provisions and
firearms in and about Groton in the Massachusetts. Interesting
matters are opening, and it is probable all our jails w411 soon be
filled with these more than monsters in the shape of men, who
would wreck their native country, in hopes tx) have some of the
plunder. Although our difficulties are great, and appear to be in-
creasing, yet a spirit seems to rise with the difficulties among most
of our people which we hope will not easily be crushed.
General Gates to General Washington.
Albany, 30/^ May, 1777.
Sir: — Late last night the inclosed from General Poor,* was
1 TicoNDKROQA, May 27, 1777. — 10 o'clock at night.
Dear Sir: — Preparatory to the execution of a plan to surprise any ports
which the enemy may have established on the lake. I thought it proper
yesterday to dispatch a reconnoitering party, with orders to proceed to Split
Rock, laiit night, to spend this day in observation, and return in the evening
to an established rendezvous, and make his report. It has returned to this
place in the moment of the embarkation of the detachment, and informs us
that they, this morning, landed at Split Rock, about break of day, within
one hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's advance boat, which the ap-
proach of day discovered, together with two schooners and six gondolas, all
within three hundred yards of them. He observed on the west shore about
forty bateaux, but as there was a thick fog, he could only discover the form
of the vessels, a number of fires. A very heavy morning gun was dis-
charged lower down the lake — he thinks at Schuyler's Island. As this re-
port induced the strongest suspicions of the enemy's approat;!), I thought it
my duty to forward it to you as speedily as possible, and shall be proud to
receive your commands.
You know the strength of the garrison by the last general returns. If
the post should be invested, which I firmly believe, I much dread we shall
suffer for pruvisi(»ns. I am, dear sir,
Your most obedient and ready humble servant,
Ekogh Poor.
Hajor-General Gates.
896 The St. Clair Papers.
brought me by express from Ticonderoga. X also inclofie your Ex-
cellency a general return of the garrison at that post, dated the 24th
instant, by which you will perceive the shameful deficiency in the
numbers proper for its defense.' Artillerists are likewise much
wanted. I always expected six companies ; two is as many as can
be said to be there. The bad weather of late has so cut up the
roads that the transportation of stores, cannon, and provisions has
been extremely delayed. I am this moment sending expresses to
the Eastern States, with a copy of General Poor's letter to each,
and a pressing requisition for an immediate reinforcement of men,
either by corps of militia or a draught to complete the regiments
now at Ticonderoga.
Your Excellency and Congress may be assured that every thing
possible for the safety and preservation of that important post shall
be attempted — but, at the same time, it is to be wished the means
may be found adequate to the end.
General St. Clair' to General Schuyler.
Ticonderoga, June 13, 1777.
Dear General: — Here follows the substance of the information
given by two meu from Canada, taken prisoners by one of our par
ties on Onion Kiver:
^ May 28th, Gonernl Poor wrote to General Fellows that the garrison of
Ticonderoga consisti'd of two thousand two hundred and forty, rank and
lile. On the uOth, General (Jat(^s inclosed copies of the above letters to the
President and Council of the Massachu.setts Bay, and added: "Tho fifteen
hundred militia order«'d from tlie County of Hampshire, are not one-third
arrived, and from what I hear they are likely to be very deficient. I beg
leave to as^sure you that there is not ii moment to be lost. Thosafety of the
Northern frontier of the Eastern States requires the spirited exertions of
the powers of Gov(^rnment to f^avethcm from invasion." Sixth of June, the
Massachusf'tts Legi-slature directed that the various officers in the counties
charged with raising troops bo required to provide the same, by draft if
necessary, l»y tiio 20th of the month. Very little attention seems to have
been paid t<> tlieso orders.
^General St. Clair arrived at Ticonderoga and assumed command on the
12th, the day before the above letter was written, lie had been instructed
by Congress as to the manner of completing the fortifications, and had been
assured that the J5riti>h would transfer the larger part of their forces by
water to aid General Howe in taking Pliiladelphia, which all, including
General "Washington, thought to be the objective point of the present cam-
' Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 897
That General Biirgoyne is arrived in Canada, but has brought no
trooi)s with him ; that the British army is assembling as fast as pos-
sible at St. Johns ; that the light infantry, which they call the flying
army, commanded by General Fraser, is already advanced to Point-
au-Fer; that the whole army is said to consist of about ten thou-
sand men, a part of which, with Indians under the^ command of Sir
John Johnson, and Canadians under Captain Mackay, are to pene-
trate the country by the Mohawk River, whilst the rest of the army
under General Burgoync, crosses the lake to attack this place ; that
their fleet (a particular account of which is in the inclosed letter to
General Sullivan) is all in the lake, and we may depend on their
being here in a fortnight at farthest.
From the nature and circumstance of the pass granted to one of
the two, which I liere inclose, and his own account of the manner
in which he was sent from INIontreal, viz. : to search for plans of the
country which he pretended to know were hid at Metcalf s, and his
being possessed of a considerable sum of Continental money, and
some gold and silver, I have the strongest suspicion of his being a
spy,^ and have secured him as such and sent him down to you, both
paign, and that to cover that movement a feint would be muuc towards
Ticonderoga. This the Board of War had received from reliable authority.
St. Clair was to prepare for the reception of a small British force, designed
to prevent any Eastern troops from being sent to the relief of Washington,
and this he was to do behind fortifications erected on ground commanded by
eminences within cannon shot. The British vessels controlled the lakes
»
and the only way he could procure information of the enemy was by send-
ing scouts through an almost impenetrable forest lining the shores of the
lakes.
On his way to his post of duty, General St. Clair stopped at Albany to
confer with General Schuyler. The instructions of that oflBcer were given
under date of Juno 5th. By those ho was informed that " As the whole of
our force in the Northern Department, if collected at Ticonderoga, would
not be capable of properly manning the extensive works on both sides of the
lake," it would be advisable to devote his first care to Mount Independence
which was the most defensible, and might be made to sustain a seige; that
frequent scouts should bo kept out as far as Crown Point; that the boom
should bo strcMi'^tlHinod by driving piles, so as to prevont the passing of ves-
sels to the south end of the lake; that as provisions were scarce, great
economy should be exercised; that attention should be given to requiring
the men to be cleanly in order to preserve their health; and gave him ten
thousand dollars for contingent expenses.
* Amsbury, the supposed spy, when examined by General Schuyler, con.
firmed the story related to St. Clair. " He stated that the British forces
were approaching St. John's, and were to advance under General Burgoyne,
and also that a detachment of British troops, Canadians and Indians was to
398 The St. Clair Papers.
that you might have an opportunity to examine him yourself, and
that, if you should think of him as I do, he might be tried at Al-
bany, where, should he be found guilty, the sentence will probably
l^ more adequate to the crime than here ; for I find the officer, who
lately suffered a spy he had in charge to escape, through grossest
misconduct, has been honorably acquitted by a court-martial.
You will likewise find a letter from Colonel Bailey, containing
the intelligence brought by two Frenchmen sent down by Greneral
Gates. Though their intelligence diflTers very materially, they agree
penetrate the country by the way of Mohawk River. He added other par-
ticulars respecting the strength and arrangements of the British army, which
turned out to be nearly accurate, but of which no intelligence had before
been obtained or anticipated; for it had been a favorite idea with Congress
und the Commander-in-Chief that the British would not operate in force
from Canada during the present campaign, but that the troops would be
chiefly brought round by water to reinforce General Howe. Hence the
small preparations for the defense of Ticonderoga, and for forming a
Northern army." — Sparks, Vol. IV., p. 467.
General Washington commented on this information in a letter to Gen-
eral Schuyler, under date of June 20th: '* Supposing the plan mentioned
in Amsbury's evidence to be true, I can not conceive that it will be in the
power of the enemy to carry it into execution; but to provide against all
events, I have ordered General Putnam to hold four Massachusetts regiments
in readiness at Peekskill to go up the river at a moment's warning, and to
order sloops from Albany, which are to be kept for that purpose. It does
not appear that Burgoyne has brought any reinforcements from Europe. If
this is eo, he can not move with a greater force than five thousand men. He
certainly will never leave the garrison of Ticonderoga in his rear; and if
he invests it to any purpose, he will not have a sufficient number loft to send
one body from Oswego and another to cut off" the communication between
Fort Edward and Fort George. As the garrison at Ticonderoga is sufficient
to hold it against any attack,^ I do not think it politic, under your repre-
sentation of the scarcity of provisions, to send up troops to consume what
ought to be thrown into the fort I draw a very favorable omen
from the intercepted letter to General Sullivan.^ It shows that they despair
of carrying their scheme by force, and are reduced to the necessity of having
recourse to the arts of flattery, bribery and intimidation."
1 General Wushington did not have a clear conception of the nature of the works
at Ti(Mjndero};n, which he thought the enemy would have to assail directly in front,
as in former wars; nor did he seem to understand that the troops ordered from Mas-
sachusetts hud not come in, notwithstanding the representations of General 8t Cl&ir.
and, before him, Generals Gates and Wayne.
2 Amsbury related that before leaving Montreal a Judge Levins had given him a
canteen, with instructions to give it to General Sullivan, whom he supposed to com-
mand at Ticonderoga. an«l to request General Sullivan to remove a false bottom in
the canteen, under which ho would find a letter. The bottom was removed, and a
letter found as described.
Correspondence, Addresses, Etc. 399
in the circumstance of General Burgoyne's arrival ; and if these
fellows have really been sent by him to see what we are about, there
was no method more likely to procure them an easy reception than
that of giving an account of the preparations in Canada, and car-
rying, or pretending to carry, letters from our friends. The letter
to General Sullivan may, notwithstanding, be genuine, and Ams-
bury says it was wTitten by one Michael Shannon. This name is
found upon a separate piece of paper, in a fair hand, which he
seemed unwilling to part with, and which I suppose to have been a
private signal by which he was to be known upon his return.
If the enemy intend to attack us, I assure you, sir, we are very ill-
prepared to receive them. The whole amount of Continental troops,
fit for duty, is fifteen hundred and seventy-six, rank and file, ex-
clusive of Baldwin's artificers and WhitcomVs fifty-two rangers.
Besides these, there are three regiments of Hampshire militia, en-
gaged for no particular term, and who go off* whenever they please.
One hundred and fifty are gone since last return ; two regiments of
Sfctssachusetts militia, of two hundred and fifty rank and file, fit for
duty, engaged for two months from their arrival, three weeks of
which with some of them is already expired.
Among the number returned sick there is no doubt but many
would be useful in case of necessity, but, at any rate, we can not
reckon upon more than twenty-two hundred men.
I am very much concerned to give you this disagreeable detail,
but I have something worse to add to it. We can not increase our
numbers by calling in the militia without ruin ; for, by the com-
missary's return and the account of his weekly expenditure, there is
meat for seven weeks only on the ground, and he has no prospect
of any supply of salt meat, but from some place near Stillwater,
nor of fresh, but by sending to New England for it. This I have
desired to do, but must own I have little prospect of advantage from
it; for be assured that, and indeed every other communication,
may and will very easily be cut off*. I have heard of some cattle
below Crown Point, which I shall send for to-morrow.
The bridge goes on tolerably well, but, indeed, is a very heavy,
troublesome job. The caissons. Colonel Baldwin says, will be all
sunk by the end of next week. In the meantime, I have ordered
the floating bridge to be removed to the lower side of them, which
will serve as a kind of second boom, and retard at least, if not pre-
vent, the enemy's vessels from passing, should they attempt it.
A magazine of wood should be laid in immediately, but how to
effect it I know not, as there are no teams here of any kind, and
400 The St. Clair Papers.
not a stick upon the Mount. All of the timber for the bridge is
hauled out of the woods by hand, and employs a much greater num.
ber of men than would otherwise be necessary, and might be employed,
and are wanted, for other purposes. What can the quartermaster
mean by leaving this place, where so many works are to be carried
on, without so necessary an article as draught-cattle?
The tents here are, in general, very bad. I must beg you, my
dear general, to hasten up the new tents, for I shall get no good of
the troops here, in any way, whilst they remain in barracks.
Our powder-magazines are in so wretched a state, that I am told
near fifty pounds of powder a week is damaged. In short, every
thing is so much out of order, that I will add no more to this list
of grievances, than to tell you we have no cartridge paper.
When I write again, I hope to have something more agreeable to
entertain you with.
P. S. I forgot to mention a paper in which Amsbur/s money was
wrapped, and is also inclosed ; it is blurred and blotted, but you
will observe it contains a letter from Eph. Jones to his brother,
dated Jime 2d, about the time Amsbury left Montreal, and is a cor-
roborating circumstance of the fellow's evil design.
I should have called upon the militia* but for the state of our mag-
azine. Should they come in fast, which I believe they would, they
might eat us out before either the arrival of the enemy or the sup-
plies. Please give your direction on this head as soon as possible.
The bateaux are in ruin for want of pitch and tar, which Colonel
!May says he has often wrote for.
Adams, the other of the prisoners, seems to be an innocent fellow,
and whom Amsbury brought off with him without knowing his er-
rand ; he was taken by Mackay at the Sabbath-day Point.
1 " It 18 evident from General St. Clair's letter that it will not be proper
to ordor up the reinforcement before it is really wanted; for he very judi-
ciously observes that they will consume the stores. I can not conceive what
occafiions the delay of the Massachusetts and New Ilampshire Continental
troops; I have repeatedly written in the most pressing manner to have them
sent on, but in vain." — Washington to Schuyler in letter be/ore quoted.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 401
General St. Clair to General Schuyler.
TicoNDEROGA, Juiie 18, 1777.
Dear Oeneral : — ^Inclosed you have the returns of the troops and
stores at this place, all except the clothier's, which is so drained, I
thought it needless to ask any from him, as he has almost literally
nothing.
Since my last, I have had constant scouts out, but have made no
discovery of the enemy, save that four of their vessels are lying
about a mile on the hither side of Split Rock ; they consist of two
ships and two gondolas; and on Friday last a schooner beat up
within four miles i^f Crown Point, but, without landing any of her
people or coming to anchor, returned down the lake.
Yesterday, about noon, we had two men, who had strolled out of
camp without arms, taken by a party of savages, who had stolen
down to the roadside by Mcintosh's and the bridge, and concealed
themselves in the bushes ; they were immediately pursued as far as
Putnam's creek, but could not be overtaken ; unluckily, however,
they fell in with a scouting party I had sent down to discover the
motions of the enemy, but were upon their return, and fired upon
them unexpectedly. The officer is wounded, one man killed and
scalped, and one missing, but whether taken or not is as yet uncer-
tain. Another party, that I had ordered to proceed to Point-au-
Fer, or wherever the enemy might be, returned last night, on dis-
covering a large party of Indians on the east side of the lake, about
four miles above Crown Point. I think of sending to feel their
pulse to-night, as I am sure . it would be of consequence to give
these fellows a drubbing.
I am at a loss to form a judgment of the design of the enemy.
K they mean to attack us, one would think it indiscreet to put us
on our guard by such a trifling aflair ; and yet I can not think they
could prevail with any number of the savages to come on, unless
they had an army not far off* to support them. Be that as it will, I
shall use every precaution possible against surprise, and will en-
deavor to penetrate their designs. The same reason, notwithstand-
ing our weakness, still prevails against calling for the militia as
when I wrote last, having as yet received no supply of meat, either
fresh or salt.
Do you know, sir, any thing about the terms upon which Captain
WhitcomWs corps was raised? He informs me that by General
Gates's orders he promised his people that they should have the
26
402 The St. Clair Papers.
same bounty as the troops of the State in which they were raised,
notwithstanding they were not part of their quota. This promise
has not been complied with, and they are held by a conditional
agreement only, which expires this day. I shall be able to retain
them, however, until you favor them with your answer.
I am making some improvements on the Mount, but that and the
Ticonderoga side have such dependence upon and connection with
each other that, in my opinion, it will be very dangerous to give up
either, and yet it is certain we can not, with our present numbers,
hold both. I design, however, to make the appearance of doing it,
and afler defending Ticonderoga as long as possible, retreat to
Mount Independence.
Our guards are crowded with Tories ; they are dangerous here,
and can not be properly tried. I have ordered them to Albany.
The bridge goes heavily on ; the caissons not all sunk yet, but
the timber is almost all cut and in the water. The officers of the
fleet have not received commissions, and are very uneasy about it.
General St. Clair to James Wilson.
Ticonderoga, June 18, 1777.
Dear Sir: — This is the first time I have wrote to you since I left
Philadelphia, and am very sorry to make any complaints, but I am
much disappointed in the strength of the garrison and the state of the
fortifications at this place. Instead of their having been improved
during the winter, which was expected, they are much worse than
when I left them, a very strong al)atis, in which the security of
Mount Independence chiefly consisted, having been almost entirely
burned up in the winter, and a great part of the breastwork de-
stroyed.
This would be a matter of little consequence should it turn out
that the enemy have no designs upon us;^ that, however, is
^ " From tho enemy's situation in Jersey, collecting their force at Amboy
and Brunswick, and from their intentions last fall, confirmed by every piece
of intelligence we obtain this spring, it scarce admits a doubt that Philadel-
phia is the object in view at the opening of this campaign. If this be their
aim, it appears to me hiirhly probable, their army being greatly reduced
since the commencement of the last campaign, that they will bring round
all the troops from Canada to reinforce those here. What Berves to confirm
mo in this opinion is the facility with which a junction can be made in this
way, the necessity they are under of a reinforcement, and the great •eouriiy
Correspondence^ Addresses ^ Etc. 408
dodbifnl, though, by some intelligence I have received, I am
induced to think they are meditating an attack. Should this
be the case, I fear they will be but too successful, as our num«
bers are greatly unequal to the vast extent of ground we must oc-
cupy. I shall do the best, however, I can, and if they should not
be repulsed, I hope to see them so crippled as not to be able to pur-
sue their journey. In serious earnest, this place has been too much
neglected, and it is disagreeable enough for a man to see himself in
a place from whence a retreat is impossible, with a force insufficient
for the defense of it, and that you will readily perceive. Our
works would demand ten thousand men, and I have not more than
twenty-two hundred. I shall endeavor, however, to support both
sides of the lake as long as it can be done, and finally retreat to the
Mount. Men, however, might be got here had we provisions, but
we are so short in that article that I dare not call in the militia, as
in a couple of weeks they would eat up the whole stock of meat.
We had one man killed and two taken prisoners by a party of In-
dians yesterday, within sight of the out guards. They had con-
cealed themselves in the bushes, and rushed suddenly upon some
unarmed men, who had strolled out a fishing. They were immedi-
ately pursued, but without success, though their flight was so pre-
cipitate that they dropped their packs and blankets. In their retreat
they fell in with a party that had been sent to make discoveries,
with whom they exchanged several rounds. The lieutenant that
commanded the party and one man are wounded, one killed and
scalped, and one missing. What injury they sustained is not known,
but it is probable they must have met with some loss, as they were
not more than ten steps distant when they fired. Another party
of Indians were discovered last night encamped on the east side of
the lake about four miles above Crown Point. I mean to speak
with them to-night, and if we can but give them a dressing it will
render them more cautious.
It is hard, with the little information we have^ to form a judg-
ment of the enemy's designs. This is certain, that General Bur-
goyne has been arrived in Canada for some time, and he has not
the command of the lakes gives them against our incursions into Canada.
Under these considerations, I can not help thinking much too large a part
of our force is directed to Ticonderoga. Peekskill appears to me a much
more proper place, where, if the troops are drawn together, they will be ad-
vantageously situated to give support to any of the Eastern or Middle
States." — General Washington to General Schuyler^ March 12, 1777. Sparka,
Vol. IV., p. 868.
404 The St. Clair Papers.
eome to pass the summer inactive. Perhaps he may take the troops
around to General Howe ; certain he will either take them there or
bring them here.
My dear friend, if you should not hear from me again, which
may probably be the case, remember that I have given you this ac-
count of our situation, and do not suffer my reputation to be mur*
dered after having been sacrificed myself.
The prospect may clear up yet, for all this.
Council of General Officers, held at Ticonderoga, on
Friday, tiie 20™ of June, 1777.
Present — Major-General Schuyler, Major-General St. Clair, Briga-
dier-General Roche de Fermoy, Brigadier-General Poor, and Briga-
dier-General Patterson.
General Schuyler requested the council to take into consideration
the state of this post, with respect to the number of troops necessary
for its defense, the disposition of the troops and mode of defense,
the state of the fortifications, and the quantity of provisions that
may be dei)ended upon.
The council having taken into their most serious consideration
the several matters stated in the first article, are clearly and unani-
mously of opinion :
Fird — That the number of troops now at this post and Mount
Independence, which are under two thousand five hundred effective
rank and file, are greatly inadequate to the defense of both posts.
Second — That both posts ought, nevertheless, to be maintained as
long as possible, consistent with the safety of the troops and stores.
Third — Tluit if it should become necessary to evacuate one or the
other of the posts, and that it remains in one election which, that it
ought to be the Ticonderoga side.
Fourth — That such cannon and stores as are not immediately nec-
essary on the Ticonderoga side, be removed without delay to
Mount Independence.
Fifth — Tliat the fortifications and lines on Mount Independence
are very deficient, and that the repairing the old and adding new
works ought to claim immediate attention ; and that the engineers
be direectcd to repair and make the necessary fortifications.
Sixtii — That the obstructions in the lake, to prevent the enemy's
naval force from getting into our rear, and thereby cutting off all
supplies, or preventing a retreat, if such a measure should unhap-
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 405
pilj become indispensably necessary, ought to be completed with all
imaginable dispatch.
Seveivth — ^That so much remains to be done effectually to complete
the obstructions, that, with the few troops we have, there is no
great probability it can be done in less than six weeks.
EiglUh — ^That, although our forces may be adequate to maintain
our ground on Mount Independence, yet, imless a sufficient stock of
provisions can be thrown in before the arrival of the enemy, we
having now only thirty-nine days' provisions of meat kind, we think
it would be imprudent to expose the army to be made prisoners by
the enemy ; and that, therefore, it is prudeut to provide for a re-
treat ; to effectuate which, that all the bateaux now at this post be
immediately repaired, and as many as can be spared out of Lake
George be brought hither.
Ninth — ^That a quantity of provision of the meat kind should,
if possible, be immediately forwarded from Albany or elsewhere.
Tenth — That immediate application be made to his Excellency
General Washington, for a reinforcement to be sent on with all pos-
sible expedition.
(Signed,) Philip Schuyler,
Arthur St. Clair,
Roche de Fermoy,
Enoch Poor,
John Patterson,
General Schuyler to General St. Clair.
Fort George, Jwie 24, 1777.
I arrived here yesterday afternoon, and am now busied in arrang-
ing matters a little, that stores may be forwarded with more regu-
larity than heretofore.
In a day or two you will receive all the pork and salted beef now
at this post, fifty barrels only excepted. Eighteen barrels are only
come from Albany since March last. When the pork and other
articles are sent on, the flour will come in the large schooner only,
until you can have more time and spare cattle to transport it from
the landing to the saw-mills. Seven barrels of tar go over to-day,
and two of iron, with all the tents that are arrived iicrc, together
with four boxes of axes, and about three hundred bushels of peas,
and about twenty new bateaux. These should be carried across the
soonest possible, and not suffered to be used. The remainder will
come on from day to day.
406 The St. Clair Papers.
Vtbj, oblige me with your commands for whatever you may need
for public or private use.
General St. Clair to General Schuyler.
TiCONDEROGA, JuTve 24, 1777.
Dear General: — Sergeant Heath, who I sent down the lake to
make discoveries, returned last night, and informs me that on Tues-
day last he saw two birch canoes going down the lake with sixteen
Indians and three white men in them, and supposes it was the party
that had done the mischief near the lines the day before. That
from a place near the mouth of Otter Creek, he saw three vessels,
under sail, beating up, one at anchor about one mile above Split
Kock, and the Thunderer behind it. From this place he likewise
descried an encampment of the enemy on lx)th sides of Gilliland's
Creek ; that, from the appearance of it, and the extent, he thinks it
must contain a great body of men, and that number of smokes arose
at a distance back, which he supposes was from the encampment of
the Indians. That on Friday last, from Pointon, he saw twenty bat-
eaux come out of Gilliland's Creek, and sail up the lake past the
Split Rock towards Ticonderogii ; that one of the inhabitants, ir
whom he could place confidence, informed him that the Indians
were very numerous; that tliey frequently cross to the east side of
the lake, and that a party of them had been at his house a few min-
utes before his arrival ; that he then returned to Otter Creek, where
he proposed to have halted to refresh his party, but, on being in-
formed that a large party of Indians were at one Briton's, he made
the best of his way here. One of his party this day fell behind a
little, and was either taken or deserted ; he susi>ects the latter, be-
cause he both waited for him, and sent back to look for him ; that
one Webb, another inhabitant, informed him that the enemy had
been four or five days at Gilliland's ; tliat they came up with a vast
number of bateaux and some gondolas; that some of the troops
come over frequently, and say tlieir whole army is there, and that
they are only waiting the arrival of the rest of their vessels and
stores, wlien thoy are to attack this j)lace.
I have no doubt that a party of the enemy are at Gilliland's, nor
that their design is to come here, but not in my opinion to attack,
but to harass us, and give confidence to their savages, who, it is
more than probable, would not have l)een prevailed upon to under-
take it without Ixnng joined by some regular troops.
Were they iu force, it is improbable they would waste time at
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 467
such a distance, in a part of the country where they can find
nothing to refresh themselves ; and I do not find that they have
made any depredations on the east side.
It is not easy to judge of a force at a distant view of an encamp-
ment, and Heath must have been six miles or more distant ftoxa
that on Gilliland's Point, a distance too great to determine any thing
with precision, although he had a glass to assist his eye. Besides,
I think the ground is not capable of encamping a great number (for
he insists on it they are not on high ground, but upon the beach
only), but of this you are a much better judge than I, as I never
saw it but once. Be the matter as it may, I shall endeavor to guard
against sur])rise, and to discover both them and their designs ; and»
if opportunity offers, feel their pulse a little.
I had all the ground between this and Crown Point, from the
lake some distance over the mountains, well examined yesterday
with a heavy scout, but they discovered no enemy, nor appearance
of any. Whitcomb says he is certain that there has not been any
Indians, but three, in that quarter since the prisoners were taken,
and that it was three or four days since these three had been there;
so that the Indians said to have been about us were, I believe, the
children of a dLstiirlxid imagination.
You had an exceedingly bad time to cross the lake, but I hope you
got well over, and without any injury to your health, though it
must have been exposed, as I doubt if you were not obliged to be
out a second night. I shall write again to you by express the mo-
ment I make any farther discoveries.
Colonel James Wilkinson to General Gates.
TicONDEROGA, H. Q., June 25fA, 1777.
My Dear General : — I have not as yet, nor shall I in future, omit
one opportunity of communicating to you every material occur-
rence in our department ; if ray letters, therefore, should not reach
you, do not accuse rac of negligence or ingratitude, but ascribe this
circumstance to that insatiable gulf, which has ever swallowed up
all intelligence either to or from this post.
The enemy by gradual movements, which have been duly trans-
mitted to General Schuyler, last evening arrived at Crown Point
with some vessels and a part of their army, who have encamped
on Chimney Point. We are induced to believe from a morning
gun, which was repeated down the lake, that their whole force is at
\
408 The St. Clair Papers.
hand, and a^ they have lately taken several prisoners, and the neigh,
bormg inhabitants have had free access to this camp, lam persuaded
they will obtain a true state of. our weakness, which will indubitably
precipitate their operations : in which case the post is inevitably lost,
for if we risk a battle the inferiority of our numbers (without a
miracle, which we aimiers have no right to expect) will subject us to
defeat and captivity ; and if we retire to Mount Independence, the
scantiness of our provisions will subject us to reduction by fiimine,
as the ejiemy, wlieu in possession of this side of the lake, can easily
remove the obstructions up the south bay, and by their fleet cut off
our communicjition from Skenesl)orougli. The militia are at our
command, but should we call them in, immediate starvation is the
consequence, as General Schuyler has lately assured us that we have
no right or reason to expect more than three hundred Imrrels of
meat in addition, and we can not subsist our present small garrison
longer than seven weeks with what is on tlie ground. The distance
from whence our supplies are derived, and the difficulty of trans-
portation, both tend to embarrass us. In this cruel situation what
can be done ? The most lau<iablc measure, in my opinion, would
be to remove our heavy artillery and stores, and the convalescents
and invalids of the army, to Fort George. Being then light and
unincuml)ered, we might, if hard pushed, eflect a retreat to that
pf)st, which would enable us to check the enemy's progress ; on the
contniry, should we attempt to support this place in our present de-
ficiout situation, we lose a//, and leave the country defenseless and
exposed. What, then, will th(»re ]ye to obstruct their favorite scheme
— a junction by th(» North River? Nothing that I can discern. You
rememlKT the state of arms I transmitted vou on mv first arrival
here; I am sorrv to inform vou tliat thev are not now better in
. * * *
quality, or superior in nunilx^r. Our men are harassed to extreme
weakness by fatigue, an<l the strong guards which we are now
obliged to estal>lish will in a little time quite break up their spirits
and constitutions. If fortitude, if enterprise, if |Kirseverance or
temerity couhl avail, I would not complain; but, in the name of
Heaven, what can be expected from a naked, undisciplined, badly
armed, unac<"outered body of men, when opposed to a vast superior-
ity of British troops?
What can be done, the great St. Clair will effect; but such is the
weakness of our numbers, that he can not form any plan of defense.
Of the two, 1 prefer death to captivity; but be the event as it will,
I shall not discrnice mv accpiaintance.
General Schuyler has been here a few days, but is now in Albany.
Correspondence, Addresses, Etc. 409
General St. Clair to General Schuyler.
TicoNDEROOA, June 25f^, 1777.
Dear OenercU: — I informed you yesterday that an encampment
of the enemy had been discovered at Gilliland's Creek ; last night
two of their vessels came up to Crown Point, and this morning
there are seven lying at that place ; the rest of their fleet is proba-
bly but a little lower down, as we hear their morning guns distinctly
at different places ; they also debarked some troops, and encamped
upon Chimney Point ; whether they have landed at Crown Point or
not, ray scout-boat did not discover, not darina: to venture far
enough down the lake, on account of the shipping ; but I have sent
out a scout on this side, which, I doubt not, will bring a just ac-
count of their situation. I can not help repeating to you the disa-
greeable situation we are in, nor can I see the least prospect of our
being able to defend the post, unless the militia come in; and,
should the enemy protract their oix^rations, or invest us, and con-
tent themselves with a simple stockade, we arc infallibly ruined.
I have thoughts of calling for the Berkshire militia, which are
nearest to us, and will probably be the most alert to come to our as-
sistance, because they are in some measure covered by this post, but
on that I shall ccmsult the other general officers. This, however, is
clear to me, that we shall l>e obliged to abandon this side, and then
they will soon force the other from us, nor do I see that a retreat
will, in any shape, be practicable. Every thing, however, shall be
done that is possible, to friLstrate the enemy's designs, but what can
be expected from troops ill armed, naked and unaccoutered?
I shall write you again as soon as the scout returns.
General Schuyler to General St. Clair.
Saratoga, Thursday Morning^ June 26<A, 1777.
Dear General : — Your favor of the 24th was delivered to me last
evening. If the enemy should not mean a furious attack on your
post, their movement is probably calculated to cover an attempt on
New Hampshire, the Mohawk River, or to cut off* the communica-
tion between Fort George and Fort Edward, or, perhaps, all thcs. •
I wish you, therefore, to keep a small scout on the east side of tlie
lake, near the road leading from St. John's to New Hampshire, and
others as far west as the road leading to the north branch of Hud-
son's River.
410 The St. Clair Papers.
I have dispatched an express to Congress, to Greneral Washing-
ton, and have entreated the latter to afford us a reinforcement
Pray let nothing be left at the landing, and the bateaux be brought
over as soon as possible, that your retreat may not be cut off, should
you be unable to maintain your post. I can not learn that any
troops are arrived at Albany. I shall hasten to that place to for-
ward on whatever I can, and to be in the way to bring up the mili-
tia, if necessary. God bless you, and believe me, etc.
General St. Clatr to General Schuyler.
TicoNDEROGA, Jutie 26tft, 1777.
Sir : — ^This moment I have received information from Hoite, of
Otter Creek, that a large party of Indians and Tories are gone up
that creek, supposed to be five hundred, and are designed to cut off
the communication by Skenesborough. They took a pair of oxen
from one of the inhabitants, and drove them about two miles above
Middlebury Falls, where they halted the day before yesterday, and
killed and dressed the cattle ; and it is supposed that to-night they
will be at the new road, near Castleton, wliich is twenty-eight miles
from hence, and twelve or fourteen from Skcneslwrough. They re-
ported that a very large party were gone on the west side of the
lake, to fall ajK)!! Fort George. They are said to consbt of a thous-
and Indians and Canadians. We have also had, just now, another
attack at the mills. We have two men killed, two taken, and two
wounded — one mortally. The scene thickens fast, and Sunday
next, it seems, is fixed for the attack on this place. We must make
the best of it we (Min, and I hope at least to cripple them so as they
may not be able to pursue their fortune, should it declare in their
favor. I sent a party down last night to reconnoiter them, who
are not yet returned, which gives me some uneasine^. I hope, how-
ever, they are safe, and will bring me some intelligence of conse-
quence. I have some thoughts, if they are not numerous, of
attacking them. If they get the worst, it will oblige them to recall
their parties ; if not, there will be too many left to become prison-
ers. I have sent to the Grants, to inform them of the Otter Creek
party, and to desire that all they can possibly spare of the militia
may be ready to march at a minute's warning.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 411
General St. Clair to General Schuyler.
TicoNDERQGA> June 28, 1777.
Dear General: — My scout on which I depended much for intelli-
gence, is not yet returned, nor, I fear, ever will now. It consists
of three men only, the best of Whitcomb's ^ people, and picked out
by him for that purpose. The woods are so full of Indians, that it
is difficult for parties to get through. I shall send off Whitcomb
himself presently, for intelligence I must have, although I am very
loath to put him upon it, lest he should fall into the hands of the
enemy, who have no small desire to have him in their power. I
sent Colonel Warner to the Grants, yesterday, to raise a body of
men to oppose the incursions of the savages that are gone by Otter
Creek, and have ordered him to attack and rout them, and join me
again as soon as possible. I am very happy to find that the country
have been apprised of the march of that party, before Warner got
to Skenesborough, as it may probably prevent their success, and
may end in their ruin. We are going on with the necessary works
on the Mount as fast as possible, and have removed the most val-
uable of the stores and provisions on the other side. The bridge is
in very little more forwardness than when you left this place, to ap-
pearance, though they tell me that to-day will finish getting timber
for it. The boom is likewise placed, but very feebly secured for
want of rope for the cables. A party of Bradford's arrived yester-
day in good season, and had a pleasing effect upon our people, who,
never the most lively or gallant, began to show signs of dejection
already. How they may hold out, God knows, but this has raised
their spirits a little. I could wish that J;he bateaux were all over
soon, or that you would not send them. I am extremely apprehen-
sive that the enemy will possess themselves of the landing; in
which case they may faU into their hands. We can not venture the
teams now without a strong guard, and so many parties as we are
obliged to make with the fatigues, will very soon wear down our
men. We can do nothing but form conjectures about the force of
the enemy, for I can not find a single j^erson on whom I can depend
to venture amongst them for intelligence ; but from their manner
of beginning the campaign, I conclude they are either in full force
or very weak, and hope, by letting loose the Indians, to intimidate
^ Captain Whitcomb was a noted scout, and was relied on to select men to
act as spies, etc.
412 The St. Clair Papers.
us. I mtJrne jo believe the last, but have, as yet, no certain rule
to go by; however, we must know soon, and it is said they have
marked to-morrow to attack. I beg leave to refer you to Colonel
Varick for further particulars, who takes the charge of this letter.
General Schuyler to General St. Clair.
Albany, June 28, 1777. — 11 o'clock a. m.
Your favor of the 25th instant is this moment delivered to me.
It seems as if the enemy mean a real attack on your post. I shall
move the militia of this State as soon as I can collect them, and dis-
patch messengers to the Eastern States for as many as they can
send.^ The militia from T\Tone county I shall order to be kept in
readinass to protect the Western frontiers, having just received in-
telligence that Sir John Johnson is on his way to attack us in that
quarter.
God bless and protect you, and the troops under your command.
I shall exert myself to afford you every assistance I possibly can.
Your favor of the 2()th is just come to hand. I have dispatched
a copy of it to General Washington, and to the Council of Safety
of this State. The orders for the militia to march up are already
expedited.
General Schuyler to General Wasihngton.
Albany, June 28f/i, 1777. — 11 o'clock a. m.
Dear Sir: — ... I am this moment favored with a letter
of the 2oth instant, from General St. Clair, a coj)y whereof I
herewith transmit. Should an accident happen to the garrison of
Ticunderoga, and General Burgoyne make a push to gain the south
part of the lake, I know of no obstacle to prevent him ; compara-
tively speaking, I have not a man to oppose him ; the whole num-
* General Sehuyler wrote on the same day to the President of Massa-
chusetts Hay, saying: "Our garrison at Ticonderoga is greatly inadequate
to the defense of the extensive works on both sides of the lake, and 1 have
unhappily no troops to reinforce them." ** I have written to the committee
of Berkshire, and requested them to call upon the adjacent counties and dis-
tricts in that State and Connecticut. Sliould the militia turn out with spirit,
I am in licpes we >hall be able to baffle the enemy." But the militia did not
turn out, and nothing was done to aid in defense until alter the evacuation
of the posts, and the people feared the British more than they regarded their
<»vvn comfort.
Correspondence y Addresses^ Etc. 413
ber at the different posts at and on this side of the lake, including
the garrison's of Fort Greorge and Skenesborough not exceeding
seven hundred men, and these I can not draw away from their
several stations; in every one of which they are already much too
weak. It is, therefore, highly necessary that a strong reinforce-
ment should, without delay, be sent me. If the sloops are not yet-
sent to bring the troops, your Excellency has ordered to be kept in
readiness at Peekskill, I shall push them off without delay. As it
is not probable that we shall in time be supplied with field pieces
from the eastward, I must entreat that the reinforcements may
bring some up with them. I have this moment also received a let-
ter from Mr. Deane, the Indian interpreter, extracts whereof I in-
close you. As the information tallies exactly with what I had be-
fore, it leads me to conclude that an irruption will be made from the
westward. I shall apply for the aid of the militia of this and the
neighboring States, but I fear it will not be very powerful, as many
must be necessarily left at home. I have received a letter from the
Commissary-General, which I think neither so temperate or decent
as it should be. I shall take the first leisure hour to transmit you a
copy, with my answer, in which I believe it will be evinced from
authentic returns, that the scarcity of provisions in this department
is, in a great measure, if not altogether, to be imputed to a want of
attention in the persons whose duty it was to supply this depart-
ment.
P. 8. — I have sent express to General Putnam to hasten on the
troops your Excellency had ordered to be in readiness for this quarter.
Since writing the above, I have received another letter from Gen-
eral St. Clair, a copy whereof is inclosed. I am in pain about Fort
Greorge, but have no troops to throw in, and some time will neces-
sarily elapse before the militia can be got to march.
General St. Clair to General Schuyler.
TicoNDEROGA, June 30, 1777. — 1:30 o'clock.
Dear General : — This morning some of the enemy's gun-boats ap-
peared at the Three-Mile Point, when the alarm was given. We
could see them disembark a number of men, and the boats in-
creased to eighteen, which are now lying abreast from the hither
side of the Point to about half-way across the lake; The bateaux
in which they transported their troops are not come in sight, lying
on the far side of the Point, under cover of it.
414 The St. Clair Papers.
Soon after their landing, a party, chiefly Indians and Canadians,
pushed towards our lines. As we had a scout down the lake at the
time of their arrival, I immediately sent out two parties to support
them and bring them off. The scouts fell in with the enemy, and
after a few shots, in which they say some of the Indians were
killed, they, being overpowered by numbers, dispersed, and part of
them have got in, and I have little doubt but the greatest part of
them will yet make their appearance. It is probable, however, that
some of them have fallen into their hands. We have had one or
two alarms before this, but it was occasioned by their boats coming
up near our guard-boats, and their firing upon them.
My people are in the best disposition possible, and I have no
doubt about giving a good account of the enemy, should they think
proper to attack us ; and if the person I mentioned to you in my last
pursued the opportunity that now presents itself, they will go back
&ster than they came on. He has above a thousand men.
General St. Clair to Lieutenant-Colonel Hay.
[Instructions.] TiCONDEROGA, July 1, 1777.
Sir : — I wish you to go with the party ordered to escort the wag-
ons to-morrow to Lake Greorge Landing, and direct the loading of
the most valuable and necessary articles first, which will be deliv-
ered at the hither landing and embarked on board the scow, which
must be sent up for that pur]K)so, and forwarded to this place. The
wagons will then return, and bring what remains to camp, under
the convoy of Colonel Cockburn, who I wish to consult with you
about every thing necessary. You will order Captain Hutchins,
who commands at the landing, after every thing is removed, or can
Ix) removed, to fit out and man all the bateaux at the landing, or
as many of tliem as his and Lieutenant Lyford's party can manage,
and proceed witli them to Fort George, taking for the signal of their
departure the burning of the block-houses and mills at the hither
landing, which you will direct the officer commanding there to exe-
cute and retreat to the lines, forming the rear guard for Colonel
Cockburn. I wish as many of Lieutenant Lyford*s party to re-
turn here as possible ; but if the landing of the bateaux demand
thoni, they must all go, and they and Captain Hiitcliins' party re-
turn to this place by Skenesborough or the lake, as either commu-
nication may be oi)en.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 415
Any bateaux that can not be carried off from the landing must
be destroyed.
General St. Clair to General Schuyler.
TiCONDEROGA, Jvlxf 1, 1777.
Dear Oeneral: — ^Not finding a convenient opportunity to send off
my letter, I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of the 28th. The success of General Washington over Gen-
eral Howe is an event of such importance as must destroy every
prospect of the enemy's carrying their plans into execution, should
they succeed here. I have ordered a feu-de-joie upon the occasion,
and will find some way to communicate the intelligence to the en-
emy. They have now two ships, eighteen gun-boats, and three
sloops, lying off the Three-Mile Point, and they are forming a camp
upon the point, and retrenching it. This does not look like their
being strong. Other matters I hope to manage to-morrow morning,
but can not be particular, for fear of accidents.
P. S. This moment I have discovered that they are throwing a
boom across the river. Bravo I ^
General St. Clair to General Schuyler.
TiCONDEROGA, July 2, 1777.
Dear Oeneral: — ^Yesterday at noon, in the very instant of the
fevrd&joiey which consisted of thirteen pieces of cannon (the mus-
ketry might have discovered to the enemy our numbers), forty-one
bateaux appeared off the Three-Mile Point, crossed the lake, and
landed troops on the east side, in the bay formed behind the Long
Point, opposite to the Three-Mile Point. I observed them very at-
tentively, and am certain they did not contain, en an average, above
twenty men. It is not improbable, however, that part of the troops
transported in them from Canada may have landed on the western
side, so low down as to be out of our sight, and I am rather inclined
to think this the case, from their camp extending a considerable
distance down the lake, and its being much too large for the number
of men we saw embark at the Point.
1 The hope now was that Burgoyne had few troops with him (and the great
precaution taken in throwing up works gave color to the theory), in which
case the defense of Ticonderoga would seem to be practicable.
416 The St. Clair Papers.
I am in great pain for the bateaux and stores at the landing. We
can not possibly get thcra over (the enemy having possessed them-
selves of Mount Hope), without risking such large detachments as
must oblige us to come to action in the open field, which would not
he altogether prudent. I had ordered a party to bring them off
this moruing, but the escape of some of the cattle, and the stupid-
ity of the drivers, retarded us so much that day appeared, and it
was then too late to attempt it. The design was, therefore, laid
aside, and a party sent to reinforce the party at the landing, with
orders to take back the stores to Fort George, and all the bateaux,
destroying the block-house and such bateaux as they might not be
able to carry off. At the same time, I sent orders to the block-house
at the mills, which has been attacked several times, and was sur-
rounded yesterday all day, for the officer to set fire to it and the
mills, and to retire to camp, which he has this moment effected.
The jmrty gone over with the boats I have desired to return to
Skcnesborough. It will be of the utmost importance to secure that
communication, which I have no doubt of your being able to do ;
and when the Grant people come in, I hoi)e to keep open that by
Castleton. A party of them, with cattle, should have been here
yesterday. I hope no accident has happened to them.
The inhabitants who live between this and the bridge, I found it
necessary to bring within the lines, and have now sent them to
Skcnesborough, with directions to Captain Grey to forward them to
Albany by the first opportunity. I do not know that they are our
enemies, but they are certainly not our friends, and when the enemy
first presented themselves they were through their houses, and they
gave us no intelligence of them.
I am still of opinion that the enemy have no great force here, but
whether the whole of their army may as yet come up I am not cer-
tain, but last night they fired their evening gun from three different
places, further down the lake than their post at Three-Mile Point.
A little time will clear up this matter. I am not sufficiently ac-
quainted with this country to form any judgment how a body of
men can be sent out to our relief, in case the enemy possess them-
selves of the shores of the lake above Mount Independence, which
they certainly will by means of their savages ; but if they can be
brought by land in their rear, a small party would oblige them to
quit the lake, and consequently leave the communication open.
Correspondence y Addresses^ Etc. 417
James Wilson to General Arthur St. Clair.
Philadelphia, M July, 1777.
My Deur General: — Doctor McKenzie sets out for Ticonderoga;
I embrace, with pleasure, the opportunity of writing to you by him.
Some time ago, the enemy advanced from Brunswick as far as
Somerset Court-house. It is probable that their design was to push
for Philadelphia; this, at least, was believed, and the belief pro-
duced the best efiects. The militia of New Jersey turned out with
the greatest rapidity ; and, to a man, the citizens of Philadelphia
agreed to suspend their disputes about the Constitution and to join
unanimously in every measure proper for repelling the enemy and
defending the State. General Washington kept his strong encamp-
ment at Middlebrook. The body under General Sidlivan, consist-
ing of militia and reinforcements of Continental troops from the
southward, was increasing very fast at Coryell's Ferry. General
Howe thought it proper to retire from Somerset to Brunswick, from
Brunswick to Amboy ; and lately, from Amboy to Staten Island.
These different movements have produced frequent skirmishes, with
the advantage generally on our side ; once, on that of the enemy, if
gaining three field-pieces from us and losing, according to the best
accounts, a much greater number of men than we lost, can be called
an advantage. Concerning the future views of the enemy the sen-
timents expressed here are very different. Some think they mean
to push up the North River ; others, that they will make an irrup-
tion into New England ; others, that they will come round by sea
to Delaware ; others, that they know not what to do. Indeed, I
think it probable that their plan for the campaign, if they had a
plan, is very considerably deranged. We hear of no reinforcements
worth mentioning being arrived from Europe.
As to the politics of Pennsylvania, they are not in the situation I
would wish. If a regular system was formed between General
Howe and the friends of our Constitution, his motions could not
have been better timed for them than they have been in two dif-
ferent instances. When an opposition has been twice set on foot,
and has twice proceeded so far as to become formidable, he has
twice, by his marches toward Delaware, procured a cessation. The
Assembly have twice taken advantage of it to promote their own
purposes, though those in the opposition generously, and like true
patriots, have suspended it, while the approach of the enemy were
dreaded. The Assembly, just before their adjournment, and just
after their laudable instance of conduct was exhibited, have branded
27
418 The St. Clair J apers.
themselves in a public address to the people, with canying on their
opposition in a manner improper under any government. They
have agreed, however, at last, to take the sentiments of the people
with regard to a convention.* What will be the event, I am un-
certain. They have one useful quality ; it would be a virtue if ex-
erted for a good purpose. I mean, industry. This is much wantc'<l
on the other side. As the sense of the people will not be taken till
after the next election, I have some expectation that their eyes may
be opened to see their true interest by that time.
I long much to hear from you. What I intimated to you long
ago has happened. I hope you will he happy. I know you wiU
be useful at Ticonderoga. A good correspondence, I have every
reason to believe, will subsist between General Schuyler and you.
If he is at Ticonderoga, please to present my compliments to him.
Colonel Seth Warner to the Convention of the State of
Vermont at Windsor.
Rutland, the 2d of July, 1777.
Gentlemen : — I have last evening recicvM an Express from the
Genenil ('ommandiug at Ticonderoga who informs me the Enemy
have come on with seventeen or eighteen Gun Boats, two large
Ships, several Sloops and other Craft, and lie at the three Mile
Point, and the General expects an attack every Hour. — the Enemy-
put to land on sd Point, and they have had a skirmish, but the
Genenil informs nie to no great purpose. Orders me to send for
the Militia to join him as soon as possibly they can get there, from
this State, and the Massachusetts and New Hampshire. I have
sent an Express to Col. Simons, went off last night. Col. Robinson
and Col. Williams is now at Hubbardtcm waiting to be joined by
Col. Bellows who is now with me. When the whole join they will
make in No. about 7 or 800 Men. I know not where to apply but
to you to raise the Militia on the east side of the Mountain.' Shall
•
* Popular sentiment was averse and compelled a rescinding of the resolu*
tion. A convention waa not secured for several years.
*The Vermont Convention took immediate action to apprise New Hamp-
shire and Massachusetts. After an explanation of the express, Governor
Howker added: "Therefore, as the matter nearly concerns the liberties of
the United States in general, this House flatter themselves that their for-
warding this intelligence may not prove unacceptable. The militia from
this State are principally with the officer commanding the Continental army
Correspondence^ AddresseSy Etc. 41^
expect that you send on all the men that can possibly be raised, and
that you will do what lies in your Power to supply the troops at
Ticonderoga with Beef, as, if the siege should be long, they will ab-
solutely be in want of meat kind except the country exert them-
selves— if 40 or 50 head of cattle could be brought on with the Mi-
litia they will be paid for by the Commissary on their arrival. The
safety of that consists much on the exertions of the Country, them
lines are so much in want of Men. I should be glad a few hills of
corn unhoed should not be a motive sufBcient to detain men at
home, considering the loss of such an important Post can hardly be
recovered. I am, Gentlemen, in the greatest respect your most obe-
dient and very humble serv't, Seth Warner.
P. S. — I am this moment a going to mount my Horse in company
with Col. Bellows for Ticonderoga. 1 left Col. Robinson at Hub-
bardton this morning.
That you may have wisdom to conduct in the business for which
you are called together is the prayer of 8. W.
General St. Clair to General Schuyler.
Ticonderoga, July 3, 1777.
Dear General : — Our picket was attacked yesterday two or three
times, in which we lost five men killed and two or three wounded.
The enemy's loss we are not apprised of, but we have one prisoner
of the Fcfrty-Seventh regiment, and two deserters from the corps of
Jagers. The prisoner was very sulky, and would give no informa-
tion whatever ; but by disguising an officer, a countryman of his,
and confining him in the same room with him, with the help of a
little rum, we got out all he knew, which we have here inclosed, as also
the examination of the deserters. Two men came in from the
Grants last night, and returned. I have wrote very pressingly for
the people to come on, and for the present leave the cattle to be
brought up by those who succeed them. I think it is probable
Warner will fall in with the foreigners, who are all on the east side
at Ticonderoga; the remainder on their march to that distressed post. It
appears tu this House from the various information from thence, and the
personal acquaintance of many of the members thereof of the particular
circumstances which attend our friends there at this present time, that every
prudent step ought to bo immediately taken for their relief." Vermont's
quota, led by Warner and Francis, reported promptly, but nothing was
heard from the other Stntos.
420 The St. Clair Papers.
m
of the lake ; the British troops upon the west. Excuse this scrawl ;
I am so much in want of sleep that I am nodding as I write.
The Evacuation of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence.
At a coimcil of general officers, held at Ticonderoga July 5, 1777,
present, Major-General St. Clair, Brigadier-Generals Roche de Fer-
moy, Poor, Patterson, and Colonel-Commandant Long :
General St. Clair represented to the council that as there is every
reason to believe that the batteries of the enemy are ready to open
upon the Ticonderoga side, and that the camp is very much exposed
to their fire, and to Ix? enfiladed on all quarters ; and as there is also
reason to expect an attack uiK)n Ticonderoga and Mount Independ-
ence at the same time, in which case neither would draw any sup-
p)rt from the other ; he desired their opini(m, whether it would be
most proper to remove the tents to the low ground, where they
would be less ex})osed, and wait the attack at the Ticonderoga lines —
or whether the whole of the troops be drawn over to Mount Inde-
pendence, the more effectually to provide for the defense of that
post. At the same time the (jcneral begged le^ive to inform them
that the whole of our force consisted of two thousand and eighty-
nine effectives, rank and file, including one hundred and twenty-four
artificers (unarmed), besides the corps of artillery, and about nine
hundred militia, who have joined us, and can not stay but a few
days.
The council were unanimously of the opinion that it is impossible,
with our force, to defend Ticonderoga and Mount Indeiwndence, and
that the tnjops, cannon and stores should be removed this night,
ii* i)ossil)lo, to Mount Indej)endence.
Second — Whether, after the division of the army at Ticonderoga
have retreated to Mount Independence, we shall be in a situation to
defend that iK)st, or, in case it can not be defended, if a retreat into
the country will be practicable.
The council are unanimously of opinion that, as the enemy have
already nearly surrounded us, and there remains nothing more to
invest us completely but their (KTUpying the neck of land betwixt
the lake and the East Creek, which is not more than three quarters
of a mile over, and i)ossessing themselves of the narrows betwixt
that and Skenesborough, and thereby cutting off all communication
CorrcspondencCy Addresses^ Etc. 421
with the coimtiy, a retreat ought to be undertaken as soon as possi-
ble, and that we shall be very fortunate to effect it.*
Arthur St. Clair,
Roche de Fermoy,
Enoch Poor,
John Patterson,
Pierse Long.
General St. Clair to Joseph Bowker, Pre«*ident op the
Convention of the State of Vermont.
Colonel Mead's, At Otter Creek, Juli/ lUi, 1777.
Sir; — I was honored with your favor of the 2d instant this day.
The exertions of the Convention to reinforce us at Ticonderoga,
merit my warmest thanks, though they have been too late to answer
the good purp)se they intended. Finding that the enemy were
ready for the attack, and it was morally iniiK)ssible we could main-
tain the post with our handful of trooi>s, and at the same time con-
sidering how necessary to the States it was to preserve our army,
small as it is, it was determined in a council of the general offi-
cers that the posts on Ticonderoga and Mount Independence should
be evacuated, and a retreat attempted to Skenesborough, by the way
of Castleton, and that every thing we could remove, with the sick,
should be taken by water to the same place, covered by the armed
*"Soon after 1 had despatched the letter, which I did myself the honor
to address to y<mr Excellency from StillwatiT, I met with Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Hay, Deputy Quartermaster General, who was at Ticonderoga. lie in-
formed me that on Saturday it had been agreed upon to retreat from
Ticonderoga and Mount Independence; that between two and three o'clock
on Sunday morning, (ieneral St. Clair, with the re-^t of the general officers
and the army, marched out of the lines at Mount Independence; that Colo-
nel Long, with about six hundred men, embarked aboard our few vessels,
and in bateaux; that just before they arrived at Skenesborouj^h they were
overtaken by the enemy's vessels and gunboats and were obliged to abandon
the vessels, in which we lost all our ammunition. . . . The troops of
Colonel Long are arrived at Fort Ann. Where (ieneral St. Clair is, with the
main body, I have not yet learned. Colonel Hay imagined he would come
by the way of Skenesborouijh. If so, he will fall in with the enemy, who
have taken posses.««ion there." — General Schuyler to Oeneral WashingtotL, July
7, 1777. Sfiarks Corrrsp. of /?f'w.,Vol. I., p. 393.
General St. Clair, lieurinK of the enemy being at Skenesborough, changed
the direction of his march, as will be seen by the letter following, but for
several days both General Washington and Schuyler, receiving none of the
letters sent by messengers, were in great anxiety as to his fate.
>
42S The St. Clair Papers.
vessels. This was accordingly attempted the night of the sixths
and in part executed, though not so perfectly as I could have
wished, with respect to the stores, owing to the confusion that
naturally attends operations in the night, and to the want of that
regularity that nothing but discipline and experience can give troops,
and just at break of day the army got on their march, unperceived
by the enemy, although they were all around us, and should have
effected it perfectly, had it not been for the burning of a house,
whether from accident or want of thought I can not say, but it
served to inform the enemy of our retreat, and a party of them
were on the Mount before the whole of our people had got off
of it. They did not attempt, however, to pursue us, but only fired
a few shots from the heights, which did us no damage. We pur-
sued our route to Ca^itleton, which we reached last night, with the
main body, having met on our way a party of the enemy, who had
been collecting cattle in the country. These were immediately dis-
persed, and a few prisoners taken. G)lonel Warner, with about a
thousand men, stopi)ed six miles short of Castleton, where he was
attacked this morning. The event of the action I can not as yet
ascertain, the accounts are so various from the persons who have
come in ; but I believe it has been pretty severe on both sides. I
am now on my march to Benniiigton, which place I am obliged to
make on account of provisions, the enemy having last night posses-
sed themselves of Skenesborough, of which I got intelligence this
morning, which determined me to take the road for that place, and
there I beg that the reinforcements coming on by Number Four
may be sent, as I shall immediately march from thence for the North
River, and endeavor to throw mvself betwixt the enemv and the in-
habitants, and prevent Mr. Burgoyne from penetrating into the
countrv.
I must heg that all the flour that can be got may be sent for-
ward.
I have wrote to the first commanding officer of the militia to take
the shortest road to Bennington, with directions to send the same
orders to such others as may be already on this side Number
Four.
Correspondencey AddresseSy Etc. 428
General St. Clair to General Schuyler.
Dorset, ^th, July, 1777.— 9 o'clock.
Dear Sir: — About an hour ago I received your favor of yester*
day. I wrote you from Ticonderoga, the night before we left it, to
inform you that I intended to march to Skenesborough by way of
Castle ton, and from thence to Fort Edward ; but when I got to
Castleton I found the enemy were in possession of Skenesborough,
which obliged me to change my route.
On the march to Castleton, we fell in with a party, commanded
by Captain Fraser, who had been collecting cattle in the country.
These were immediately dispersed, and a few prisoners taken ; but,
being reinforced by a strong detachment from Ticonderoga, they
attacked, in the morning, the rear-guard of our army, who had
imprudently stopped six miles short of the main body, and were, I
believe rather surprised;* notwithstanding which, they made a very
I "As soon as General Burgoyne discovered our retreat, ... he dis-
patched Brigadier-General Fraser, supported by Major-General Riedesel and
a German corps, in pursuit of the main body. . . . General Fraser,
after a vigorous pursuit, encamped several miles in the rear of Warner, but
renewed his march the next morning, and about seven o'clock reaoliod Hub-
bardton, just as Warner had paraded his men to follow General St. Clair,
who was under arms, waiting his arrival, when the firing commenced,
which was confined to small arms. Two militia regiments, which were ex-
ceedingly insubordinate and seditious, had, the preceding evening, taken a
diverging path, and encamped three or four miles in our rear. The first
thought of the general was to support Warner by those corps under the com-
mand of Colonel Bellows; for which purpose his aids-de-camp, Majors Dunn
and Livingston, wore hurried off with positive orders and assurances of sup-
port. He then ordered the troops to be told off, and the officers posted for
action, and ho was exhorting them to courageous conduct, when I perceived
a manifest repugnance in a corps to turn about and march upon the enemy.
Even one of the brigadiers was open in his opposition to tbo measure. In
the meantime, Majors Dunn and Livingston met the militia under Bellows,
hurrying away from the scene of the action to the main body, and, finding
them equally deaf to commands and entreaties, they pushed forward towards
the field of battle, which they had nearly reached, when they met our troops
fiying from the enemy, and were informed by Captain Chadwick, a gallant
officer who had been engaged, that the confiict had terminated, which, be-
ing warranted by the cessation of the fire, they returned to the general and
made report.
" ('olonel Warner was a hardy, valiant soldier, but uneducated, and a
stranger to military discipline. His insubordination at Hubbardton exempli-
fies the danger and misfortunes which attended the disobedience of military
commands ; for, if he had obeyed the orders he had received, our corps
424 The St. Clair Papers.
obstinate defense, and, I have good reason to think,- killed and
wounded a great number of the enemy. As they were at too
great a distance from me to support them, I sent orders to Colonel
Warner, who commanded the party, in case he found himself to<»
hard pressed, to retreat to Rutland and join me. He is not yc *
come in, though I have heard that he is coming in with alxiut :;
hundred men ; and a great i>art of the other regiments, excc'j)t
Hale's, have already joined us.
I am in groat distress for provisions. If I can be supplied at
Manchester, I shall proceed directly for Ft)rt Edward, or Saratoga,
as circumstances may direct ; if not, I shall l>e obliged to go to
Bennington. T account myself very happy in effecting this retreat,
as the loss of the army, small as it is, would have been a blow
that this jwrt of the countr}- would have felt severely, and that
must inevitably have hapiwncd in a verj' few days. Adieu, my
dear general ; I hope to see you soon, or things in a better train.
General St. Clair to Joxas Fay, Secretary State op Veb-
MONT.
Colonel Marshe's, JhIij dUi, 1777.
Sir: — I have just now received a letter from General Schuyler,
directing that Colonel Warners regiment, with the militia of your
State, should Ixj left for the protecti<»ii of the j)e()j)le; and I have
by this conveyance wrote to the C()lonel to ac(juaint him thereof.
The Genenil also <lcsircs that all the cattle niav be drove further
down than where it may be thou;2lit proiHM* that Colonel Warner
take post, and that all the carriages which may be of use to the
enemy Ihj hroii^rht oil' or destroved. He also desires that all the
cattle in condition for killin;^ niav be sent out bv a safe route to
Fort h](l\varil, wliere he now is with some (Continental troops an<l
militia. A large reinforcement from Peekskill are on their march
from Al])any to join him, and, if I can l)e supplied with provision
at Mandiester, I shall also join him with the utm<»st expedition,
where we shall have force sufficient to check the progress of the
enemy. Vour Convention have giv(»n such proofs of their readiness
to concur in any measure for the public safety, that it would be im-
pertinent to j>ress them now; I will <»nly repeat the re(juest I made
would Imvr Ix'cn imittMl. and. us the di.sciplinc? of tlu» enemy could have
avuiled them little in a nunintainou^i eountrv eoMTcd with wood, we should
infallihly have disineinbercMl, and, probably, captured the flower of the Brit-
ish army." — Wilkhitfun'v Memoirs^ Vol. I., p. 187.
Correspondence, Addresses^ Etc. 425
before, that the militia from the eastward, marching by No. 4, may
be directed to take the shortest route to join the army.
P. S. — Previous to the receipt of your letter of the 6th inst., I
had directed the militia of your State that were with me to remain
at Rutland for tlie protection of the people, until your Convention
should direct otherwise, and am pleased to find myself in sentiment
with th^m, and with General Schuyler. The militia that can be
raised in your country will, I think, keep the people in security, for
in my opinion they have little to fear except the depredations of a
few Indians. Fort Ann was attacked the day before yesterday, and
the enemy repulsed with considerable loss.
[True copy, examined by Israel Allen, Secretary.]
General St. Clair to Governor Bowdoin.
. Manchester, July 9, 1777.
I have just time to mention the receipt of your obliging letter of
the 20th ult., which came to hand this moment. As the evacuating
Ticonderaga must have alarmed the country, and raised their curi-
osity at the same time, j^ermit me to give you some account of that
matter, with the reasons that induced me to propose it to the other
general officers.
The garrison consisted of about thirty-three hundred men, of whom
two thoasand and eighty-nine only were fit for duty, many of those
mere boys, altogether incapable of sustaining the fatigues of a soldier,
naked and ill-armed, not above one bayonet to every tenth man ; the
place nearly invested, and their batteries completed ; and, from the
intelligence of my spies, the investiture was to be completed on
Sunday last, the day we left it, when all possibility of retreat or
support would be cut off. The loss of this army, small as it is, was
the inevitable consequence, and would have been a very great mis-
fortune, much greater, in my opinion, than the loss of the past, as
there would have been nothing left for the militia to collect to, in
this quarter, to stop the progress of an enemy flushed with con-
quest. I therefore determined to attempt a retreat whilst it was
practicable, but previously consulted the other general officers, who
were unanimously of opinion that it ought to be attempted without
loss of time.
We accordingly prepared for it that night, and having, in the
course of the night, embarked as many of our stores and provisions
426 The St. Clair Papers.
as possible, marched off at break of day. "We should have got off
altogether unperceived by the enemy, had it not been for the acci-
dental burning of a house, and the desertion of two men, of the
artillery, who, in the hurry, went off with a small boat to the enemy.
The rear of our army evacuated Mount Independence as the front
of the enemy entered. They exchanged a few shots, but did not
offer to pursue, which I ascribe to their being the Brunswicbers that
took possession. A considerable body,- however, were sent up a
creek that enters some distance in the country, who, next morning,
attacked our rear guard ; they defended themselves very well, and,
though obliged to retreat, killed and wounded a great many of the
enemy ; since which we have seen nothing of them. My design
was to have marched to Skenesborough, but the enemy had got be-
fore me, which obliged me to change my route, and bear this way,
on account of provisions, which I shall be able to obtain to-morrow,
when I shall proceed, with every possible dispatch, to join General
Schuyler at Fort Edward, where I hojje we shall soon have an army
of force sufficient to stop the progress of Mr. Burgoyne.
The force of the enemy is seven British regiments, eight foreign
ones, and a nural)er of Indians and Canadians. On the whole, I
think myself very liappy to make my retreat from under their nose.
General St. Clair to Joiin Hancock, PREsn)ENT of Congress.
Fort Edward, 14tJiJuly, 1777.
Sir: — Congress may probably think it extraordinary that so much
time luis ehipsed before they heard from mo, after a step of so much
consequence as the evacuation of the posts that had been entrusted
to my care ; but it was not in my iK)wer to write whilst on the
march to this place. I am sf)rry to find that my letter to General
Schuyler, the night the evacuation took place, has not come to his
hands, as, for want of that, though he has, doubtless, informed Con-
gress of the event, he could not give them the reasons that induced
it — they were tliese: Seeing the posts of Ticonderoga and Mount
Indej)endence were nearly invested, and having intelligence by my
spies, that they would be completely so in twenty-four hours, when
we should be cut off from the possibility of succor; that the bat-
teries of the enoniy were ready to open, and the whole of our en-
campment on the Ticonderoga exposed to their fire. Considering,
at the same time, the weakness of the garrison ; that the effective
numbers were not sufficient to man one-half of the works, and that^
Uorrespondencey AddresseSy Etc. 427
consequently, the whole must be upon constant duty, which they
could not possibly long sustain, and that, of course, the places with
their garrisons must inevitably, in a very few days, fall into the
enemy's hands, I saw no alternative but to evacuate them and
bring off the army ; whereupon, I called the general officers to-
gether, to take their sentiments. They were unanimously of opinion
that the places should be evacuated without the least loss of time;
and it was accordingly set about that night, the fifth instant. After
embarking in the boats as much of our cannon, provisions, and
stores as was possible, the boats were ordered to Skenesborough, and
I sent Colonel Long, an active, diligent, good officer, to take the
command there, with his regiment and the invalids, until I should
join him with the army, which was to march to that place by the
way of Castleton. The body of the army reached Castleton the
next evening, thirty miles from Ticonderoga, and twelve from
Skenesborough ; but the rear guard, under Colonel Warner, which,
with the stragglers and infirm, amounted to near twelve hundred,
stopped short of the place six miles, and were next morning at-
tacked by a strong detachment the enemy had sent to hang on our
rear and retard our march. Two regiments of militia, who had left;
us the evening before, and halted about two miles from Colonel
Warner, were immediately ordered to his assistance, but, to my
great surprise, they marched directly down to me ; at the same time
I received information that the enemy were in possession of Skenes-
borough, and had cut off all our boats and armed vessels. This
obliged me to change my route, that I might not be put betwixt
two fires, and, at the same time, be able to bring off Colonel War-
ner, to whom I sent orders, if he found the enemy too strong, to re-
treat to Rutland, where he would find me to cover him, that place
lying at nearly equal distances from both. Before my orders
reached him, his party was dispersed, after having for a considerable
time sustained a very warm engagement, in which the enemy suf-
fered so much that they pursued him but a small distance. Our
loss I can not ascertain, but believe it does not exceed forty killed
and wounded. About two hundred of the party joined me at Rut-
land and since, but great numbers of them are still missing, and I
suspect have gone down into New England by the way of Number
Four. After a very fatiguing march of seven days, in which the
troops suffered much from bad weather and want of provisions, I
joined General Schuyler the twelfth instant.
It was my original plan to retreat to this place, that I might be
428 The St. Clair Papers.
between General Burgoyne and the inhabitants, and that the militia*
might have something round which to collect themselves ; it is now
effected, and the militia are coming in, so that I have the most
sanguine hopes tliat tlie progress of the enemy will be checked ; and
I may yet have the satisfaction to experience that, by abandoning a
post, I have eventually saved a State.
Perhaps I may be censured by those who are unacquainted with
the situation I was in for not sooner calling the militia to my assist-
ance. I think I informed Congress that I could not do that for
want of provisions ; and as soon as I got a supj)ly I did call for
them, and was joined by near nine hundred the day before the
evacuation; but tlioy came from home so ill-provided that they
could not, nor would not, stay with me but a few days. The two
Massachusetts regiments of militia likewise, which composed part
of the garrison, gave me notice that their time expired in two days,
and then they intended to go home. In vain did I beg of their
officers to exert every influence they had over them, and from their
subsequent behaviour, I am fully persuaded the officers were most
to blame. They kei)t with me, liowever, for twc dayc ; but their
conduct was so licentious and disorderly, and their example begin-
ning to affect the Continental troops, I was constrained to send them
off.
Inclosed you will find a copy of the council of war, in which is
contained the principles upon which the retreat was undertaken.
As I found all the general officers so fully of opinion that it should
be undertaken immediately, I forbore to mention to them many cir-
cumstances which might have influenced them, and which I should
have laid before them had they been of different sentiments; for I
was, and still am, so firmly convinced of the necessity as well as the
j)roi)riety of it, that I believe I should have ventured upon it had
they been every one against it.
I have the utmost confidence in the candor of Congress, and
persuade myself that, notwithstanding the loss they have sustained,
when they have inij)artially considered I was jwsted, with little more
than two thousand men, in a i)l:ice that required ten thousand to
defend it ; that these two thousand were ill-equipped and worse
armed (not above one havonet in ten, an arm essential in the de-
fence of lines); that with these two thousand I have made good a
retreat from under the nose of an army at least four times their
numbers, and have them now between the country and the enemy,
ready to act airainst them, my conduct will appear, at least, not de-
serving of censure.
CorrespondencCy Addresses^ Etc. 429
P. S. — ^The enemy's force, from the best accounts, is three thous-
and five hundred British, four thousand Brunswick and Hesse-
Hanau, two hundred Indians and two hundred Canadians.
General St. Clair to General Washington.
Fort Edward, 11 th Jidy, 1777.
Sir: — Your Excellency's letters of the 12th and 13th instant,^ to
General Schuyler, have been by him communicated to me. Con-
sidering that my letter to him of the 5th, the day before I left Ti-
conderoga, was not delivered, and one I wrote to him whilst on the
march to this place has miscarried, and that your Excellency has
had no intimation of the motions and destination of our army, I
do not wonder that you should have some doubts about the propri-
ety of my conduct, though it gives me a very painful sensation to
know myself, but for a moment, the subject of a doubt with you.
I have, however, the strongest hopes, when your Excellency comes
to be fully informed of our situation and force, you will not con-
demn me ; and, although I am not solicitous about the opinion of
the world (though very far from disregarding it), I wish to hold a
character witli your Excellency something more than merely nega-
tive. Returns of the strength of my garrison were regularly trans-
mitted to General Schuyler, and by him, no doubt, to you. By
them, your Excellency will see that our force consisted of liUle more
than two thousand effectives. With these, I had lines and redoubts
of more than a league in extent to defend. Judge how poorly they
could have been defended by these numbers, had they been per-
fected, which they were very far from being. In fact, they were
not defensible at all from the Ticonderoga side, unless the enemy
would have been so complaisant as to attack us in front of the old
French lines, and take no notice of the flanks of them, which were
both open. We had, last year, nine thousand men at these posts,
* "It is astonishing, beyond expression, that you have heard nothing of St.
Clair and the army under him. I am totally at a loss to conceive what has
become of them. The whole affair is so mysterious that it even baffles con-
jecture."— Washington to Schuyler ^ July \Zth.
''Joined to the unfortunate reverse that has taken place in our affairs, I
am happy to hear that General St. Clair and his army are not in the hands
of the enemy. I really feared they had been prisoners." — Washington to
Schuyler, July \bth.
If the evacuation had not taken place, St. Clair and his troops would have
been prisoners — the thing Washington most feared.
480 The St. Clair Papers.
and tbej were found barely sufficient for the defense of the w<»k8.
The system was a little altered this season, but not so as to make ^
smaller number answer, but to make a greater number necessary.
The enemy had nearly invested us, nothing being wanted to com-
plete it but their occupying a narrow neck of land betwixt East
Creek and the lake, on the Mount Independence side. This, I had
information, would certainly take place in the course of the next
twenty-four hours, and had been left open so long only with a view
to intercept any cattle that we might bring in fiom the country,
and then our communication would have been effectually cut off.
We could have received neither supplies of provisions nor reinforce-
ments ; for, depend uj)on it. Sir, the militia of this country can not
yet be brought on to raise a siege. But it may be asked why I had
not called in the militia to assist in the defense of the posts? For
this plain reason— I had not provision for them, and very little pros-
pect of an effectual supply. When I first had notice of the ap-
proach of the enemy, there was no more than ten days' provisions
in store for the troops then ujwn the ground. To have called in the
militia in that situation, would have been certain ri^in. So soon as
a supply arrived, although but a scanty one, I did call for them,
and about nine hundred joined me the day before the resolution to
evacuate the posts was taken. They had come out in such a hurry,
and almost entirely without clothes, they did not propose to remain
but a very few days at the utmost. The term of Learned's and Wells'
regiments, which made part of the garrison, expired also in two
days, and the commanding officers had acquainted me that they
could not prevail upon the men to remain beyond the time they
were engaged for. Your Excellency knows, but, too well, the dispo-
sition of these j)eople on such occasions. The batteries of the
enemy were ready io open in three different quarters, and our
whole camp, on the Ticouderoga side, was exposed to the fire of
each ; and, as soon as they did open, every man I had must have
been constantly on duty, as, from our weakness, of which the
enemy could not he ignorant, I had reason, every moment, to ex-
pect an a?jsault. Judge, Sir, how long we could have sustained it,
or whether our resistance nuLst not have been a very feeble one in-
deed, especially when you take into the account that a great num-
ber were mere boys, and that not more than a tenth part were fur-
nished with bayonets. Revolving these circumstances in my mind,
I was at no loss to determine what part I ought to take ; but I
thought it prudent to take the sense of the other general officers.
A copy of the council has been transmitted to your Excellency by
Correspondence^ AddresseSy Etc. 481
(General Schuyler. They were unanimously of the opinion that the
posts ought to be evacuated immediately ; wisely, in my judgment,
considering that a retreat, even with the loss of our cannon and
stores, if it could be effected, would be of infinitely greater service
to the country, and bring less disgi'ace upon our arms than an army,
although a small one, taken prisoners, with their cannon and stores.
I was fully in sentiment with them, and believe I should have or-
dered the retreat, if they had been of a contrary way of thinking.
But here, again, it may be asked why, when I found myself in the
situation I have described, I did not retreat sooner, when every
thing might have been saved. I have only to answer that, imtil
the enemy sat down before the place, I believed the small garrison
I had to be sufficient. The intelligence that Congress had received,
that no serious attempt in that quarter was intended, as it gained
credit with them, I never doubted, and was unwilling to be the oc-
casion of drawing off any part of your army, as your operations
might thereby be rendered less vigorous ; and I knew, too, that you
could ill spare them. Besides, until the case became so urgent that
I had no alternative but the evacuation of my posts, or the loss of
the army, it did not lie with me to determine upon. The retreat
was begun a little before day, on the 6th instant, unperceived by
the enemy, after having embarked as much of the stores and pro-
visions, and as many of the cannon as was possible in the course
of one very short night ; and our march would probably have been
unperceived for some time, if General Fermoy's house had not been
set on fire. How that happened, I know not I had previously
given orders against burning any of the buildings, that our march
might bo the longer concealed ; but it served to the enemy as a sig-
nal of our leaving the place, and, in consequence, they were upon-
the Mount before our rear was clear of it, and fired a few times
upon it, but without effect.
Colonel Long,^ with his regiment and a detachment from the
other regiments, and the invalids with the hospital, were sent to
'Pierso Long, a shipping-merchant, of Portsmouth, N. H., where he was
born, in 1739. He was a delegate to the Provincial Congress in 1776, and
Colonel of the First New Hampshire Regiment 1776. He performed the
part assigned him by General St. Clair upon the occasion of the evacuation
of Ticonderoga, faithfully, and repulsed the pursuing enemy successfully.
He was a delegate to Congress 1786-89; delegate to the State Constitutional
Convention in 1788, and was the first Collector of the port of Portsmouth,
appointed by President Washington. He died while the incumbent of the
office, April 8, 1789.
432 The St. Clair Papers.
Skenesborough by water ; while I took the road to the same place,
through Castleton, with the body of the army. As the enemy
were at least four times my numbers, I had nothing for it but a
forced march, and I pressed it as much as possible, and reached
Castleton that night, thirty miles from Ticonderoga, having, on our
way, fallen in wuth and dispersed a party of the enemy, from whom
we took twenty head of cattle, three British prisoners, and ^ye
Canadians.
The rear-guard, under Colonel Warner, which, with those that
had failed u|)on the march, amounted to a thousand, imprudently
halted six miles short of Castleton, and wasted so much time in the
morning that they were overtaken and surprised by a strong detach-
ment from Ticonderoga, which had been sent up the East Bay,
which runs into the country very near the place where he was.
They suc^tained the attack with great bravery, but were finally
obliged to give way, with the loss of about fifty killed and wounded.
On the first of the firing, I sent orders to two regiments of militia,
who had left me the night before, and were lodged within two miles
of Colonel Warner's post, to move up to his assistance, which, had
they done, that party would have been cut off*. But, instead of
that, they made all possible haste to rejoin me, and, at the same
instant, I received the account of the enemy's being in possession of
Skenesborough, and having taken and destroyed every thing that
had been sent there.
I was then constrained to change my route, both that I might
avoid being put between two fires, and that I might be able to bring
off Colonel Warner. I, therefore, sent him orders to retire to Rut-
laud, where he would find me to cover him. A considerable |>art
of his detachment joined me at that j)lace, and he, with about
ninety more, two days afterwards, at Manchester. A great many
are still missing, though few, I believe, have fallen into the enemy's
hands, as they did not pursue Colonel Warner but a very small dis-
tance, and, from all accounts, suffered much in the action. The
Ninth llegimeut followed Colonel Long towards Fort Ann, and were
almost entirely cut off. I have dispatched officers to Bennington, and
Number Four to pick up the stragglers, who, I suppose, have taken
these routes to New p]ugland ; and, on the 12th instant, I joined
General Schuyler at this place, after a very fatiguing march. Thus,
Sir, I have laid before you, without the least reserve, every thing I
can recollect respecting Ticonderoga, and the retreat from thence.
Happy should I he if my conduct therein meets with your approba-
tion; and I can, with the strictest truth, affirm I was actuated by
Correspondence J AddrcsseSy Etc. 433
no motives but what sprang from a sincere regard for the public
welfare.
General St. Clair to John Jay.
Moses's Creek, July 25Ui, 1777.
Sir: — General Schuyler was good enough to read to nie part of a
letter he received last night from you. I can not recollect that any
of my officers ever asked my reasons for leaving Ticonderoga ; but,
as I have found the measure much decried, I have often exi)ressed
myself in this manner: ** That as to myself I was perfectly easy;
I was conscious of the uprightness and propriety of my conduct,
and despised the vague ceusure of an uninformed populace ; " but
had no allusion to an order from General Schuyler for my justifica-
tion, because no such order existed.
The calumny thrown on General Schuyler, on account of that
matter, has given me great uneasiness. I assure you, Sir, there
never was any thing more cruel and unjust, for he knew nothing
of the matter until it was over, more than you did at Kingston. It
was done in consequence of a consultation with the other general
officers, without the possibility of General Schuyler's concurrence ;
and had the opinion of that council been contrary to what it was,
it would nevertheless have taken place, because I knew it to be im-
possible to defend the post with our numbers.
In my letter to Congress from Fort Edward, in which I gave
them au account of the retreat, is this paragraph: ** It was my
origimi design to retreat to this place, that I might he betwixt
General Burgoyne and the inhabitants, and that militia might have
something in this quarter to collect to. It is now effected, and the
militia are coming in, so that I have the most sanguine hoj^es that
the progress of the enemy will be checked, and I may have the sat-
isfaction to exj)erience that, aWiough I have lost a pod^ I have euerUur
alhj saved a State"
Whether my conjecture is right or not, is uncertain; but, had
our army been made prisoners, which it certainly would have been, the
State of New York would have been much more exjK)sed at present.
I proposed to General Schuyler, on my arrival at Fort Edward,
to have sent a note to the printer to assure the people he had no
part in abandoning what they considered their strongholds. He
thought it was not so projwr at that time, but it is no more than what
I owe to truth and to him to declare that he was totally unac-
quainted with the matter ; and I should be very glad that this let-
2o
434 The St. Clair Papers.
ter, or any part of it you may think proper to communicate, may
convince the unbelieving. Simple unbelief is easily and soon con-
vinced, but, when malice or envy occa.»*ions it, it is needless to at-
tempt conviction.
John Jay to Geneilvl St. Clair.
Kix(}STOX, 28th Juhj, 1777,
Sir: — Your letter of the 2r)th of Julv, which docs no less honor
to your candor than justice to the reputation of General Schuyler,
was very acceptable. Agreeably to what I apprehended to have been
your intention, I have sent it to the press, and flatter myself the
purposes for which it was written will l)e fully answcrt^d.
The evacuation of Ticonderoga was an event very unexpected, as
well as important, and has given occasion for much speculation and
discontent. How fur it was necessary or prudent can only Ik? de-
termined by gentlemen acquainted with the forts, grounds al>out
them, and strength of both parties, and many other circumstances
essential to a proj)er discussion of that subject. I hope the expedi-
ency of the measure nuiy, contrary to general exjxjctation, derive
proof from the event; and that the <leterminati(m of the general
officers on that head may, on inquiry, be found undeserving the
censure it at i)rcsent meets with.
Gexkiial St. Clair to Governor James Bowdoix.
Camp at Moses's Creek, Jnbj 2S, 1777.
(About Five Miles below Fort Edward.)
Sir: — I see, by the Boston pai>er, that you have given mv letter*
to the public; though I am sorry to see, at the same time, R(mie
very illiberal reflections npou it.^ It is often the lot of j>oople in
* Loiter (latrd fr(»m Mtinclicster. iiiutli of Julv, ixivin*; liiirricdiv nn no-
count <»f l!io rviu-uatinij. It was jirintrd in ♦• TAe lioHton Ciuzrite and
Count ni Jtturn'ii."
2 Tho «»<litori!il commonls wore siuOi n^ nl)> editors nro wont to ninkc on
f J* /?<//•//• evidence wlien itnpresxMl that tlieir j<»uinaU are tlu; palladium of
the liberties of the people. " Notwillistaiidiin^ what has been said i*f the
small nunib(*r of our troops there," saitl tlie (i(izr!ft\ '• we have ground to
believe, upon iiuth<»rity of gentlemen of capacity and rliaractor, nud who
had the be>t opportunity of knowing, that there were upwards of four
thousand eflTeetivo men in the garrison." Having thus, upon anonymous
Correspondence^ Addresses , Etc. 435
trust to meet with censure where they have really merited praise,
if events have not answered the public expectation. I do not pre-
tend to gay whether this was my case or not ; but it is very un-
generous to take it for granted that it was otherwise. However, the
public, I hope, w ill be soon satisfied in a more eligible method than
discussing the matter through the channel of a newspaper, which is
seldom a proper one; in the present instance highly imprudent, as
it lays our weakness open to the enemy, and if the Generals are
blameless, destroys the public confidence in them, and may go a
great way towards having the same effect upon tlie army. I thank
God this has not yet hapjKjned w-ith the army, who are so perfectly
sensible of the integrity and propriety of my conduct, that the field
and other officers have, almost to a man, (although they were not
consulted ujKm the evacuations), declared if I was censured for the
measures I had tiiken, that they would quit the service. I knew
the genius of them too well to intrust them with a design, the suc-
cess of which depended entirely upon the secrecy with which it was
executed. This may look like a reflection ujxjn the officers ; but
there is so much familiarity betwixt them and the soldiers, that there
is nothing comes to their knowledge but is very soon after in every
quarter of the camp.
The colonel who complained so bitterly of liis marching two days
in the rear is Marshall, and has sent his correspondent a parcel of
infamous falsehoods.* The trcM)ps never wanted provisions. Beef
they had in plenty. We brought off with us some cattle that had
arrived the day before; and we took twenty from a party of the
enemy the first day's march. A man that can not live two or three
authority, di.sprovod tliH 8tatcni«nt of tho commanding general, and con-
victed ttio muster officers of false returns the editor wants to know why (tho
enemy being known upon the same undoubted authority to be less than six
thousand) a** pass, exceedingly ^t^ong by nature, and greatly fortified by
art, sh<uild have an artny to defend it equal in number to tho assailants?"
And judgment is at onco proncunced against tho Generals. What matter
if the po^t, instead of being a strongly fortified pas*, consisted of irregular
breastworks very extensive, and indefensible except by having fifteen
thousand men to man the lines; and that t" e enemy wero in possession of
heights overlooking theso completely, were such facts to stand against the
"authority of gentlemen of capacity and character?"
» A correspondent of the Qazeite, writing from Manchester, claimed that
he held a command at Ticbnderoga; that he received no warning to leave,
and that he •» marched in the rear of the army for two days and nights with-
out victuals or drink, except brook water." These falsehoods were exposed
in a caustic communication to tho Oazeiie^ by Colonel AVilkinson. Tho
reader will find it in full in his Memoirs, Vol. I., p. 199.
43G The St. Clair Papers.
days on plenty of good beef is very unfit for a soldier. It, perhaps,
does not become me to say it, but the retreat was made in as
orderly and soldier-like a manner as was possible with raw, undis-
ciplined troops. As to the attack u|X)n Colonel Warner, who com-
manded the re*-guard, he halted, without my knowledge, six miles
short of Castleton ; which was the place marked for the halt of the
whole army that night. At such a distance, it was impossible for
•me to support him; but the moment the firing began I ordered
Bellows' and Alcott's regiments of militia, who had left me the
night before and halted two miles from Colonel Warner, to move up
to his assistance. Hud they obeyed my orders, it is probable the
enemy might have been repulsed ; though we now know the jwirty
that attacked him consisted of two thousand men, composed of the
grenadiers and light infantry of the anny, commanded by General
Fraser. The inquiries about the arms of the trooi)s I should think
General Heath could very well satisfy. He must know in what
situation he sent them off, and whether they were clothed or not.*
Public jealousy is a virtue ; but it may be carried to An extreme,
and then it l)ecomes a vice. If it is not vicious, it is extremely un-
candid, to condemn a man ujx)n mere assumption, when they have
neither j)roper information, nor, it may be, are capable of forming a
judgment upon military uiatters. However, I l>ear all the abuse
that is very plentifully poured forth ujmn me, with as much sang
froid as possible, happy in the consciousness of my own innocence,
and a full jyersuasion that my character and c(mduct will soon be
put in its true innnt of view, as I have demanded an inquiry both
from General Washington and Congress. I must own, however,
that I am hurt by the accusation of treachery. As to want of
spirit, no man in command that wanted spirit ever possedfcd the
confidence <»f his troops; and in that respect I am bold to say, I
have always been fortunate enough to be both, beloved and respcicted.
I beg pardon for troubling you with so much alnjut myself; but the
first painful sonsaticm undeserved censure occasions is not yet quite
worn off; and I have given you the former detail, that you might
^ '* I join tli(! viuw in tliinking tlierft ouqilit to bo an inquiry after tl:eiirm9
and rlotln.'Hi you mention, for thvy really never reaelied Tico'ideroga; though
your inttirrugatiuns on that liead are inapr(»perly directed and maliciously
pointed.
*' lirlieve mo, sir, if virtue or justice has existence, the man who stands
CoTideinned for retreating from Ticonderoga, will, ere long, bo thanked for
the salvation of three thousand men. who, instead of being in captivity, are
now opposing our enemy." — Colontl Jamea WUkinso?^ in reply to the Boston
Gazette.
Correspondencej Addresses, Etc. 437
be able to make some answer to well-meaning people, who may be
glad to be truly informed. The numbers, however your people may
be imposed upon, will be found exactly as I stated them ; as I liave
been lucky enough to save not only the general returns, but those
of the individual regiments, under the signature of their respective
Colonels ; though I don't know whether I mentioned three regiments
of militia, making about nine hundred men, officers included, who
joined me the night before I left Ticonderoga, but who did not pro-
pose to stay more than two or three days at the utmost ; nor that
two militia regiments of your State, which composed part of my
garrison, were to leave me the day I retreated, their times being ex-
pired, and they could not be prevailed on to stay any longer.
We are here tolerably posted, waiting the approach of the enemy,
though far inferior in numbers. It was found necessary to dii^miss
one-half of the militia on account of the harvest ; and a great part
of the remaining half have followed them. Those from Connecti-
cut are gone, to a man ; but in a day or two we shall be joined by
General Glover's brigade, when we shall be able to make some head,
if the enemy should come on in force, which I think they dare not
venture, as Colonel Warner has now a resjxictable body at Man-
chester, which may fall either upon their rear or flank. Tlie am-
munition was, every ounce, sent off from Ticumderoga, and as mifch
of the provisions as we had boai^ for ; but a great jiart of the
ammunition fell into the hands of the enemy by the vessel on board*
of which it was unluckily running aground. Colonel Long deserves
all the praise he receives. He is an active, vigilant, brave officer.
I beg the favor that you will present my best compliments to
Mrs. Bowdoin.
Colonel Thomas Hartley to General St. Clair,
Camp IIowell*h Ferry, New Jersey, July 31, 1777.
Dear Genend: — Your friends here are verv sorrv vou have Ik^cu
so ill-supported in the Northern Department. Your garrison was
too small to maintain the important pass of Ticonderoga. A few
battalions of your Southern friends, who served with you the last
campaign, might have been of ccmsequence. It is the practice of
the world to censure our misfortunes and point out defects, when
the censurcr would not have acted so well had he boon in the same
situation. I l)olieve but few rrontlcmen in the armv blame vou/
'It is not practirablu to find room fur ull of tho messages of indorsement
438 The St. Clair Papers.
but the pen of the malignant and envious has been made use of
against you. Some of their performances I send you in a newspa-
per. Were you present, many doubts could be cleared up. It is
cruel to asperse the character of such a gentleman, at such a dis-
tance, unheard. So much noise has been made that you will doubt-
less think it prudent to have a public examination. As you have
some enemies, you can not be too careful in having any facts alleged
well attested, as you are conscious yourself of having acted for the
best. I hope you will not be uneasy. Should the army march to-
ward Philadelphia, some of your friends will make a few queries.
We have, as yet, no certain intelligence of the place where the
fleet lias sailed Xjo, but suppose it to be southward. If they attempt
Pliiladelphia we shall be apt to finish the campaign with them
there. I make no doubt you will be able to stop the approach of
Burgoyne and his savages.
•
General Schuyler to General St. Clair.
Albany, August 9<A, 1777.
Dear Sir : — The situation of affairs in the western quarter will
detain me ^ at least until to-morrow. Fort Schuyler [Stanwix] is in-
vested, and has beou f )r some davs.
I can not learu that a nuiu is moved from the Massachusetts or
Connecticut Xa) our assistance,'^ although they are preparing to come.
and sjood-will sent to St. Clair at tliis tinx* bv the bos^t feoldlers of the differ-
ent armies, Tlio loilowing, however, under date of July 23, from the
"(ieneral Ilo^pilal,' deserves a phice:
Dear Sii 1 recttivcd yours of t)ie iOth inst. I nm very hHppy you made
your escap. .u time frotn Tieonderoi^a, as I ani well assured fr<»m the small
number ^t tr oj>s you liad under your comniaud you must ha\ve fallen a
victim t.> Briti>h harbnrity. Let tlie censorious rabble talk as they please,
lam ha]>py you don't ijive your-elf any uneasiness about them. You have
your enemies, but you have Criends iuFuimerable; friends that at any time
wi>uld willingly share yo.ir fate. Your sincere friend.
S.vML. McKknzie."
* DuririLC tlie nbsen(M» of (lerK^ral Schuyler, General St. Clair was in com-
numd nf the Mrmy. wlj'ch thcij lay >it Sliilwit'-r. (General .\rn<»ld had been
dis|.atciud to the relief of Fort Stanwix, w l)ich was besieged by St Leger.
^ In the offnial cc.rrespojidence of Arteinas Ward and other New Kn co-
landers, after tin* eva'ujili<»n nf Tionderoi^ji. mention is made of reinforce-
mcts for the army ready to march, but after the la])se of a month 8urpris6
is expressed that they iiad not yet appeared.
Correspondence^ Addresses ^ Etc. 439
General Lincoln lay at Bennington last night, and will, probably,
join us to-raorrow ; a few militia from below are coming up.
I have ordered up more bateaux to the forts, to assist in bringing
down the stores that are there.
K the enemy are not more numerous than the deserters say, we
ehould repulse them if joined by some more militia. Adieu.
General St. Clair to Joiin Hancock.
PiiiLADELPniA, Augud 25fA, 1777.
Sir: — Your letter of the 5th, inclosing a resolve of Congress of
the 30th of Juiy,^ I had the honor to receive at Stillwater, and in
consequence thereof repaired to headquarters.
However disagreeable it was to be obliged to leave the army at
so critical a time, it gave me pleasure that Congress had determined
to inquire into my conduct.* My character will thereby be placed
in its true light, and a stop put, I hope, to that tide of popular
abuse that has run high upon me, and been kept up by very disin-
genuous and base means.
I beg, sir, that you will make my request to Congress that the in-
quiry be ordered immediately ' — you must bo sensible that, until it
is over, my situatirm is a very awkward one.
^ Resolved, That Major (Jenenil St. Cluir, who conimandod at Tioonder(>j»a
and Mount Independence, be, and ho is hereby directed forthwith to repair
to headquarters. — Jr.urnah of (Jitugrens.
General Washington to General Putnam, 9th August, 1777:
** Congress have thought proper to call down General Schuyler and Gen-
eral St. Clair, to give an account of the causes of our misfortunes to the
northward, and General' Gates goes up to take the command."
'General Washington to President of Congress, 9th August, 1777:
**I perceive by the resolves for recalling Generals Schuyler and St. Clair,
that they are directed to repair to headquarters. I also And that a com-
mittee had been resolved on, to digest a mode for inquiring into the reasons
for evacuating Ticonderoi^a and .Mount Independence, and into the conduct
of the general officers in the Northern Department at the time of the evacu-
ation. As these gentlemen have received the letter upon this subject by
this time and will probably be down in the course of a few da3's, I shall be
glad to be informed wh:»t I am to do with them when they arrive. I may
be then at a great distance from this, and. in such case, should be at a loss
what to say, or how to conduct myself respectinix them, without receiving
some directions, which I request to be favored with by the earliest oppor-
tunity."
•That was just what certain members of the Board of War were deter-
\
440 The St. Clair Papers.
Colonel Wilkinson to General St. Clair.
HEADCiUARTER**, Van Sciiaick's Island, September 7th, 1777.
My Dear Sir : — Your agreeable and very satisfactory favor of the
26th July, has just rcache<l me. I am not at all astonished at the
loner faces nia<le vou, but I verv much wonder how thev are able to
make any face; for I think the man who can sustain the eye of the
person he has much injured, is devoid of b(»th sensibility and c*audor,
and I much fear our councils are not exempt from such characters,
else not one moment's hesitation could be made as to the mode of
inquiring into your conduct.
I am distiessi'd and enraged to observe in the public prints, which
you must have seen, a letter fn)m General Schuyler to the Council
of this State, wrote at Fort Edward previous to our joining him, in
which he reprehends the evacuation of Ticonderoga, and asserts
that the garrison was five thousand stning.* What a strange du-
plicity of heart <h)es he numifest. He yesterday informe<i me,
** that he ha<l written to Mr. Duane, (hi^irbuj him to pnhU^i Uie game,
that you ought not to Ik* blamed for not leaving Ticonderoga earlier,
but he had not left that in yourj)ower; and so far was he from
condemning your conduct, that he heartily applauded it, and should,
had he Ix'en in your situation, have pursued the same steps which
you did." This pdjuible contradiction to his letter did he utter to
me. Make what use of it vou can, and Ik» assured I shall 1h» ever
willing and ready to supjMjrt it. I wonder public inquiries had not
been nia<le into preciMling public misf«»rtunes — sucih as the loss of
F(>rt Washington, a division being >urpristMl and losing three pieces
of artillery, etc. However, (rod's will l>e done. I trust the period
is not very distant when justice will be done us, and many will be
reduced to tlu'ir former nothingness.
Alliiirs in this (piartcr wear the most favorable asj)cct. The Ben-
miiK'd >lii)ul<i not Ix* doiio. It was thoir purp.»so to drive ]>oth Gfncrals St,
Clair and Srliuyl«»r out of service. Tlie latter l)*'eaine disi^usted, and o\-
clianir«*il the armv for Congress. St. Clair, h.)\vev<»r. wa** kept husv in the
ii«*Kl hy (ii'ncral Wa^hiii'^torj, and h:id th<' <"Mt >fa«'ti(>i> of servini^ his eoun-
try d«"»pil«* th<" malt or)t«Mit-. 'V\\o inquiry \v:i- Mt»t i^ra'ited until eoniptdled
by a rnaj<»rity of Coui^ress under the leadership of Gouverneur Morris. Fur
particulars. >ee pp. M.' to '.iG.
^Sehuvh'r's attention wa-^ called to this ini-ronn'sontation hv General
"VVashire^toM. und^r date of duly !•'), 1777. iSee Wrifiujs of Was/iingfon^
Vol. IV. p. VK.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 441
nington success* has relaxed Mr. Biirgoyne's ardor, and has left hiiri
less than thirty Indians, the rest having returned home. Since that
event he has remained stock still, with his advance on the heights op-
posite Saratoga, and his main body at Fort Miller. His army, after a
moderate deduction for his losses and war posts, can not exceed ^\q
thousand five hundred men. General Lincoln is at Manchester, to
co-operate vnih iJiia anny, with a body of five tliousand men, which
rapidly increases. I doubt whether this motion will not make an
alteration in Mr. Burgoyne's front ; however, if this should faily I
am sensible we shall find no little eflicacy in advancing on the 10th
inst. from this quarter with upward of seven thousand combatants
eager for action. As they tell us, seriously, that the General is de-
termined to Advance at this i>eriod and give the enemy battle as soon
as he can do it on equal ground, the afiiiir must be soon settled ; and
I really think our numlx?rs and disposition will give us a vast ad-
vantage, nay, insure victory. God alone knows when General
Schuyler will ccmie down to you.* . . .
Goneml Gates l)cgs to be rememl)ered to you, and wishes you
here.; so does every officer who has had the honor to serve under
you, except the famous Marshall, whom I have tried, and now let
you know, as I have the army and his country, that he is not only
a scoundrel, but an infamous poltroon.
The shocking, degeneracy of mankind, and the poor prospect I
have of ever being united with the amiable girP in whom my whole
soul delights, disgusts me with existence, and will justify me, on
the first honorable occasion, in withdrawing from the public service,
and seeking tliat retirement more ccmducive to real happiness. May
the Almifrlitv bless vou, mv dear friend.
P. S. — Pray acknowledge the receipt of this. General Gates
* For an account of this action, see p. 84.
'General Scliiiyler, HriLcadier-Generals Poor, Patterson, and Fermoy, had
been ordered by Conj^reis?, August 1st, to repair to headquarters. On the
4th Aui^ust, by direction of Conjjfress, General Washington had directed
General Gates to assume command of the Northern Department. The or-
der of tlie 1st, so far a«s it directed the brigadier-generals to repair to bead-
quarters, was afterward rescinded on account of protest of General AVash-
ington.
'After the capture of Burgoyne, when AVilkinson was dispatched by Gen-
eral Gates to apprist; Congress of that happy event, he called on his amiable
girl en route, for which Samuel Adams moved that he be voted a pair of
spurs. It is presumed that Wilkinson took a less melancholy view of tho
world thenceforth.
440
Ml Pr,l, >..
2(il!i July, i.;'-
InljM t;i«-r< llia-i
iiiakt any l-i •« :
jMl-.- Ill lie i:;:> I',
nii'-l 1 !i:;i<'!i I* m'
il^«' II •'. "IM- 111 '!.:
iii'jiii'iM! iiit» \-
1 am <l:-:i«.'-i-.l
«.r ilii- Sir,:.-. \\r.»t«-
w!li''ll In- I«'|if'' !l('l«>!
plicity •'1' j.rart iI-m -
" liia' Ih- Iu; I w.'itlt'M
thai y.iii n:ij!ii n »i !•» I-
In:' •;•.• I.a'l ii"i li I't ilia:
r-'ii !■ 'iiiii.'i.- y"»!r ••{i-adn.-
i..i'i • ■ ii'-r, ill \ .»:j!- -Inia
v<» ! ".. !." I'l'.i-' pall ali!«* I
Ill-
Ma'-. • »\ '..a: u> "t* ii
w i!!':. • a I'l '■ a«l\ :■• -''.I';' r
1m < • r.... I • .ill • j«; I'l'. ..Ill _ ii!:
1, I 1 • 1 • I ■ • ■
• "!' >\ a- .•!•_ : ••!. a .i\ i-i'-ii
ni' ar: 'i- \'\ , <•=••. ! I"'.- • '. « a , <
I- :•■•! V. . '. I;*::!!! w .-. ii i:i-!i'
r«- 1" •• i i • I a- i' ;••; aa r n-iiiiiji'
A ■';"• - >:; ;M ■ •. ::'i*"r w- ar '
I '
I. .:.
• ..,i..i'. '. •:
Ik
.- v.. '• •
■
1 .
I
I
Correspondence J Addresses, Etc. 443
Oeneral Arnold was not out of camp during the wlwle action. Pray,
y dear General, read the inclosed, and let the amiable object
WW, the first opportunity, what was accomplished by our tnwps.
eneral Gates despises a certain pompous little fellow * as much as
la can, and tells me, confide utially, that nothing could give him
much satisfaction as your presence here, though I find his sup-
irters are, unfortunately, your enemies ; hence his silence. As Mr.
orgojne has no alternative, having destroyed the bridges in his
ar, and as the armies are within two miles of each other, he must
iortly commence action. We have at this time about six thous-
id combatants, and the enemy can bring to action about an equal
tmber. I think without some military trick the day will l>e our
Oiy as that enthusiasm which reigned at Ticonderoga pervades all
A:6a8tem troops, and the late severe engagement, instead of damp-
f^eir spirits, has made them impatient for action.
are just this moment informed of the success of a descent on
George by a detachment from a body of militia under Gen-
incoln, which was in the rear of Mr. Burgoyne. It was cora-
by the famous Colonel Brown. He very dashingly carrie<l
at the landing and at the saw-mills, took two aiptaius, nine
tes, and two hundred and ninety-three privates, of the
^tish regiment, and released a hundred and nine prisoners.
\ in possession the French lines, and had sent a flag to de-
1ie surrender of the fort, but had no artillerv to enforce his
. He has taken two hundred bateaux, twenty odd gun-
ftie armed vessels, etc. A letter you wrote me by a Mr.
: by accident been destroyed. I am now more |x?rsuaded
that the evacuation of Ticonderoga has been the salva-
is Province, perhaps country. I assure you that great
iven you, and the British and Burgoyne were greatly dia-
by the move. God bless you.
V)LONEL Wilkinson to General St. Clair.
Camp Bemis*s Heights, October 7^i, 1777.
r General: — Greneral Schuyler, by letter, infer mod me
:iv«)r to me by a Mr. Hale, was, for fear of it falling into
• if a party of Tories, whom he met at Ilackensack,
U'.tld.
442 The St. Clair Papers.
has lately received letters from Generals Burgoyne and Fraser re«
spec ting the prisoners made at Bennington. Burgoyne, in additiony
complains of the inhumanity of our trooi)s to his lioyal Pn>vincials,
and says,. ***if you mean to avoid the horrors of retaliation, you
must severely reprehend and strictly prohibit such conduct in fu-
ture,** or of his vengeance be assured.
Burgoyne's complaint is ridiculous ; his threat contemned.
Colonel Wilkinson to General St. Clair.
Camp Bemls's Heights, Septeniher 21st, 1777.
My Dear Geujpral: — On the IGth inst.. General Burgoyne ad-
vanced from Saratoga to Sword's house, and encamped on the
heights west of the river; on the 17th and 18th, he was engaged in
repairing the bridges in his front.
Early on the 19th, he struck his camp and advanced toward our
left. Morgan's riflo regiment, and a corps of two hundred and
eighty of Major Dearborn's light infantry, were immediately de-
tached to discover their motions and harass their advance. About
a mile from camp, and at half after twelve, they fell in with a picket
of tlie enemy, which they immediately drove, but, the enemy Ix'ing
reinforced, after a sharp fire they were in turn obliged to retire.
This skirmish drew the main body of the enemy and Poor's brigade
from our camp to supp )rt the action, which, with a short cessativ)n,
was renewed with redoubled energy and violence, and continued in-
cesr^ant till the end of the day, when our people retired to camp,
and the enemv a small distance in rear of the firld. Reinforcements
whicli were occasionally detached amounted in all to nine regiments,
two of them militia ; though Morgan's, Scammel's, Cilley's, and
Hah^'s, of General Poor's brigade, who all behaved inimitably, sus-
tained the princi})al iire. We are indisputably assured that Bur-
goyne, who commanded in person, was w^)unded in the left shoul-
der; ^ that the 02(1 regiment was cut to pieces, and that the enemy
suffered extremely in everv quarter where they were en^raired. I
inclose you a return of our loss and made prisoners during the ac-
tion [amounting to three hundred and twenty-<me killed, wounded,
and missing]. Tiie field was covered by a deep wood on all sides.
It was an excellent traj), and our men were quick to take advantage
of it.
iTlii'* was »ii» error, it was Ca])taiii Green, uid-de-camp to General Phil*
lips, who was wounded.
Correspondence, Addresses, Etc. 443
General Arnold was not out of camp during the wlwle action. Pray,
my dear General, read the inclosed, and let the amiable object
know, the first opix^rtunity, what was accomplished by our troops.
General Gates despises a certain pompous little fellow ' as much as
you can, and tells me, confidentially, that nothing could give him
80 much satisfaction as your presence here, though I find his sup-
porters are, unfortunately, your enemies ; hence his silence. As Mr.
Burgoyne has no alternative, having destroyed the bridges in his
rear, and as tlie armies are within two miles of each other, he must
shortly commence action. We have at this time about six thous-
and combat an t«5, and the enemy can bring to action about an equal
number. I think w ithout some military trick the day will be our
own, as that enthusiasm which reigned at Ticonderoga pervades all
the eastern troops, and the late severe engagement, instead of damp-
ing their spirits, has made them impatient for action.
We are just this moment informed of the success of a descent on
Lake George by a detachment from a body of militia under Gen-
eral Lincoln, which was in the rear of Mr. Burgoyne. It was com-
manded by the famous CDlonel Brown. He very dashingly carried
the post at the landing and at the saw-mills, took two captains, nine
subordinates, and two hundred and ninety-three privates, of the
53d British regiment, and released a hundred and nine prisoners.
He had in possession the Frencli lines, and had sent a flag to de-
mand the surrender of the fort, but had no artillery to enforce his
demand. He has taken two hundred bateaux, twenty odd gun-
boats, some armed vessels, etc. A letter you wrote me by a Mr.
Hale has by accident been destroyed. I am now more persuaded
than ever that the evacuation of Ticonderoga has been the salva-
tion of this Province, perhaps country. I assure you that great
credit is given yr>u, and the British and Burgoyne were greatly dis-
appointed by the move. God bless you.
Colonel Wilkinson to Geneilvl St. Clair.
Camp Bemis's Heights, Oct^er 1th, 1777.
My Dear General: — General Schuyler, by letter, informed me
that your favor to me by a Mr. Hale, was, for fear of it falling into
the hands of a party of Tories, whom he met at Ilackensack,
destroi/ed.
* General Arnold.
444 The St. Gair Papers.
Permit me to congratulate you on the loss of Philadelphia, as an
event fraught with the greatest good consequences, since many vil-
lains, who otherwise would have enjoyed the fruits of our virtuous
efforts, will by this test be reduced to the necessity of explaining
their despicable principles, which will (as I wish a total expulsion
of such dastardly unfeeling parricides), I trust, be an unsurmount-
able bar to their future existence in this country.
Whilst General Howe reigns triumphant in an empty city, Gen-
eral Burgoyne, without resources, and with barely twelve days pro-
visions (at this time) is stopped short in his career, and finds himself
unable to proceed, and incapable of retreating without disgrace and
ruin. Since the action of the 19th ultimo, he has remained strongly
posted, and has labored incessantly- on the fortification of his camp,
but the exigency of his circumstances must shortly produce some-
thing decisive. The injured Northern Army will then generoudyfty
to the support of the sinking armies.
An unprecedented amount of desertion prevades General Bur-
goyne's army ; notwithstanding bril)es, threats, and every military
precaution is adopted, they come over daily. We, yesterday, re-
ceived fourteen, who all agree in the same talc respecting provisions
and the doiection of the troops. Their flour is entirely Canadian,
and miserably manufactured, of which they now receive lialf a
pound i)er day.
Mv love to Colonel Stewart.
P. S. — G(*nerals Gates and Arnold have differed bevond recon-
ciliution. Ar*^ I, too, have a (juarrel with the little man, I will not
expose his conduct.
The celebrated General Stark, the Bennington hero, by way of
gilding his reputation and finishing his character, left the camp at
a time when we hourly expected an engagement, and on the day be-
fore the action.
Cou)yEL Baldwin' to Gknehal St. Claik.
Cami' Sakatocja, October 17, 1777.
Dear General: — Give me leave to conLrratulate vou on the im-
portant concjuest over General Burgoyne and his army. The capit-
ulation and other })artieulars you will have, by the time this reaches
vou, by an abler hand. A more coni])lete victorv vou could not
wish for, and I believe, by this time, the people in general have
altered their sentiments with respect to the evacuation of Ticon-
deroga. The ofheers, and all who I now hear speak about it, say
Correspondencey Addresses, Etc. 445
that a better plan could not have been adopted; and nothing but
your leaving that place could have given us the success. Excuse
haste.
General St. Clair to General Gates.
Camp at White Marsh, November 2\8t, 1777.
Dear General : — ^Though my congratulations on your signal suc-
cess come rather late, they are not the less sincere. Sickness in my
family had called me away from the army, and I was absent when
the news of General^Burgoync's surrender arrived, an event glorious
to you, and that must be attended with the most happy consequences
to America, and it affords me the greatest pleasure, as you were the
happy instrument in bringing it to pass. This, my dear General, is
not the language of compliment, but of the heart. I am not used
to make professions, but I ever shall be interested in your good or
bad fortune, as I have not forgotten, nor ever shall forget, the friend-
ship I have received at your hands.
The battle of Gcrmantown happened in my absence. I can give
you little account of it. There was strange mismanagement, and it
has produced infinite courts-martial, and as we have been inactive
ever since, seems to have impressed us with a sense of the superiority
of the British troops ; that gives me much concern. It is certain
our discipline and our numbers, too, are inferior to theirs, but when
your victorious troops arrive they will make our scale preponderate ;
but what can delay them so ? Morgan has been arrived above a
fortnight.
The fort on Mud Island was evacuated on the 16th instant, at
midnight (one of the enemy's ships lying within pistol shot of it at
the time), after having sustained a siege of near seven wxeks. It is
a very singular event tliat such a thing, the veriest bicoque that ever
was erected should have retarded the operations of an array of twelve
or fourteen thousand men and a great fleet so long. Colonel Smith
(a son of your friend, Mr. Smith, of Baltimore), has acquired im-
mortal honor in defense of it. The cheveaux-de-frize are not yet
removed, nor will they be, so long as we maintain the Jersey shore,
but that I fear wHl not long be the case, as the troops from New
York are landed at Billingsport, and a large detachment from Phil-
adelphia, under the command of Lord Cornwallis, has joined them;
Greene, however, with his division, has marched to oppose them,
and he has, likewise, Varnum's brigade.
My affair is still in the same situation as when I last wrote you.
446 The St. Clair Papers.
I am firmly persuaded it is the intention of Congress to avoid bring-
ing it to trial as long as possible, in hopes that the matter will die
away of itself and be forgotten ; that, however, is not my intention.
I have been pretty constant in my applications for justice to myself,
and to my country, and shall continue them until I prevail or they
throw off the mask. It is melancholy that a body lately so august,
80 truly venerable, should, in so short a time, be so visibly altered.
If the degeneracy continues (atid when uUriguing and cabal take* root
in public asiicmblies it generally continues and increases), I can not
tell what may be the consequences, nor do I like to imagine them ;
but this is certain, never since this great contest began had we more
need of upright, uncorrupted, wise and disinterested counsels and
counselors, for we are arrived at the crisis, or very near it. This
train of thought does not arise altogether from what has happened
to myself, but from a retrospect of the causes that have brought us
to a situation, in which we can with great difficulty get either for-
ward or backward.
This moment I have a letter from the President, covering the
following very extraordinary resolve :
^^WhercaHy Vie committee appointed to inquire into die causes of tJie
los.< of Ticomlerofja and Foii Independence havj not yet been able to
coflrrt mater i^ds aiul make their repoH: Rei<oloeAly tliat Major- General
*S7. Clair be at libniy to attend to hif^ privide affairs until he shall have
notice to attend hca lpiirt'.'rs, in order to an inpiiry into his conduct.'*
Judge, now, sir, what I ought to tliiuk of them, i'or I made no
such ai)plication as this would indicate, or whether the suspicion I
threw out above is not hut too well founded. If thev had candor
or common honesty, they would have owned that, after live months
sjK'nt in .searching for an accusation, they had Wn unable to find
one — one, at least, that they dared to own ; and, instead of com-
manding mo to retire from the army, which is the English of the
resolve, witli all the ignominy upon my head tliat they had unjustly
endeavored to fix there, could have acknowledged their error, and
doiio what was in their power to remove it; but many of them are
incapable of a (jenerons i^entiment or action in prirate life; and a pub-
lic Nation, by making men more acquainted with the views and frail-
tle.i of itHier.'i, confirtns awl increxises their own; a trial, however, they
sliall ;.'ivc me; be the event what it will, they can not rob me of
that hcarit'flt satisfaction which is the companion and reward of
virtuous actions.^
* For an account of the cowardly and unjust course of Congress, or the
Boarl of War, in the application of St. Clair and Schuyler for a bearing',
}
Correspondence J Ad dresses y Etc, 447
I shall leave the camp to-morrow, but shall not cease to pray to
see pp. 92 to'95. The cause of virtue was vindicated in spile of them and
the adverse facti(»n. 'Jen months after the evacuation of Ticonderoga,
Washington, having become indii^nant at the treatment, wrote to the Presi-
dent of Congress that the course of that body was looked upon as "cruel
and oppressive."
At last, after fifteen months of effort to find some way out of the dilemma
in which it was placed, a committee was appointed to formulate charges
based upon the testimony obtained by the c<iiiimittee, at the head of which
was John Adams. Only one witness had been found, and he was a disrepu-
table hanccer-on of the commissary d»*partment, named Jesse Leavenworih.
Not an officer or a .soldier to aid the prosecution. Leavenworth assured the
committee that there were over 5,000 troops in carrison, well armed; plenty
of provisions, but there was indifference and nei^lect. AVhen brought be-
fore the court, he swore directly to the contrary on the most important
points.
THE COUUT- .MARTIAL.
Majcr-General Lincoln, President.
Members.
Brigadier-General Nixon, Colonel Putnam,
Biigadier-Generul Clinton, Colonel M. Gist,
Brigadier-General Wayne, Ci>lonel Ru<sel,
Brigadier-General Aluhlenburgb Colonel Gra3'son,
Colonel Willis, Colonel Stewart,
Colonel Grealon, Colonel Meigs.
John Laurance, Judge Advocate.
Court met at White Plains, August 23, 1778.
The judge advocate read the charges and specifications which were to
substantiate the first, viz: Nei;lect of duty, cowardice, and treachery, in
abandoning the posts. He called his witness, Jesse Leavenworth, on eacli
charge, and offered, in addition, the correspondence between 6t. Clair and
Schuyler and Jay, above given.
The prosecution having been concluded, General St. Clair began his de-
fense by calling a large number of the officers who had been at the fort^
and presented the correspondence in a new and striking light. Of the tes-
timony of the prominent witnesses, we have room only for a few brief ex-
tracts.
Major-General Gates being sworn, says:
Some time in April, in the year 1777, I made a requisition from Congress
for the defense of the Northern Department, and estimated the troops nec-
essary for that service as follows: Two major-generals; six brigadiers; one
battalion of artillery, 600; twenty-five battalions of infantry, 12,500; two
C(»mpanie8 of rangers, 10 >; staff, bateaux men, etc., 400; total, 13,600. At
that time I did not expect General Hurgoyne would have landed between
ten and eleven thousand men. If I had, I should have required more men
for the defense of that department.
448 The St. Clair Papers.
God to avert those calamities to my country that may ever make
my feeble assistance necessary.
Ocneral St. Clair 8 Question. Durini^ the lime I had the honor of serving
under you, did you ever discover in mo cowardice, treachery, or incapacity,
as u general officer?
A. Fioin my l<»ng acquaintance witli you as an officer, and particularly
your usefulness to me as n Lrigadier-general in the campaign of 1770, it ex-
cites my astonishment that there should bo such charges as coward'co,
treachery, or incapacity exhibited against you. From my knowledge of you,
both as an officer and a gentleman, I have the highest opinion of your cour-
age, honor, capacity*, and fidelity.
Q. What proportion of these troops ought to be at Ticonderoga and
Mount Independence?
A. At Fort Schuyler, 500; the intermediate posts between Albany and
Fort Schuyler, inclusive, 600; the posts between Albany and Fort George,
inclusive, GOO; at Fort Ann and Skeiiesborough, 300; the remainder at Ti-
conderoga and its dependencies. Jiesides these, I expected aid from the mi-
litia of the country, having unlimited powers from Congress for that pur-
pose.
Q. (Bi/ Court). "What number of men would you have thought necessary
had you been fully possessed of the force of General Burgoyno?
A. Three to two.
Colonel Kosciuszko, sworn :
Ome.rnl St. Clair's Question. Supposing Ticondernga to have been aban-
doned, and tho enemy to have been in possession of it, would it have been
possible to h:ivo maintained the works on tlie point of Mount Indt'p»Midenco
that w<'re made for the comintind of the lake and the dtifcMise ol' the bridixo ?
A. No, as the ground overlook <»d them about fi!ty feet.
Ornrrnl St. Clair's Question. Do you recollect where the place from which
we got our water was, on Mount Independence side, and tlie siiUMtion of it?
A. On the west side of Mount Independence, on the low ground, near the
lake.
Grncrnl St. Clair s Question. Supp<x«ing tho enemy had passed some of
th(Mr vessels into S«>uth IJay, would it not have been wholly in tlieir power
to have cut us off fr«»m the water?
A. The spring \\ould have been exposed to the fire of the enemy.
Gmrral St. Clair s Qu ston. Do you recollect tin? distance from the lake
to Last Creek, bevimd tho south end of Blount lridepend«?nce ?
A. About one-half a njilo or three-quarters.
General St. Clair s Que stiun. "\V«)uld it not have ln'on in the enemy's power
to have annoyed, from the vessels from S«»uth Jiay, any troops that might
have been marching across the isthmus to the relief of Mount Independ*
ence ?
.1. It would have been in tho enemy's power to have done it, on account
of the passage being narrow, a thick wood, and the possessit>n of the lake.
Genrral St. Clair's Questio?i. Do you recollect whether any works were
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 449
I had a great deal more to say, but this resolve has deranged all
my ideas. Adieu, my dear general.
begun to improve the redoubt on the high ground, on the point of Mount
Independence 7
A. Yes; by your order I marked out the lines, and prepared the fascines,
which was after General Schuyler left Ticonderoga.
Oenernl Si. Claires Question. In what condition was the fort upon Mount
Independence?
A, It was a picketed fort, only for small arms. Picketed all around;
some good and some bad.
General Si. Clair's Quesiion. How many men could tlie fort contain, with
convenience, for the defense of it?
A. About 1,000 men.
General St. Clair's Question. What batteries had the enemy erected
against Ticonderoga at the time or before the evacuation took place ?
A. One battery was erected against the Jersey redoubt, on the opposite
side of the lake, about half a mile distant, and on higher ground. They
had made some works where they had an encampment, against the French
lines, about half a mile or three-quarters distant The enemy had also
taken possession of Mount Hope, a retrenched camp, which had been occu-
pied by us the campaign before, by which the communication with Lake
George was cut off. They had taken possession of the mill, burnt the
block-house, and passed on the other side of the creek, when they took pos-
session of a hill which commanded Ticonderoga and all Mount Independ-
ence, and had begun a firing on the sloop that was stationed for the defense
of the passage from Lake George. They had also begun some works im a
point on the east side of the lake, opposite to the bridge.
General St. Clair's QuesOori. Do you recollect Colonel May*8 having told
me, after I had spoken to the militia at Castletown, that the men would
stay, but the officers would not ?
A. 1 do not recollect Colonel May's having told you of it, but I met some
of the militia on the retreat, and having expressed my surprise at their not
staying to fight for their country, they answered, they were willing to stay,
but their officers would not.
Brigadier-General Poor sworn and examined at great length as to the de-
tails of the management of affairs at the forts, and after the evacuation.
This only need claim our attention, although all is important.
General St. Clair s Questioji. "Was our force in any degree adequate to the
defense ot the places?
A. No; I think the places could not have been maintained unless with at
least ten thousand good troops, and we ought to have had possession of two
hills without the French lines, as also the one on the other side of the lake,
known by the name of Mount Defiance.
General Schuyler, being duly sworn :
General Si. Clair's Question. What troops had you estimated for the de-
fense of ihd gari'isons of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence?
A, Ten thousand continental troops. I do not know that I mentioned in
29
450 The St. Clair ta^t. o.
P. S. — ^I am extremely happy at Wilkinson's promotion/ and
my letter to General Washington and to Congress that they should be con-
tinental troops, but I intended them to have been continental troops.
General St. Clair's Question, Do you think the posts tenable with the force
I had?
In answer to this question, General Schuyler produced an extract from a
copy of a letter to Congress, dated the 8th of June, 1777, which ho says was
sent by express to Congress, and was received by them about the 13th of
June, but he did not receive any answer to the letter till late in July. The
letter put Congress in possession of the weakness of the posts, the paucity
of the garrisons, and the want of clothing and provisions. These facts are
detailed in the letters above given.
General Schuyler says further, in answer to the question, that when he
mentioned in the letter to Congress that between two and three thousand
men were sufficient to have maintained Mount Independence, he conceived
the post, about which orders had been given the beginning of February to
Colonel Baldwin, was far advanced; that the obstruction in the lake was
completed; that there were carriai^es provided for the cannon; that lines
were completed, and not by one-halt so extensive as he found them.
General St. Clair's Question. Did you ever give me any orders for evacu-
ating these garrisons ?
A. No. The reason why I did not give you any orders for evacuating
these garrisons was because I had wrote this letter to Congress, and they did
not give me any orders about it; and as the Continent conceived them of
great importance and very strong, I did not think myself at liberty to give
any orders for an evacuation of them.
General St. Clair's Question. Was the defective state in which you found
Ticonderoga and Mount Independence owing to any negligence in me, or
disregard to the orders I received from you?
A. It could not be owing to any negligence in you, or disregard to the
orders you received from me, as you had arrived there but a few days before;
nor was it owing to the negligence of any officer who had commanded there
in the winter or spring before; nor to the commanding officer of the artil-
lery or the engineer. I conceive it to be owing to a want of men and a
want of materials.
General St. (.^lairs Question. Do you know of any steps taken by the
Eastern States to reinforce these posts, after their invej*ture?
A. Immediately on my return from Ticonderoga, I wrote to the Eastern
States to hasten on the remainder of the continental troops. Some troops
came up in consequence of my application, but did not reach Albany till
some time after the evacuation of Ticonderoga. Upon receiving the first
letter from you after I returned from Ticonderoga, I applied to the Eastern
States, and to this, for reinforcements of militia. The militia from Massa-
chusetts arrived at Fort Edward, I believe, between the 4th and 7th of July.
A few from Connecticut did not join us until towards the latter end of July.
Those from this State got up much about the same time that the Massacbn*
1 See Note 1, page 463.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 451
thank you very heartily for procuring it. He has great merit, and
setts did. The Massachusetts militia were up as soon at Fort Edward, and
those from this State, as I could reasonably expect them to be. Connecticut,
as I was informed by Governor Trumbull, had a call for militia from Gen-
eral Washington to go to the Highlands, or Peeks-Kill. That was the reason
that the militia did not join us sooner.
General St. Clair's Question. Did the force you had collected, supposing
the garrison to have held out, put you in a situation to have raised the
seige ?
A, I believe that, with all the troops you brought with you, with the rein-
forcements with General Nixon, and including all the militia, I had not at
Fort Edward, about the 20th of July, more than five thousand men. If the
garrison had remained, I should have had no more than three thousand
militia, before I was joined by General Nixon, to have marched to its relief,
which number I conceive very inadequate to have raised the seige. General
Nixon, I believe, arrived about the 12th or 13th of July; but if I had bad a
force which I might think was sufficient, yet should not have been able to
have raised the seige for want of provision, there being scarcely any pro-
vision of the meat kind in the department; flour was plenty. Nor was there
any stock of provisions of the meat kind laid in — not even a sufficiency of
salted meat to have furnished the scouts with. We had not lead in the de-
partment sufficient for an army any thing like to have raised the seige with.
At Fort Edward, on the 7th of July, we were obliged to strip the men that
were there of every cartridge they had to send them to Fort Ann, and were
left without any lead for some days, excepting a mere trifle I got from Al-
bany, a very small quantity brought up by the militia, and by stripping the
windows.
General St. Glair's Question. Did I not, when it was determined in the
council of officers that was held the 20th of June, 1777, respecting the hold-
ing of Mount Independence and evacuating Ticonderoga, express my
opinion that it would be impossible to hold that post, when the other side
of the lake should be abandoned?
A. I remember perfectly Well you did.
Extracts from the Speech of General St. CLAra.
General St. Clair began by expressing his gratification that at last his con-
duct was to be inquired into before " a proper judicatory, and that, after so
long a delay and so injurious a discrimination, public justice will be done
upon a full, an impartial, and dispassionate examination, and that it will be
passed upon by men equal to the task of investigating truth, however art-
fully concealed, and determining upon the intrinsic merit of military actions,
stripped of the glare that is sometimes thrown upon them by success, or the
false lights in which they are often placed by adverse consequences."
*'The first observation that naturally offers is, that the charges which have
been exhibited to this Court have all been founded upon the ex parte affi-
davit of a Mr. Leavenworth, which (in most instances) he has contradicted
in open court, and consequently is entitled to no degree of credit, and upon
my own letters to Congress and to General Schuyler, the officer who com*
462 The St. Clair Papers.
what is, in my opinion, more valuable, h£ has a tmrm, honest heart. I
have known many ah arrant knave with considerable abilities*
. _ __ . 1 ._ _. . .
manded in chief in the Northern department. It is singular, however, that
charges of so high a nature against an officer of my rank should be at-
tempted to be supported (for supported I trust they are not) by no other
living witness than Mr. Leavenworth, a private man! a follower of the
army! in some of the lowest and vilest occupations! who, if be had bad
capacity to judge, could not possibly have had proper information; that not
an officer of any rank whatsoever has been called upon; and yet, had
treachery, had neglect of duty, been committed — had 1 been inattentive to
the progress of the enemy — had the posts in my charge been shamefully
abandoned^-or had I been guilty of cowardice — they could not have escaped
their notice altogether; nay, it was by them only they could probably have
been discovered. But this, by-the-by. Previous to any remarks upon, or
application of the testimony, I beg leave to inform the Court that, before I
left Philadelphia to take upon me the command of Ticonderoga, (Jongress
had received information, which they credited, that the principal part of the
enemy's troops in Canada were ordered round by St. Lawrence to join Gen-
eral Howe; that no serious attempt would be made upon Ticonderoga; at
most, it would be a diversion only. This was communicated to me by Mr.
Hancock, then President, and I have his authority to menti:)n it to this
Court. This circumstance will serve as a key to many of my letters, and
will account for my doubts about some intelligence 1 received after my ar-
rival at Ticonderoga. And it appears, from General Poor's testimony, that
General Gates had likewise, from them, received the same account."
Charge — Neglect of Duty : In not having evacuated the posts upon receipt
of information from two men from Canada (supposed to be spies), and thus
have saved the artillery and stores; and in not keeping out reconnoitering
parties in force.
'•I suspect, sir, the committee who formed these charges had no idea of
the nature of a subordinate command. They would otherwise have known
that I had no power to form or execute any such resolution, and that my
justification for evacuating the posts at all must depend upon the necessity
of the case. 1 did what my duty required me — I gave the earliest notice t<.>
the commanding officer of the department, and stood ready to execute his
commands. But I am persuaded that, had it been in my power to have
taken my final resolution then, and upon the intelligence I had received, I
had abandoned the posts, although every thing had been saved which has
since been lost, the charges of treachery and cowardice would have been
very much louder, and pressed home more strongly, and with more violence,
if possible, than in the present case. I should have heard that no decisive
operation should be founded on the vague report of prisoners or deserters,
often ignorant, almost always ill-informed; but that to abandon a post on the
information of persons I suspected to be, and actually were, the enemy's
spies, or from the view of an encampment upwards of forty miles off, and
that only seen across a lake six or eight miles broad, could proceed from no
other than one of those sources, or from perfect stupidity; and this Court,
from whom I expect a very difibrent decision, would have joined m that
f
Correspondence y Addresses^ Etc. 453
Colonel Long to General St. Clair.
Portsmouth, New England, November 25, 1777.
Much Respected and Dear Sir: — My not having the pleasui-e of
opinion, and condemned me to the punishment I had justly merited. lUit,
besides all this, if the council oC war was to guide, it was out of my
power to take any such measure; for the resolution of the council is that
both Ticonderoga and Mount Independence are to be held as long as tlicy
can be, consistent with the safety of the troops and stores. When the safety
of the troops and stores became doubtful, Ticonderoga, not Mount Inde-
pendence, was to be evacuated.
"Had not the committee been totally ignorant of the nature of the coun-
try in which these parties were to act — had they given any attention to tlio
returns of my army, which were before them, or credit to my letters to
General Schuyler, of which they had the perusal — this article would never
have made ita appearance. Had it ever occurred to them that the enemy
proceeded by water, and that the only debarkation we hear of was at Gilli-
land's Creek, forty miles and upwards from Ticonderoga, and that they pro-
ceeded from thence by water again, we should not have heard this story of
reconnoitering parties, of which I am morally certain they themselves had
no determinate idea. My whole army would not have found one party
guch as they seem to think ought to have been sent out frequently. I have
proven that small parties were sent out, not only frequently, but cofistantly ;
and although they were but small parties, they were as strong as the state
of my garrison, and the works in hand, would allow. It is true, indeed, I
obtained by them no certain intelligence of the enemy's force until they
landed atThree-Mile Point, nor was it possible before; they possessed neither
the gifts of divination, nor walking upon the water; but they could give
me information if any part of the enemy's army was advancing by land,
and that was all I could expect from them."
The second charge is cowardice, treachery, and incapacity as ^ General.
"By Mr. Leavenworth's testimony again are these accusations to be sup-
ported; not in a direct manner, but by inference and deduction from that
part of it which the committee in the above remark say he gave them, viz.,
'that the enemy were not annoyed in the advance to, and investiture of, the
posts;' but which he in part contradicted here, as I observed before, and
which, by Colonel Stevens, General Wilkinson, Colonel Livingston, Major
Dunn, and others, I have proven to be false. The inferences of consequence
are false likewise, and, of course, the charges groundletis. But I believe it
is the first instance where charges of a capital * nature have been brought
against an officer by deduction, without a shadow of proof to support them ;
and cowardice and treachery are capital crimes, although the committee have
directed them to be tried by an article of war to which no capital crime
whatever can be referred, having been expressly provided for crimes not
capital. I waive, however, any advantage that might be taken of this. My
reputation, or my safety, shall never depend upon the blunders of any set of
men who may think proper to accuse me, but, when proof is wanting, can-
454 The SL Clair Pampers.
hearing from you since I saw you at Stillwater, induced me to be-
lieve my letter of the ^Oth September miscarried. To prevent the
dor will never attribute actions to the worst cause from which they could
possibly flow j good nature will ever ascribe them to the best. Hitherto,
however, I have experienced very little of either But my birth, sir, my ed-
ucation, my connections, both in this country and in Britain, my station iiv
life, my children (if to these had not been added the habitude of early life),
as they were the best pledges, so they should have secured me from the im-
putation of those most shameful vices, from which the meanest of the peo-
ple are generally free. But my reputation rests not on that bottom. I am
happy in the general good opinion of the army, which is never bestowed
upon cowards, nor has all the calumny that I have been loaded with shaken
me a single friend. The court have the fullest ipvidenco that on every occa-
sion I have given demonstration of an active, as well as passive, courage;
my conduct in that respect has been uniform on all occasions \ and this is
confirmed by the concurring testimony of many of the principal officers of
the army, with some of whom I have been, personally, in almost every
action that has happened during the war. From thence they must conclude
that, whatever might have been the motives for my evacuating Ticonderoga,
it could not have been owing to cowardice, and that the charge is false, ma»
licious, and scandalous.
"Treachery, sir, is a crime it is impossible to prove, positively, not to have
been committed. It is, therefore, necessary, in order to fix it, that some ac-
tual commission should bo proven, but, as this has not been attempted, it is
enough, alone, to overthrow the charge. But 1 beg leave to inform the
court that when Congress appointed me to the command of a regiment, I
considered it as the call of my country, that could admit of no refusal. I
reflected that some knowledge acquired by study, and the service of the last
war (during which I was in almost every scigo and every action of conse-
quence), put me in a situation to bo of some use to our army in its infant
s:ato. My country, 1 thought, had a rii;bt to my services, and to every ad-
vantage that could be derived from my experience. I, therefore, without
hesitation, resigned an honorable and profitable employment I then held un-
der the Crown, to qualify myself for that offered by Congress, notwithstand-
ing it was not of one-halt the yearly value. 1 quilted the sweets of a re-
tirement I was fond of, the pleasures of domestic life, and the care of edu-
cation, and prnvision for a rising family (both i»f which claimed my closest
attention), for the toils, the hardships, and the extraordinaify expenses of
war Had this the appearance (»f trrachcry? And yet, for these, I have
met with the ungracious return of th< >(! cruel accusations, though, surely,
tlu'V were not the natural returns for such conduct. AVhat further promo-
tion Congress were pleased to confer upon mo was wholly unsolicited. I
received it with gratitude, determined that my actio: s sh<Mild be the best
proof of the sense I had of the honor they had done me; nor have I been
therein disappointed. My country now reaps the solid advantages tif my
conduct, whilst I ani loaded with obliquy and abuse. I forgive it, however,
but I can never forget that the channels of justice have been shut against
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc, 456
like misfortune, this goes under cover of George IJ^rost, Esq., a
member of Congress fi'om this State.
I sincerely long to see a publication in the papers of your acquit-
me, and that for thirteen long, long months, I have been bung up to be
stung by the envenomed tongue of malice, and pointed at by the finger of
folly. But the sentence of this court will, I trust, place me once more in
that honorable point of view from which I have not deserved to be re-
moved, having been careful to observe that maxim of Horac^^
Nil conscire ihhij nulld pallaaeere culpa / ^ ''
But the committee again return to the point of evacuating the posts,
and declare that it ought to have taken place when the enemy reached Three-
Mile Point [General St. Clair established the fact that in April Congress
had declared that, unless the Eastern States came to the relief of the garri-
sons, the posts would be lost. Then, why did not Congress, the supreme
power, order the evacuation ?]. General St. Clair continued .
" Sir, had a retreat been attempted upon the enemy's landing at Three-
Mile Point, and the steps pursued which the committee have enumerated above,
it is impossible, in the nature of things, but the army must have been cut
off, or fallen prisoners into their hands. But, by our putting a good face upon
the matter, and showing a determination to hold both posis, they were in-
duced to divide their force, in order to invest us, and reduce by the more
slow but certain method of regular approach; not that this method was nec-
essary to them, for they might most certainly have carried us by assault at
any time. But ajssaults are frequently very bloody things, and on that cir-
cumstance I chiefly depended for rendering my small garrison serviceable
to their country. I was in hopes the enemy would assault us, and some ao-
counts that I had, that they were short of provisions, gave me some reason
to expect it. I depended upon my troops; I was persuaded they were brave^
and I believed they, too, had confidence in me. Every order and every ad-
vice I gave them, pointed directly to that object — and I still believe that,
bad they attempted it, we should have given so good an account of them,
that the conquest of Ticonderoga would have terminated the operations of
that campaign, but conquered it would have been after all our exertions.
Every letter I have written holds up the same idea, and I always speak of
an attack as contradistinguished from a seigo; and the character of the Gen-
eral I was opposed to gave me reason to expect something by assault op
surprise. I mentioned to Congress, so early as the 26th of June, the great
deficiencies in troops and provisions, and the probability of my being obliged,
from these circumstances, to evacuate. The moment I was informed, with
any tolerable degree of certainty, of their numbers, which I was not until
the 8d of July, from a prisoner and some deserters (their information was
confirmed by a spy I sent into their camp the 8d and returned the 6tb), and
saw that they meant a regular seige, I was certain the defending the posts
effectually was impossible. The moment, however, 1 chose for the retreat^
(1) The quotation complete is as follows:
Hie murus aSneus esto,
Nil conscire sibi, nulla pallescere culpa.— J5i). 1. 1, 60,
456 The St. Clair Papers.
tal respecting the evacuation of Ticonderoga, which I am very sen-
sible must be with the greatest honor, and, when that happy period
arrives, I hope to again have the satisfaction of serving under you
as it was the only one was in my power to choose, so it was almost the only
one after the enemy's landing at Three-M^ile Point in which the retreat
could have been effected.
" I have fully proven that the sick were not left behind nor lost ; that
grciit part of the cannon, all the ammunition, the baggage and tents of the
army, the hospital stores, and part of the provisions, were removed from Ti-
conderoga— as much as could at once have been removed at any prior time.
Every boat was loaded. I think I have proven it to have been necessary,
and well conducted, and that the confusion, occasioned principally by the
burning of General Fcrmoy's house, and his not circulating the orders to
his brigade at the proper time, was soon remedied. I beg the Court to re-
flect one moment upon what was to be done, and how short the time to do
it in 1 For, though the evacuation was resolved on ubout three o'clock in the
afternoon, we could not begin to carry it into execution until night came on,
the enemy being in possession of a hic^h hill on the opposite side of the lake,
from whence they could see our every moveinpnt ; that it was the season
when the nights are at the very shortest, and that it was, moreover, moon-
light; and that the; necessity of keeping the matter a secret, until the very
moment of evacuation, prevented any preparatory steps being taken to ex.
pedite the business, and they will be of the opinion that more was never
done, caeieris paribus, in equal time; and if, in ihe diflerent embarkations,
Home irregularities did happen, when every circumstance is taken in — the
suddenness of the thing; the disposition every man would naturally have
to sfavc perhaps his little all; the confusion the night alone is apt to occa-
sion; the distance (iv«iry thing had to be carried, and their variety, the can-
did mind will be more apt to wonder that any order could be preserved,
than tliat some irregularities supervened, 1 need not tell this honorable
Court that a retreat, with an inferior army, from before a superior one, is
perhaps the most dangerous and delicate und(;rtaking in the whole circle of
military operations, and that it never will be effected without prudence,
fortitude, and secrecy. I hope I have satisfied the Court that I could not
order the evacuation until the last uioment, when I saw no alternative be-
twixt that and the certain loss of the army. I think I have proven that
that moment was arrived, as one day more would probably have completed
the investment of the posts, and then it would have been impossible. I
have proven that my motive was not to avoid the enemy, but to save the
army, and, by removing them to a place where reinforcements could reach
them, to make them as a basis of a force suflicient to cover the country, and
check the progress of the enemy; and this I did with the certainty of a
loss of reputation, the price few people are willing to pay even for the pros-
perity of their country. I, indeed, expected it would be a temporary loss
"Illy, nor will it he more, though it has already been of much longer dura-
ti«)n than 1 looked for; and I fear the so long delaying to afford me an op-
portunity to vindicate my character, is not very likely to induce others who
Correspondence, Addresses j Etc, 457
in the army, as nothing could give me greater pleasure. My dear
Sir, let me hear from you as soon as possible. In the meantime, be
assured none wishes you more happiness than your most obedient
humble servant.
may happen in like circumstances to make a similar sacrifice. My letter to
Congress, of the 14th of July, proves that I foresaw the events that would
probably happen, and which must have had some effect upon my determina-
tion.
** Indeed, from the knowledge I had of the country through which General
Burgoyne had to advance, the difficulties I knew he would be put to to sub-
sist his army, and the contempt he would naturally have for an enemy
whose retreat I concluded he would ascribe to fear, 1 made no doubt he
would soon be so far engaged, as that it would be difficult for him either to ad-
vance or retreat. The event justified my conjecture, but attended with con-
sequences beyond my most sanguine expectations. A fatal blow given to
the power and insolence of Great Britain, a whole army prisoners, and the
reputation of the arms of America high in every civilized part of the
world! But what would have been the consequences had not the steps
been taken, and my army had been cut to pieces or taken prisoners? Dis-
grace would have been brought upon our arms and our counsels, fear and
dismay would have seized upon the inhabitants, from the false opinion that
had been formed of the strength of these post*, wringing grief and moping
melancholy would have filled the now cheerful habitations of those whose
dearest connections were in that army, and a lawless host of ruffians, set
loose from every social tie, would have roamed at liberty through the defenseless
country, whilst bands of savages would have carried havoc, devastation,
and terror before them! Great part of the State of New York must have
submitted to the conqueror, and in it he could have found the means to
enable him to prosecute his success. He would have been able effectually to
have co-operated with General Howe, and would probably have soon been
in the same country with him; that country where our illustrious General,
with an inferior force, made so glorious a stand, but who must have been
obliged to retire if both armies came upon him at once, or might have been
forced, perhaps, to a general and decisive action in unfavorable circumstances,
whereby the hopes, the now well-founded hopes of America, of liberty, of peace
and safety, might have been cut off forever. Every consideration seems to
prove the propriety of the retreat, that I could not undertake it sooner, and
that, had it been delayed longer, it had been delayed too long."
The Court, having duly considered the charges against Major-General St.
Clair, and the evidence, are unanimously of opinion that he is Not ChuUiy
of either of the charges against him, and do unanimously acquit him of all
and every of them with the highest honor.
B. Lincoln, President.
The Court adjourned without day.
*He received the brevet of Brigadier-General immediately after deliv-
ering General Gates's dispatches to Congress, announcing the victory over
Burgoyne.
468 The St. Clair Papers.
Marquis de Lafayette to General St. Clair.
On Board of the Alliance, )
Boston, 9ih January, 1779. J
Dear Sir : — I have received the letter ^ you have honored me with,
and most heartily thank you for it, and for the sending of the pro-
ceedings of your court-martial. I hope I need not to tell you how
much my heart was interested in any thing which happened to you,
and how much I rejoiced, not that you are acquitted, but that at
length your conduct was examined. My (ywn sentiments did not toant
the confirmation for admiring your behavior and your talents; but I sin-
cerely give joy to your country, that, notwithstandino all cabals,
due justice w at last paid to such a citizen and soldier as you are.
Your justification will be duly known in France as soon as I arrive
there.
Farewell, my dear Sir ; do not forget me, and believe me, with
an equal esteem, regard and friendship.
P. S. — I wish you could come to see me in France, and receiv-
ing you there would be a true happiness to me.
General St. Clair to Robert Morris.
Camp at Whitemarsii, November ISth, 1777.
Sir : — The resolution of the Board of War, resjKJcting the provid-
ing necessaries for the army, which was last night communicated by
the General ^ to a council of war, has occasioned my troubling you
with this. Thev desire the General to take from the inhabitants all
the blankets, shoes, and other necessaries they can possibly spare ;
that he ap|X)int proper officers to make the collection, and that no
great regard be paid to the circumstances (»f the disaffected. I can
not bring myself to think that any effectual supply for the army
can possibly be procured in this manner; indeed, I do not believe
an adequate sup])ly of blankets can in any manner be obtained, and
the gentlemen who compose that Board seem to have forgotten how
much the inhabitants of this State have already been stripped of
the article of blankets ; so much, however, I am certain it has been
the case, that v(tv many families will sensibly feel the effects of it
* Lafayette was about to sail for France, for the purpose of inducing the
Court of that country to give more active^ aissistanco to the American cause.
The letter was not found among the St. Clair papers.
2 General Washington.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 459
this winter. The troops of many of the neighboring States, as well
as our own, have been supplied by them, which is the reason that
almost two-thirds of the militia who are got into the field come un-
provided with that article. How reasonable soever it may appear
that the disaffected part of the inhabitants should be compelled to
contribute beyond conveniency, as the Board have pointed out no
criterion whereby to determine their disaffection, I can not help
thinking it improper it should be left to the judgment of the offi-
cers who may be appointed, as, let their acquaintance be as extensive
as can reasonably be supposed, they must necessarily be ignorant,
both of the principles and circumstances of great numbers ; and, if
they are to depend upon information, it is not improbable it will
often proceed from malice and private pique. The New England
States have never contributed a single blanket towards the general
supply of the army ; and, I believe, generally their own troops have
been furnished with those that were imported. Their country pro-
duces a great quantity of wool, and the inhabitants make many
blankets. They, therefore, must be in a situation to contribute to
the wants of the army more effectually, and with less inconvenience,
than this country, that has already been stripped almost naked, and
that, from its posts being so strictly guarded, is cut off from any re-
cruit from abroad. If there is reason for dealing severely with the
disaffected, I am persuaded they are not in fewer numbers nor in
worse circumstances in New England than in Pennsylvania, howso-
ever immaculate some people may endeavor to make us believe it.
Be that as it may, I am persuaded the collecting them in the man-
ner prescribed for Pennsylvania would not be thought eligible for
New England, and I can not help wishing that some other may be
devised, if another contribution must be made here, as that may be
very unequal and oppressive, and will certainly be highly irritating.
The people are already not a little jealous of the army, and such an
exertion of what will appear to them military power, can not but
produce mischievous effects. It is certain, however, that the army
can not possibly keep the field in this severe season which is just at
hand without a supply of clothing. The difficulties that seem to
attend it for this trifling army would lead to a train of thought
which I do not like to indulge, and would by no means trouble you
with.
The utmost that can possibly be expected from this State is to
provide for their own troops, and what may be drawn from the in-
habitants should not be diverted into other channels.
\
460 The St. Clair Papers.
Gekerax. St. Clair to Joseph Reed, PREsroENT of Penn-
sylvania.
Camp near Van Ness's Bridge, February 21«f, 1779.
Sir: — ^The bearer, Major Mentgiz, after much solicitation, has ob-
tained leave to go to Philadelphia in order to make his claim to the
Committee of Arrangements. He and Major Murray conceive
themselves to be injured by the promotion of Major Nichols, and I
do myself the honor to inclose you tlio representations they have
made to me on that head Nothing would satisfy him but his going
to Philadelphia to make them in i)erson, to which the General^ at
last reluctantly consented. You will probably be troubled likewise,
in a few days, with the claims, I sliould rather say demands, of the
officers of the First Kegiment with regard to Captain McKissic.
Upon his arrival, two of the officers waited upon me to acquaint me
that all the officers had determined to resign in case Captain Mc-
Kissic insisted on availing of the appointment he had received.* I
advised them to a decent representation of their rights to the Board
of War, assuring them that if, through any mistake or inadvertence,
they had been injured, they might depend upon redress, putting
them, at the same time, in mind of the hardshi|)s of captivity, and
tfliat the rule tliey seemed to wish established for Captain McKissic
might oj^Tate hereafter against some one, or all of themselves — in
answer to which I received a letter, signed by three Ca{^ains, the
Captain-Lieutenant and six Lieutenants, which is nearly all the
officers piCoent with the regiment, in which they formally resign
their commissions, declaring they are determined not t^ serve a
moment under what they deem an im|X)sition. Their pretensions
are founded on the resolve of Congress, that directs the jiromotion
to be regimental up to a certain rank. It gives me great pain to see
such a spirit of cabal prevail amongst the troops of our State, for
I take both this and the pretensions of Majors Mentgiz and Murray
to be greatly owing to that, and, if it is given way to, it is very hard
to say where it may stop ; and, yet, if the resignations are accepted, it
will be very difficult to find officers to supply their places ; and what
adds to the misfortune, they are generally officers of approved
^Goiicrjil "Washington.
2 Captain McKissic had been a prisoner, and the Board of W^ar having
decided that such hardship should not work the loss of position or promotion
to officers, when exchanged he availed himself of the rule. This was resisted
by the officers in line of promotion, who had not been captured. This rule
was prolific of dissensions, notwithstanding its justice.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 461
•
taivety and character. I have, however, for the present, refused
the resignations, and assured them that I would present none to his
ExceUency that should ever come in like manner. This will proh-
ahly bring them to send a memorial to your Excellency, or the
Board of War, and I have mentioned it that you might be prepared
for it beforehand, and perhaps be able to devise some remedy.
On Monday, a person, whom the officers liave agreed to recom-
mend for the distribution of the stores the State have been pleased
to provide for their troops, will set out for Philadelphia, by whom
your Excellency will receive the information respecting the mode
pursued in the Maryland line you wished for. I hope, after his ar-
rival, if the Council approve of him, the stores will be forwarded
without delay, as it would certainly help to allay the discontents
that too generally prevail.
One of them, I find, has arisen amongst the soldiery, from a no-
tion that they have generally been returned as engaged for the war>
and this opinion has prevailed, too, amongst the officers, although
their enlistments chiefly run for three years, or during the war. I
am very clear their time of service determines with the three years,*
and that the war is only a limitation of the engagement, on a sup-
position it may be over before that period elapses ; but you will
oblige me by informing me whether I am not mistaken.
General St. Clair to President Reed.
Camp at Millstone, MarcJi dth, 1779.
Sir : — I have the honor to inclose you some of the resolutions of
the State of Massachusetts Bay, relative to the supply of their
troops; and letters from General Scott, of New York, and the
commissary of that State, on the same subject. The resolves
of Connecticut have not yet been procured. By them you will
observe how differently the troops of these States have been
treated from those of Pennsylvania, and that in New York they
have extended their attention and bounty to the familied of their
soldiers, who are supplied with the necessaries of life at very mod-
erate rates. The same, I am told, has taken place in Mas-
' This difference of opinion as to term of enlistment resulted in the mutiny
of the Pennsylvania line, which came near being disastrous to the whole
army at a most critical period, tt was finally adjusted by Congress accept-
ing the statement made above by Geheral St. Clair, which will be more fully
explained hereafter.
462 The St. Clair Papers.
sachusetts Bay. I wish I was certain that many of ours, in this
time of scarcity, were not starving.
The troops of Virginia are also supplied with necessaries at very
low prices, and, at this very time, broad-cloths and linens are sold
in camp to their oflScers, at as low a price as they could ever have
been purchased for ; besides, they are now making up their pay-
books for six months' pay, a present from the State as some compen-
sation for the depreciation of the money. This difference alone,
would sufficiently account for the dissatisfaction that so generally
prevails in the Pennsylvania line; so great that the officers are
ready to seize even the shadow of a pretext to quit the service, and,
unless some remedy is very soon applied, I believe we shall have
very few officers indeed left by the opening of the campaign. An-
other reason, however, is the effect of that resolve of Congress that
restrains them to one ration. It bears very hard upon them ; the
money they receive from those retained being so fiur from an equiv-
alent that it will scarce purchase any thing — to such a low ebb is
our money run down, and the cursed spirit of extortion risen at
the same time ; in the meantime, I have heard that there are some
stores coming on. This will, I hope, convince them that they are
not altogether neglected, and nothing in my power shall be wanting
to keep thcni easy until further provision can be made ; but I very
much doubt its being in the power of the State to supply them so
amply as some of our Southern and Eastern neighbors.
The mode of oppressing the district for a regulated number of
shoes and stockings, as mentioned in General Scott's letter, it seems
to me might easily be carried into execution in Pennsylvania, and,
thereby, I think, a very considerable supply might be procured.
General St. Clair to President Reed.
March 6, 1779.
Sir: — Since I wrote you, yesterday, another very disagreeable
circumstance has occurred in our line, which I was informed of an
hour ago. Tlic officers, it seems, have formed a committee to state
their grievances to the field officers, who were some time ago ap-
pointed by General Wayne to correspond with the Committee of
Assembly. They enumerated to them several, the principal of
which, however, were : the depreciated state of the money, and the
little care that has been taken to supply them, whilst the troops of
some other States, serving with them, have been very amply and
Con^espondencej Addreases, Etc. 463
very reasonably supplied. So fer, they had reason ; but they have
gone farther. They complain of the half-pay establishment, and
want a provision made for the widows of such officers as have
fallen or |nay fall in the contest, and require them to represent
these matters to the legislature of the State, and acquaint them
that, if they do not receive entire satisfaction on these points, on or
before the 15th of April,* every officer of the line will then resign
their commissions into the hands of the executive council.
^MiLLSTOWN Camp, March 8, 1779.
Dear General: — Agreeably to your request, I do myself the honor of
transmitting you exact copies of the two arrangements. The latter is likely
to create great uneasiness. General St. Clair has recommended a board of
field-officers to sit, and endeavor to settle it amongst themselves. We shall
have a difficult task of it. The officers are greatly irritated. Yesterday they
presented a letter to the committee, signed in behalf of all the officers pres-
ent, stating many well-founded grievances, desiring us to paint them in as
striking terms as possible, and to inform the House of Assembly, unless im-
mediate redress is granted, they would unanimously resign their commis-
sions by the 15th of April. The matter is really serious; such a step will
dissolve the division. We have written to the committee of correspondence
yesterday, informing them of ihe fixed determination of the officers; but I
suppose it will be treated, as we have been, with neglect and contempt.
Should you incline to accept the command of the Light Corps,' I shall
1 General Wayne had applied to General Washington for the command of the Light
Infantry in the following letter:
Philadelphia 10th Feby 1779.
Dear General
I did myself the Honor of writing to you the 20th ultimo mentioning that I was
Necessitated to be here at the Meeting of the Assembly of this State— tb that I
shouM take the Liberty of waiting on you the first of the Month for leave of absence
I was unfortunately deprived the pleasure of seeing you by passing down the
Jersey shore whilst you were on your way for Camp on the Pennsa side the
Delaware.
I made a point of having ray people well & Comfortably Covered previous to my
leaving them— & I hope that the Appearance of the men & the Regularity & Internal
Police of the City has met your Excellencies Approbation
I also flatter myself that Gcnl St Clair will be Pleased In the Command of Troops
that always have & ever will do their duty In the field— <& that they on their part will
be happy under the Conduct of a Gentn to whom I chearfuUy give place — & Sin-
cerely Esteem but at the same time I have so much tenderness for the feelings of
the Officers that have hitherto Commanded the Pennsa Brigades, that I can't think
of Inlcrfering with them In that point
I therefore wish to be Indulged with Command In the Light Corps- if It can take
place without prejudice to the Service or the excltision of an Oflicer of more worth
or experience — but if that can't be done, I beg your Excellency not to spend an other
thought or give yourself a Single moments Uneasiness on the Occatlon— but permit
me still to hope for the Continuance of that friendship that you have hitherto hon-
ored me with, and In case of an Active Campaign the Pleasure of serving near your
Person as a Voluntler.
Interim, I am with Every Sentiment of Esteem Your most Obt & very
Uuml Sevt
Anty Wayne
464 The SL Clair Papers.
I know not that in my life I have met with any thing that gave
me 80 much uneasiness for the time ; indeed, the committees that
esteem it a singular happiness to be honored with a command under you. 1
received a letter some days since from Colonel Magaw, on Longtsland; he
desires his compliments. And believe me, dear General, your most obedient,
humble servant, Josiah HAJtIfAR.
To General Wayne.
An examination of the communications of General Washington to Con-
gress, during the winter of 1779, will show how widespread was the dissatis-
faction in the army. "I have more than once intimated/' said he, *'that
even a dissolution of the army is not an improbable event, if some effectual
measures were not taken to render the situation of the officers more com-
fortable." "The patience of the officers has been a long time nourished by the
hope that some adequate provision was in contemplation. Though nothing
satisfactory has hitherto been done, their hopes have been still kept aliTe;
but this can not be much longer the case, and when they come once to fix
an opinion that they have nothing to expect, they will no longer combat the
necessity that driven thorn from the service." "Indeed, not to multiply ar*
guments upon a subject so evident, it is a fact not to be controverted that
the officers can nut support themselves with their present pay; that neces-
sity will oblige them to leave the service unless better provided for; and
that remaining in it, those who have no fortunes will want the common ne-
cessities of life, and those who have fortunes, must ruin them." This is fol-
lowed by an appeal to provide half-pay for the officers, and pensions for
their families in ease of their death. The chief cause for the distress was
the depreciated currency, which was daily bec(;ining worse. This crisis had
been hastened by the fi»lly of Congress in insisting on short enlistments in
obedience to the demands of New England, where the pride was in the
militia. *' Had my advice respecting this mutter," said Washington to Joseph
Reed, in 1770, '' been pursued in the years 1775 and 1776, our money would
have been upon a very diflerent establisliment in point of credit. to what it
is at this day, and we should have saved millions of pounds in bounty
money, and the consequent evils of expiring armies and new levies."
The rapidity of the depreciation and increase of distress is shown in a
sentence or two: "An attempt has been made," wrote Keed, in 1777, "to
give the old paper money the currency of gold and silver, but it does not
succeed. While beef is sold for 2s. Gd. per pound in gold and silver, they ask
4s. and 4s. Gd. in paper." In 1770, beef was 10s. per pound in Baltimore, the
cheapest market in the Colonies; butter, four dollars per pound, and hay
from XOO to £120 per ton.
The representations of St. Clair and the officers under him moved the
General Assembly of Pennsylvania to attempt to do something to relieve
the distress and discontent. On the 13th of March [see Journals of Assembly,
pp. 336-36]. resolutions were adopted, giving to every Pennsylvania officer
who received the seven years' half-pay from Congress, a continuation of the
same during life, with pensions to their widows, and exempting all lands
given to officers and soldiers from taxation. In the following year, these
Correspondence J Addresses, Etc. 465
have been from time to time formed in the army I ever had a. bad
opinion of, and dreaded ill consequences from. They are certainly
destructive of that subordination which is the soul of discipline,
and will spread the spirit of mutiny and disobedience through the
whole. Unfortunately, our circumstances will not admit of our
applying the proper remedy ; it is, therefore, necessary to tem|)orize, '
and I have accordingly shown every mark of disapprobation that
did not tend directly to inflame the evil, and by promising to write
myself, and desiring the field officers to write ; by representing to
them the impossibility that the Legislature would yet have had
time to take up and consider the grievances they suffered, that had
already been stated to them ; and the probability that before the
time they had specified, they would be convinced of their sincere in-
tentions to make their situation as easy as any of their feUow-
soldiers, have, I ho{)e, put a stop to a combination ruinous to our
public atiTairs, and disgraceful both to the State and to the parties,
but which had it once been gone into, the principles of false honor
might have led them religiously to observe. At the same time, it
is my duty to inform you explicitly that their complaints are but
too well founded ; that I believe necessity has, in a great measure,
compelled them to the steps they have taken ; and their distresses
are aggravated by the comparisons which are constantly before them,
which must inevitably sour the minds of men of spirit, who have
the consciousness of having literally borne the heat and burden of
the day.
It might serve to elucidate their disagreeable situation if I were
to give you a detail of the prices which things in general bear. It
would ha tedious, however, and I will only say that most articles
are as high as in the market of Philadelphia, and some much higher.
Judge of the rest from this circumstance — a dozen of eggs can not
be purchased for less than two dollars.
Having mentioned the ill consequences of combination for any
provisions were embodied in n statute. [S<'e 1 Smith's Laws, 487."] Tbia
prx)mpt notion prevented tbe dissolution of the Pennsylvania line.
The chief credit for this happy event is due to St. Clair and bis friend,
Judge Thomas Smith, who at that time was a member of the General As-
sembly. In a letter from him to General St. Clair, under date of March
27th, I find this paragraph: "I hope my'friend will join with mo in ox-
pressing his approbation of our resolves with regard to the army. Immedi-
ately on the receipt of your better, I made the motion on which they are
founded." **The same committee that brought them in, broujrht in some
others ye«terday, as well for tlie benefit of tlie recruiting service, as to ex-
tend the operations of our first resolves more generally.''
30
46G The St aair Papers.
purpose whatever, amongst our officers, I can not help taking no-
tice, in extenuation, though it serves to confirm the principle of their
danger, that the officers of our State have been led into this by the
example of those of New Jersey, who, some time ago, made a simi-
lar representation, which produced an immediate resolve of the
Council for issuing a very considerable sum of money for their
relief.
I am sure I need not press you on this head, but give me leave
to repeat that it is necessary something should be done immediately,
or there is too much reason to fear the dissolution of our pari of the
army. No exertions of mine shall be watfting to prevent so great
a ciihimity ; and though it is a misfortune to have come to the com-
mand of it at this trying i)eriod, if I can steer happily through it,
and render any service to my country, I shall not regret any pains
it will cost me.
Your favor of the 28th ult. is this moment come to hand, and
the stores were yesterday at Trenton. They will arrive in a happy
time, and I hope by a proper distribution of them to make matters
easier. It must have the effect to convince the officers that the
State does not entirely neglect them, and will keep alive expectation,
the best handle bvwliich the human mind can be laid hold of: and
I shall not fail to make the officers acquainted with the pains you
have taken to sorve them in this business.
The disputed claims of the officers the General has referred to
ourselves, and to-morrow the field officers will meet ui>on it at my
quarters, when I hoj)e we shall be able to hit upon some mode that
will please all parties, which, by the by, will not be very easy, in-
terest and ol)stinacy generally ap|>caring under one banner.
If any attempts have been made to engage the gentlemen of the
army in the parties that unhappily distract our State, it is altogether
unknown to nie,^ nor will it ever meet with my countenance ; and
althougli I have always been, from princij)le, opposed to our present
Constitution, of wliieli I have never made a secret (and in private
life would have joined in any measures that promised to bring about
an amendnienf), yet, whenever it appears to be the choice of the
majority of my fellow-citi/.ens, I shall consider it as my duty to ac-
* Wliilo tbo party fi'oling stM'ins to luive boon kept from (Jencr.il St. Clair,
nevertht'loss the violence of purtyiaitn then raging and distracting the citi-
zens of Pennsylvania, <>n account of the defects of the Con5»titution of 1776,
did reach tlie soldiers undt^r him, as the correspondence of his subordinates
shows. But the prevailing sentiment was in accord with that expressed by
St. Clair.
Correspondence, Addresses, Elc. 467
quiesce. My opposition never arose from a dislike to men, but be-
cause I thought it contained principles unfavorable to liberty, and
must inevitably sooner or later end in a tyranny of the worst kind.
That pettishncss that quarrels with a government on account of
those who happen for the time to administer it, is unworthy a man
of sentiment and reflection.
I am very sorry that the letters of Colonels Butler, Ilarmar and
Hay should have been so expressed as to admit of a construction
I am persuaded they did not intend. I will have an explanation of
that matter as soon as I can see them.
President Reed to General St. Clair.
PiiiLADELniiA, April 2G^, 1779.
Dear Sir : — Your favor should not have been so long unanswered.
The variety of intrusted busine.«is has very much engrossed my at-
tention. When I proj)oscd an alteration in the mode of distribu-
tion of the articles sent to camp, I was not aware of the difficulty
you suggest, but that may be easily got over, if upon consideration
you think the system may be altered for the better. The real
scarcity as well as the extravagant prices demanded, will undoubt-
edly, at times, occasion some interruption of a regular supply, and
I would wish you to give it some share of attention, and i)ropose
whatever may occur to you as an improvement. The plan you
mention of a regular return of the names of the men, and the
articles chosen by them, I very much approve, and as it is a very
heavy article of expense to the State, it will give me satisfaction if
the ofliicers will see that there are no irregularities. Women and
children, wagoners, etc., and staff officers, will be considered as
entitled, and I hope the officers will see that no improper persons
are borne on the returns. . .
Congress have directed the recruiting service to go on, and with
the privileges now given, I think some good recruits may be had, if
the bounty could be given, but the demands upon the treasury are
now so great as to baffle every means of supply, and we have not
been able to draw one shilling for the service.
You say there is a desire prevalent at camp foi* the taking of some
public measures in respect to deserters, and I have had it in con-
templation to issue a proclamation, specifying the reward, and en-
couraging them to bring them up, but if you can suggest any other
stimulus we shall be glad to make use of it.
468 The St. Clair Papers.
Pennsylvania has had a pretty smart struggle since I saw yoa,
with the august assembly, which dues us the honor of residing
amongst us. I thought at one time we must have come to an oixm
breach, but more temperate meaus prevailed. Every step sugge<»tcd
by us was adopted, with some little partialities to General Aruold,
which his friends at la.st worried Congress into. However, we ap-
proved the course of the business on the whole, only wishing that
all the charges against him could have been brought before the
court-martial ; for we have such a confidence in the Whiggism and
good sense of the officers, as to believe it desirable that all his pro-
ceedings here should be directed to public view. His friends in
Congress got three [four] of the points withdrawn, as not being
proiKir to go before a court-martial, adverting to one of the articles
of war, which says: **That conduct uul>ecoming a gentleman and
an officer, is not a projx?r subject for inquirj' before a court-martial,"
The time allowed for the trial was far too short to procure the nec-
essary attendance of witnesses. I have, therefore, wrote to the
General to fix a time more convenient; the 1st of June would be a
much more convenient time. I should be glad if you would if not
improper, represent this more stroDgly to the General than a letter
Cv)uld. Considering the connections between Mr. Dunn and General
Arnold, and Mr. Dunn and L ,1 should hope L may not be
ujK)n the court-martial.*
TheAssemblv did not transmit us the resolution which vou men-
tionod. Congress can not answer the demands of the CommissMiries*
and (Quartermasters' Department, and of the money we are to re.
ceive, we can only get it in small sums. In ctmsequence of your
* After the evncuiitiou of PhiladclpIiiM by thi? British, General ArnoKl was
plaeeti in eoinmaml of the city. '•In>t('ad of making the exercise of the
military authority, with which lie wa> invested for a temporary purpose, as
agrceal)h; as pi»ssible to the citizens and t > tht* local authorities Arnold, ao-
cordiiii; to ail concurrent testimony, ndinirji.vtfred the military trui^t with
insolence.' The rc>ult wa<, the Kxrcutive Council of Pennsylvania pre-
ferrc<l eight <li-tin(t I'harges against him, iujplying neglect of duty or abuso
of power, which were laid before Congress. An investigation was ordered,
pending which high words passed between C\)ngres«* and the State Assieinblv,
Arnold having stn»ng j»uj)porters in the forn-er body. The result was a
compromise, and it was agreed that four of the charges should be sent to
General \Vashini;ton, for hearing b<'fore u court-martial. The military
court tiid not meet until January, 1780, and Arnold was convicted on two
of the charges. After that, he was placed in command of West Point, at
hi"* reipiest. When his treason was discovered, evidence was produced,
showing that he bad conducted a treasonable correspondence with Sir Henry
Cliiitor), while in Philadelphia.
Correspondence, Addresses, Etc. 469
letter of the 17th, I directed Farmer to forbear sending any sup-
plies till further orders ; he had put off a cargo the day before, which
I did not think it necessary to countermand. I hope they got safe
to hand.
We have nothing new here but what, coming from the eastward,
must pass through your camp.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
Hea'dquarters, 2Sd March, 1779.
Dear Sir: — For the more speedy assembling of the militia upon
an emergency, I have agreed with the field-officers, in this and the
next colmty, to erect beacons upon the most conspicuous hills, the
firing of which is to be the signal for them to repair to their dif-
ferent alarm posts. You will be pleased, therefore, to order a party
from your division, consisting of an officer and twenty-four men, with
axes and four days' provisions, to be ready to-morrow morning, at
eight o'clock, to proceed to a remarkable hill near Princeton, to erect
a beacon there. One Burrcl will attend as a guide. The beacon is
to be constructed of logs, in form of a pyramid, sixteen or eighteen
feet square at the bottom, and eighteen or twenty feet high, the
inner part to be filled with brush.
General St. Clair to Colonel Meiielm.*
Camp at Millstone, ilarch 3bf, 1779.
Sir: — I received yours of this date, and have only to tell you, in
* Commissary of hides. I have a double purpose in view in giving place
to the above letter: Fif:?t, to show that St. Clair had no mercy for those who
sought to profit by the misfortunes <'f their country. In the letters of Wash-
ington and 8t. Clair, during the darkestdays of the war, will be found words
of honest indignation fur tho-e who took advantage of the people's necessi-
ties to ama$^ wealth. The departments of the army, from which supplies
were drawn, were notoriously corrupt. ISecondly, to show to what straits the
Americans, whoso means for obtaining foreign supplies were precarious, were
reduced at this time. On one of the closing days of the year 1778, the fol-
lowing entry was made in the Orderly Book: "The Commander-in-Chief
offers a reward often dollars to any person who shall by nine A. M. on Mon-
day, prc»duce the bnst substitute for shoes, made of rawhides. The commis-
sary of hides is to furnish the hides, and the Major-General of the day is to
judge of the essays, and to assign the reward to the best article." — See U'rii^
ings of Wnahingtoyif Vol. V.. p. 107.
\
470 The St. Clair Papers.
answer thereto, that the orders I have given for hides were by Gen-
eral Washington's directions ; that the time of contracting for them
I know nothing about, nor the delivery, both having happened be-
fore I took command in the Pennsylvania line; nor do I see the
least necessity either for the shoes being delivered to you or to the
clothier-general. I conceive neither you nor he can l)e entitled to
any commission upon a transaction made with the General's appro-
bation, in which you have no part, and that delivery, and the pro-
posed receipts, seem calculated for that end alone. I have in all
the orders I have given desired the amount might be chai;;ged to the
regiments, by which they would properly appear in your accounts,
and the public know where to get payment. I make no construc-
tions upon general orders, and I expect you will now inform me, ex-
plicitly, whether you will deliver the hides or not.
GenervVl W.vsnixcxTOx to General St. Clair.
Headquarters, Middlebrook, 26f/i 3/ay, 1779.
Dear Sir: — My intelligence from New York* renders it indis-
pensably necessary for me to look towards tlie posts in the Iligli.
lands. As your division has boon inspected, I wish you to hold it
in the most perfect readiness for marching and encamping at an
hour's warning. For these purix)scs you will settle matters v»ith
the Quartermaster-Cjoneral. As it is much my wish to have the
^ (ji'iuTal AVasliini^ton forini'cl tijo cpinioii, curly in tho sprini;, that tlio
Briti>li contoinplatccl soino important inovtMucrjt bt'sides tho t>pcratiori.s nl-
ready undcrtakon against South Carolina and Georgia, and the coast of Vir-
ginia, and lie niatle such dispositions of his Muail force as he could to meet
iho emergency. He hud sixteen thousand men— three thousand undcrr Gates
in New England, six thousand, n part under MeDougall, who was com-
pleting tho fortifications at AVost Point, and a part under Putnam an the
cast side of tho Hud>on, and seven tht)usand un(h;r his own immediate com-
mand at Middlebrook. There were indications of u movement on tho Con-
necticut coast, but it was probable that tho chief desigrj of the onemv was to
possess himself of the pas-es in tho Highlands, which, as he controlled the
navigation of the Hudson, seemed ea<y of accomplishment; or to take pos-
sessicai of AVe<t Point and Middlebrook, so as to keej) tho American forces
divided. AVith his inferior f(.ree, and without tho aid of a naval force,
AVashington could only acton the defensive. His operations were limited
to securing tho important passes on tho Hudson, and affording protection to
tho country. In ^lay, ho ordered G(rn«'ral St. Clair to move Iiis division
forward to support McDougull, while he prepared to follow with tho rest of
his troops.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 471
troops in the best possible condition for the campaign, I shall de-
pend upon you (principally) and the officers commanding brigades
and regiments in your division to see that the orders of the 17th of
April are strictly complied with, so far as they relate to their re-
spective commands.
OtTiciAL Instructions to St. Clair.
Headquarters, Middlebrook, 29^i May, 1779.
5iV; — You will be pleased to march immediately with the divis-
ion under your command, by way of (Juibble Town and Scotch
Plains, and take i)()st on the heights between Springfield and
Chailiam, till further orders, or till some enterprize of the enemy
shall make a sudden movement necessary.
If you should receive authentic advice of the enemy's operating
up the Nortli River, against our posts in that quarter, you are in-
stantly to advance to their support, without waiting orders from me,
only giving me notice of your movement. You will pursue the
route by Pompton, keeping up a corresix)ndence with General Mc-
Dougall, or officer commanding in the Highlands, and regulating
your march according to circumstances and the information you re-
ceive, advising me, from time to time, of your progress and views.
You will j)roscrve the strictest discipline, and endeavor to prevent
every kind of injury to the persons and property of the inhabitants.
You will also take uncommon care to lay open no inclosures of grass
or grain, more than arc absolutely necessary for the purjwses of
forage.
I recommend it to your particular attention, without delay, to
have officers of talents, attention, and industry nominated to
officiate as sub and brigade inspectors, and to improve every inter-
val of leisure to have the new regulations for the order and dis-
cipline of the troops carried into execution as speedily as i)ossible.
You are sensible of the importance and necessity of a system.
\
472 The St. Gair Papers.
General TVasiiingtox to General St. Clair.
Headquarters, Middle Brook, 31«f May^ 1779.
Dear Sir: — I havo received information that the enemy were at
White Plains on tlie 2J)th. You, will, therefore, be pleased to pro-
ceed immediately with your division toward Pompton, acting after-
ward agreeably to the instructions you have already received. It
is probable you will be joined there by Colonel Clark, with the
Carolina trooj)s. I have sent him onlers to meet you at that place,
subject to this condition, that they are not to contravene any direc-
tions he mav have received or shall receive from General McDou-
gall, to whose orders he has all along l)een subject. I shall put the
Virginia division in motion to follow you as s^Kmjas possible.
P. iS. — Since writing the al>ove, I have received a line from Gen-
eral McDougall, informing me that he had ordered Clark to the
Fort.
General St. Clair to General Wasuincjton.
Springfield, May 31j*/. — 10 o'clock p. m.
Sir : — Previous to the rcwipt of your Excellency's letter of this
day (which arrived about four hours ago), whilst 1 wits examining
the grounds pointed out for the division to take }W)st in, I mot witii
Colonel Ogden, who iuformod me ho had seen a i)ers(m from New
York last night, that might bo dejKiuded on, who informed him
that the whole of the encmv's armv were marched toward Wliite
Phiins; that a (piantity of fascines were embarked on board s )me
vessels in the Kast River, and many more prepared and laying at
the Narrows, on both sides of the river, which were ex})ected to l)e
embarked this thiy ; of whicli, if I had had the means in my power,
' I should have '^iven vou information sooner. This seems to airree
with the intelligence your Excellency has received, an<l i)artieularly
marks a design upon the pt)sts in the Highlands. But they mav
have other objects, to j)revent the junction of our army on either
side the North Uiver; or, failing in that, having drawn our atten-
tion to prevent their efK-eting it, t«) make a sudden movement to-
ward New London, which, ^^ hen consi(lere<l in itself, allhough a
placiiof little eonse«pU'nee in tlui general scale, is (»f much impor-
tance both to them and t > us. R(» these as thev mav, I shall move
very early to-morrow to tlu^ northward. Two routes, however, lie
before me, that under tlu^ Newark Mountains, an<l that above it,
and lM)th will come within my instructions, viz., to reach Pomptnn.
Correspondence J Addresses^ Ltc. 473
I presume your Excellency intended Pompton Meeting House, on
the Plains. Taking the lower road, I am satisfied, would give most
satisfaction to the country, but as you have been pleased not to give
me an express route to that place, I have determined upon the up-
per one, for these reasons : we can arrive sooner at the place where
we can Ikj of service if the enemy's designs are against the posts in
the Highlands, and we avoid some difficulties that might arisefrom
the enemy's landing a party and possessing themselves of the coun-
try about Paramus, knowing, as I presume they will, that part of
the army only are in motion ; the Pissarche River in front, and the
mountains on our flank, are, I am informed, at particular places only,
prar-ticablc. At all events I shall not be able to move above ten or
twelve miles to-morrow, on account of provisions. The commissaries,
depending upon some supplies here, in which they having Injcn dis.
appointed, are obliged tj send some of their wagons back to the
magazine. I inclose a certificate of one of them, by which your
Excellency will be able to judge how fast we may be expected to
move, for I am not informed of any magazines on my nmte. But
if it is in the country, within reach, unless you forbid it, it shall be
taken, and not wantonly.
I beg leave to repeat the necessity of a few horses ; many would
only incumber us. The artillery, for the present, is fully sufficient,
and even those, should circumstances require us to act amongst the
hills, I should wish to be clear of.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
MiDDLEBROOK, June \d, 1779.
Dear Sir: — I duly received your two letters* of yesterday. I ap-
prove your reasons for taking the upjwr route.
By the present institution of the inspectorship, neither Major
Evan nor Mr. McOijrniick can, in my opinion, be appointed inspec-
tors. It is t;) be foared, however, we may be reduced to the neces-
sity of altering it, from the reluctance with which the majors under-
take the office. But I could wish it might proceed as it stands.
If an alteration should take place, that will |x»rmit Major Ryan to
act in this line hereafter; the opinion I have of his qualifications
will make it entirely agreeable to me. It is hardly probable any
change so extensive should take })lace as will admit Mr. McCormick,
'Only one of thc<e is to bo found among Ihe St. Clair papers.
474 The St. Clair Papers.
but, if I recollect right, there is ja resolve of Congress providing
that brigade majors shall act as aid-de-camps to the brigadiers, with
the same rank and pay. I do not find this resolve among my jm-
pers, but am making inquiry for it.
I wish Colonel Harmar ' may be induced to accept the sub-inspec-
torshij). I think he will answer the purpose well. It is unlucky
there is not found greater alacrity among the officers to enter into
the inspection. It is certainly a line which affords a handsome op-
portunity for the display of talents, and the acquisition of military
knowledge and practice.
You observe that the enemy, among other objects, may have it
in view to prevent a junction of our force. This is an important
idea, and ought to have due influence in our movements.
I have ordered a non-commissioned officer and eight dragoons, of
the Massachusetts corps, to join you immediately.
I send you a little sketch that will serve to give you an idea of
the count rv vou are in.
P. 8. — I have also directed the Quartermaster-General to send two
or three express orders to you.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
AIiDDLEimooK, Jam 2d, 1779.
Sir: — I have received your letter'' of i\\\^ date at half-i)ast eiglit.
The Virginia division nuirched this day with orders to endeavor
to roach MorrLstown to-morrow, and to coniinunicate with vou and
proceed according to intelligence and circumstances. You will l)e
l)leased to open a correspondence with the commanding officer for
this purpose.
^ St'c \Vashini;ton to St. Cljiir, 30tli M>iy. The luttf^r bad sugi^estod that
applifaii«»ns niii^ht bo j>ri'scntt'd for Kyan and McCorniiek. \Va>bini;ton
still found cnibarras.snients in tiRMjuarttMrnasl<'rand cornnn-s-sary departniont^i.
Altliougb Grei'iio. who was at tho iicad of tiu; former, and Wad.-^worth of
the latter, yet siib«»rdinat<*s apj)ointed by Congre.ss were many of them in-
capable or dishonest. The Commander-in-Chief attempted to influeneo
Colon*d Ilarmar, and othfr offieers of well-known inteL'rity, to ao(;ept sub-
ortlinate places, but in vain. The reluetanco to make such a .«acrittce ex-
j)ressed in a question asktMl of Was^hinirton by Greene, controlled all of the
officers who preferred active duty. " Who ever heard," usked Greene, "of
a C^uarterma.ster-General in history?"
2 Not among the St. Clair Papers.
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 475
To-morrow, if possible, the Maryland divieion will march also,
and by the same route.
I send you a small addition of cavalry.
I rely entirely on your prifdence and judgment for taking such
measures as the exigency of the case shall require. So soon as the
last troops move, I shall come immediately forward to join you by
the way of Pluckamine and Morristown.
General St. Clair to General AVashington.
PoMPTON, 3(/ Jujiey 1779. — 7 o'clock a. m.
Sir: — Colonel Burr arrived here about three o'clock from General
McDougall, and brings intelligence of the surrender of the fort
upon Verplanck's Point yesterday, about eleven o'clock, by capitu-
lation. The garrison are prisoners of war, and the officers have
liberty to wear their side-arms.
I have no letter from General McDougall ; but he is clearly of
opinion the enemy mean to attack the posts (at least Fort Arnold,*
the carrying of which would open to them the navigation of the
river) in the Highlands. Colonel Burr informs n:e that, by landing
near where Fort Montgomery stood, and marching to the Forest of
Dean, they would fall into a clove, which runs entirely round that
ridge on which the forts are situated, and through which a road
might be made almost as fast as an army could march. By this
clove. General McDougall thinks, the forts will be invested. Be-
twixt this clove and Smith's is a chain of hideous mountains, but
through them are, no doubt, many passes, with which they may be
made acquainted by the inhabitants, whom they have debauclied,
and would thereby be able to give much annoyance to any convoys
that might pass by Smith's, supposing it necessary to make use of
that road.
It seems to be General MoDougall's wish that I should move to
New Windsor, and he thinks that the occupying Butter Hill might
prevent the attack upon Fort Arnold from the upper side. At the
same time, the state of the provision Ls very alarming ; not much
above three weeks in the respective f )rts, and the militia called in,
and their principal dependence for further supplies is upon their
being transported across the country from Sussex or Delaware.
I think I could easily reach New Windsor, or at least be so far
advanced through the clove' as to be out of all danger of being in-
'Fort Arnold was ut West Point.
470 The St. Clair Papers.
tercepted.* But it is necessary first to have intelligence from the
river, lest the parts of your army on this side of it should be too much
separated, and exposed to be beaten by piecemeal. This I will en-
deavor to procure, and act according* to circumstances, of which I
shall take care to give your Excellency notice. Notwithstanding
the general opinion, that the forts are the enemy's object, Colonel
Burr mentions circumstances that leave it still doubtful. Their
troops are landed at various places on the east side of the river, and
at Ilavcrstraw on the west; and, after the surrender of the fort,
their largest armed vessel, supposed to be of eighteen ^uns, and a
galley, which had passed before, were seen towing down again.
As the jmssage through the clove is somewhat dangerous for single
per."?ons, I shall send two horsemen back with Colonel Burr, and
shall, througli him, communicate to General McDougall verbally.
It may, perhaps, l)e necessary to form a nmrch through the clove,
in which case I shall leave my baggage at this place, to be forwarded
afterwards, as your Excellency may think proper.
Our provision wagons will not be able to supply us when at a
greater distance, four only being allowed to each brigade, and three
of these broke down upon the road.
Gexer.vl Washington to Genkflvl St. Clatr.
MiDDLEBROOK, Jam 3, 1779.
Drar Sir: — I recoived your favor of yesterday at 10 o'cl(K^k last
night, and have written to General Knox to supply the ammunition,
etc., which you want. As the enemy, notwithstanding their demcm-
stnitions of an attack upon the Highland posts, may have it in con-
teini)liiti()n to strike thi.s army (coniprehending your division) in its
M'eak and dividinl state, it will he expedient for you to act with the
greatest caution, and jx^rhaps not to advance beyond Pomptou till
the other divisions get up. I do not mean, however, to restrict
your movements, but leave them to be governed by your own dis-
cretion, and as circumstances may recjuire.''
^(Jciu'ral St. Cluir wji-* successful in liis ino;-<MTif»nts and tnok po^^t at Now
^Vi^l<U.^^, which oH'ectually cuvifrcd West l\)int. the iiioit important of the
forlili.Hlion.s.
= (J«Micral \Va"-hini;t«)n s<'t his troops in motion immediately after dispatch-
ini; i!ic ahovc, and reached Morristown at ni«'ht, whence his Secretary.
Colonel llarrisoi!, at halt-past eleven o'clock, wrote to General St. Clair,
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 477
General St. Claiu to General Wayne.
New Windsor, July 17, 1779.
Dear Oenercd: — It was with true pleasure that I received the
news of your success at Stony Point, on which I beg leave to pre-
sent you my cordial congratulations. It is an event that makes a
very great alteration in the situation of affairs, and must have im-
portant consequences, and the more glorious from its being effected
with so little loss. It is, in short, the completest surprise I have
ever heard of.
Please to present my compliments to the gentlemen of your
fiimily, and all our friends.*
acknowledging the receipt of a \etteT en 7'oute, »nd repeating the contents
of General Washington's letter of the morning, lest it might have miscarried.
Before leaving Middlubrook, General Washington wrote to the President
of Congress, informing him that the movements of the enemy indicated an
important enterprise, and tiiat he was hastening to the Highlands on the
Hudson as rapidly as possible. *' Congress will observe, by General St,
Clair's letter, that he .expected to reach Pompton last night. The Virginia
division, commanded by Lord Stirling, marched yesterday for the same
place, iiaron de Kalb, with the Maryland troops, follows this morning. We
shall' press forward with all diligence, and do every thing in our power to
disappoint the enemy."
On the 0th of June, Washington informed Congress that the British bad,
on the Ist, opened a battery at Stony Point, which lies on the west side of
the Hudson, at the landing at King's Ferry, against a small detached work
at Verplanck's Piiint, on the east side, and kept up u cannonade all day. The
garrison (the work was called Fort La Fayette), finding themselves invested
also on the land side, surrendered at four o'clock. The next day the force
on the east side, computed at live thousand, advanced to Bald Hill, below
the Continental Village, where it was expected an attack would be made on
the American forces and an attempt made to gain Nelson's Point, opposite
to Fort Arnold. This, however, was not attempted, and the enemy returned
to their former position — five thousand remaining on Verplanclv's Point, and
one thousand at Stony Point — very busy fortifying.
The Americans took post at Smith's Cove, where General Washington
thought they were well posted for rendering assistance to West Point and
other posts, if the future operations of the enemy should be directed against
them.
'General Washington chafed under the enforced inaction of his army,
and hoped for some opportunity to break the silence and show to the country
that the enemy could not have it all his own way. The opportunity came
with the departure of considerable detachments from Sir Henry Clinton's
army for the purpose of making raids on Connecticut and Virginia. The
expedition to New London, which had been predicted by General St. Clair
in one of his letters to Washington, was the purpose of one of these. When
478 The St. Clair Papers.
General Washington to General St. Clair.*
New Windsor, 20f/i July, 1779.
Dear Sir: — You will be pleased to examine critically the long
hill in front of Fort Putnam, at the extremities of which the engi-
neer is commencing some works. Colonel Gouvion or Mr. Roche-
fontaine will be able more particularly to designate the hill I mean.
The possession of this hill appears to me essential to the preserva-
tion of the whole i>ost, and our main effort ought to be directed to
keeping the enemy off of it. You will make it the alarm post for
your division in the first instance, from which, if requisite, you can
reinforce the troops in front. You will consider this hill in all its
relations, and make yourself completely master of its defense. It
will be useful that this knowledge should extend to your principal
officers ; and that your officers in general should be acquainted with
the ground on which they are to act. I shall be glad also you would
they were fairly under way, General Washington projected an attack on
Stony Point, in which matter he took counsel of General St. Clair. At his
requ<'.st, the latter made a survey of the enemy's works, and reported on the
expediency of the attempt. On the 9th of July, General Washington asked
Geriornl Wavne, w^ho had on the first been ordered to advance with his lifijht
infantry tv)wards Fort Monti;omery, to inspect the enemy's works at Stony
Point and Verplanck'.**, and see how best they could be approach(?d. On
the 10th, he was instructed to make preparations for an attack, but at
Wayne's 8Uggestit>n the attempt was postponed. On the 15th, at night,
under peremptory instructions from General Washington, Wayne made the
successful and brilliant assault on Stony Point which marked him as one of
the best fii^hters of the army. For the best account of this action, see Daw-
son's ''The Assault on Stonv Point."
The above letter requires to be supplemented by the following from
Gknkral Scuuyler to General Waynk.
Saratooa, Juli/ 31, 1779.
Dear Sir: — Yesterday, I was honored with a line from our amiable Gen-
eral, advising me of the reduction of Stony Point, and dwelling on the
propriety with which it was executed. It was not the least part of my satis-
fa(;tion to learn that you conducted it; and I most sincerely congratulate
you on the increase of honor which you have acquired. Such of the rnemy
as have hitherto held erroneous ideas of the bravery and military prowess
of our troops, must now be perfectly convinced of their mistake.
Priiy make, 7iot tni/ cotnplitnenfs oiili/. but mt/ love, to General Sf. C^ir, and
especially to that great and good man, General Washington, to whom we
are all so much indebted.
' General St. Clair was at this time at West Point.
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 479
have an eye to the works to be erected, to hasten their completion
as last as possible.
General St. Clair to President Reed.
West Point, July 25th, 1779.
Sir: — Your favor of the 15th, by Mr. Broadhead, came to hand
two days ago. All the attention shall be paid to his case * that is
possible, and if he cun be admitted into the line, it will be very
agreeable to me. His having been left out was not owing to his
being a prisoner, but to an idea that prevailed that he had de-
clined all thoughts of the army, and meant to follow a mercan-
tile liie, in which it was confidently asserted he was engaged in that
way (the most obnoxious to the officers), known by the name of
speculation. Justice and favor, I hope, will ever govern the de-
terminations of the officers when called upon to decide upon the
rights of each other, and I can assure you there does not appear the
smallest disposition to add injury to the misfortunes of those who
have been prisoners ; at the same time, it is a pretty general senti-
ment that the bringing in the officers of Pennsylvania taken at Fort
Washington, into the regiments they then belonged to, is a piece
of very great injustice to the officers now of these regiments. The
places of these gentlemen having been filled up by the Council of
Safety, and the regiments now raised having nothing of the old
ones remaining but the numbers, and, in some cases, a few
of the principal officers, for whom vacancies were kept open.
*The case of Lieutenant Broadhead geeins to have excited deep interest.
General Washington also, under date of July 25tb, asked St. Clair to prompt,
if possible, favorable action. Upon WasliingUm's recommendation, the
matt(;r was referred to a board of field officers. It would seem, from a let-
ter of St. Clair's to President Reed, from Wfst Point, August 2, 1779, the
botH-d reported against the application, as it was found that he was precluded
by a resolution of Congress. Broadhead had hims»elf, unfortunately, men-
tioned the resolution, of which the board were ignorant; and it was the
harder on him, as several others in the same circumstances had been intr>
duced previous to that resolution.
The following paragraph concludes the letter of St. Clair of that date:
**No movement in the enemy's army, of consequence, has yet taken place.
They are retired to York Island, from whence I think an embarkation will
80<in take place, and, from some accounts 1 have received, it appears to be
destined for the eastward. However, if Sir Harry is superseded, a new plan
of operation may probably be adopted. This post will soon bo in a state
that will not so much require the protection of an army."
480 The St. Clair Papers.
It gives me great satisfaction to see that you have taken up a
subject to which you can do so much justice.^ I do, for myself
and the rest of the ()fficerf», offer you my very sincere and hearty
thanks for your elegant address, in the character of a citizen of
Philadelphia, which can not fail to make impressions favorable to
the plan you are about to propose, as it has added to the grateful
sense the officers have of your attention to their interests. It is
a matter I have long wished to see some person of capacity and
inilueuce undertake, as the situation of the officers, especially those
who have families, which is the case with a number, from the ex-
orbitant prices of the necessaries of life, and the depreciated state
of our currency, is really deplorable. For my own i>art, it will be
im[)ossible for me to continue in the service without reducing
mine to beggary, as I have already si>ent all the money I had been
able to get beforehand, and lost upwards of twenty thou;saud
pounds, by the money in which I was paid for my farm.
The demands upon us for wagoners weakens the line consider-
ably. Could not some means he devised to get wagoners from
amongst the militia ? Their pay is considerable, and the service
easy. I think it is not less than twenty pounds per month.
Many of our regiments are very weak, and, in the course of this
campaign, will dwindle to nothing, and the means of recruiting
them grows every day more difficult. The j)e()ple of Virginia, I
am told, raised their last recruits, to the amount of two thousand,
by taxing the several battalions of militia with a certain number
of nion to be ready at a certain day, and, in case of failure, they
were to be drafted, leaving it to the battalions to make what
terms they pleased with the individuals who were willing to engage.
It .succeeded with them, the fear of being drafted (thereby raising
the bounty) acting on the lower class, and the siinie fear prompt-
ing those in easy circumstances to make the b )unty very consid-
erable. Would not some such scheme succeed with us ? The sev-
entv-five dollars allowed bv Con'^ress to the recruitiu": officers miiht
be applied as part of the bounty.
'Tins refers to n i)lan wlilch Pros'dctit IUhmI Ijud formed for Fecurinir lejr-
islutivo pr(>vi."Hii»ii for llie oIKumts uud their families, either in lands or in
money, lie not only created piihlie sentiment for it by c•^»mmuni^'ation^ in
the newspapers, but in his address t»> the Assembly, on the 9th September,
he ]>r«'ssed tlie Fuljijct upon the attention of tlio Representatives. It "was
throu-'h the eflr»»rts of Mr. Ueed and Judire Thomas Smith, the very hand-
Boine proyision made by Pennsyhania (\^ hieh a year later was dwelt upon
by Washington as a model for other Statesj was eecured.
Correspondence J Addresses^ Etc. 481
I am very happy to inform you that the uneasiness that pre-
vailed amongst the soldiery, with respect to the time they stood
engaged for, is at an end. The present made by Congress, of two
hundred dollars, to those who were engaged prior to January last,
came most opportunely, and was made so good use of, that the
whole, very nearly, have accepted it, signing, at the same time, an
acknowledgment that they were enlisted during the war, so that
I have the strongest hope we shall be no more troubled with mu-
tinies, conventions, and desertion, which had risen to a very alarm,
ing height, and threatened very serious consequences.
This will be delivered by Captain Ziegler, who goes for a further
supply. A small guard is necessary for an escort, but, as we know
not how soon all the men we have may be wanted, he goes without
one, trusting that a few of the invalids might be sent up with him,
who would answer the purix)se perfectly well, and save so many
men from the line. Some of them might also serve as State men
and assistants to the commissaries, which we are obliged to furnish^
and which takes from us some of our best sergeants.
The reduction of Stony Point you have received an account of.
It was a very gallant action, and reflects great honor upon General
Wayne and all the oflUcers, both for the vigor and intrepidity with
which it was executed, and the humanity and generosity with which
the prisoners were treated. There is not an instance of a place
carried by assault where so few of the defendants have been put
to death. My friend. Colonel Butler, commanded one of the at-
tacks, and distinguished himself. The enemy have again taken post
there, but not, I think, with an intention to hold it, but the better
to cover the evacuation of the post on the opposite shore, w^hich
they will probably soon abandon. But, be that as it may, they are
certainly on the eve of some important movement, their whole army,
the garrisons of these posts excepted, being drawn down to King's
Bridge, and dispositions made, it is said, for evacuating New York.
Will you please, sir, to present my most respectful compliments
to Mrs. Reed and the ladies of your family.^
* President Reed replied to the above letter at length, Aagust 8th, approv-
ing, very warmly, all the suggestions contained in it. He hoped the plan
for providing for the officers who had been prisoners would be successful^
*^I know it is not popular to urge their claims,'* said he, " but I trust I am
not actuated by any other motives than those of justice and duty." "Your
attention to accounts for recruiting are very acceptable to us, and I am sure
will be so to the Assembly, for amidst such waste of public money an officer
assisting his country in this respect is vara avis in ierria. I am glad to
31
482 The St. Clair Papers.
Oenebal Greene to General St. Clair.
West Point, August 4th, 1779.
Sir : — ^I have been writing, and am now writing to all the general
oflScers, on a subject which respects myself.
When I was appointed Quartermaster-General, I made a special
reserve of my rank, and, consequently, of my command. In the late
arrangement, I have no particular command designated me. This
I conceive to be an injury, and, therefore, have appealed to the
officers to learn their sentiments upon two points. First, whether
my right to command, in consequence of my rank, in not unques-
tionable. Secondly, whether any officer, upon just military prin-
ciples, will have reason to complain of an injury from my exercising
command, in time of action, agreeable to my rank.
To these two points I wish you to give your sentiments. There
can be numberless instances adduced in answer to my claim from the
•custom and usages of other armies ; but the particular reserve I
made, I should suppose puts the matter out of all doubt.
If an officer is to lose his command, and be totally excluded from
the honors of the line, in consequence of being appointed Quarter-
master-General, it will be a bar against any officer of rank accepting
the appointment. That an officer of rank is necessary at the head
of this business, everybody must be sensible.
I have collected the opinions of several of the officers. They are
clear and decided in my favor, upon the right and propriety of my
claim. Your opinion will much oblige your friend.
General St. Clair to General Greene.
West Point, AtiguM lOih, 1779.
Sir: — I now sit down to answer your favor of the 4th instant,
which was brought to my quarters when I was absent, and I have
not before had leisure to consider the subject of it.
You desire my opinion upon two points. First, whether your
right to command, in consequence of your rank, is not unquestion-
able. Secondly, whether any officer (upon just military princi-
ples) will have reason to complain of your exercising command
agreeably to your rank in time of action.
hear that you have composed the minds of the old soldiers; one of them ii
worth three new ones."
Correspondence^ Addresses j Etc. 483
As to the first, it is certain that a right to command is a conse*
quence of rank, where there is not an exception, express or implied ;
both of which may happen. Sometimes, rank is merely honorary,
and the exception to command taken expressly in the appointment,
as I believe was the case wilh General Wilkinson's. It is implied
where the acceptance of a staff office destroys both rank and com-
mand, but the rank is reserved in the appointment. This I take to
be the case with you, as it was also with your predecessor. General
Mifflin.
The intention of Congress in these reservations seem to have been
that the serving in the office of Quartermaster-General should not
throw the gentlemen who might fill that station out of the line of
the army, when they ceased to fill it, but it is very clear to me they
did not intend they should exercise command in the line whilst they
continued staff officers, and this, I think, must have been some time
ago your own view of the matter, as I recollect to have heard you
complain of being put upon duty in camp, out of the way of your
office.
There can be but little satisfaction drawn from the custom of
other armies, the constitution of most being very different from
ours. We have had, however, an instance before us, in the British
army, of the QuartermasteivGeneral acting in the staff and com-
manding in the line at the same time, which seems to make in favor
of your pretensions. But I well remember another, in the same
army, directly against them. It was this : Sometime in the cam-
paign of 1758, the late General Stephens (then, I think, a major
of Provincials), commanded at Fort Ligonier, upon the Loyalhan-
ning, when Sir John St. Clair, Quartermaster-General, with the
rank of colonel, arrived at that Port. . He immediately assumed
the command, and ordered Major Stephens to make returns of his
garrison and stores to him. The major insisted on his command,
and refused to make the returns. Sir John put him in arrest. The
major complained to General Forbes, and demanded a court-
martial. Whether a court-martial sat upon the matter I do not
recollect, but this is certain, the major was released, restored to his
command, and Sir John censured.
I can not conceive that an officer whose rank is reserved can be
considered as totally excluded from the honors of the line, by a
temporary suspension of his command, in consequence of his filling
a station, for the most part incompatible with it; on the contrary, it
seems to me, the honors of the line are expressly secured to him by
the reservation ; neither can it be a bar against an officer of rank.
484 1 he SL Clair Papers.
accepting the office of Quartermaster-General. I think with you,
an officer of rank ought to be at the head of that department, but I
know not that of necessity, he must be a general officer. It is a case
that does not reach me ; I am, therefore, unbiased. But I should
think it an exceeding great iiyury to 8#e an officer brought from the
staff the day of an action, to take the command of the troops I had
had the care and trouble of during the preceding part of the cam-
paign, and snatch the palm that was due, perhaps, to the pains that
had been bestowed upon them in that time. I should most certainly
give up all command that very moment.
I am sorry to differ in sentiment with other officers, but, when my
opinion is asked as a friend, it is a duty to give it candidly, witboui
considering what may be most acceptable, or what others think of
the matter.
General St. Clair to President Reed.
West Point, August 24fA, 1779.
Sir : — I have now the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your
favors of the 8th and 19th insts., which came duly to hand, and to
congratulate you again U]X)n another piece of success that has at-
tended our arms under Major Lee. The affair, considered abstract-
edly, is of very little; moment ; but it shows that a spirit of enter-
prise exists amongst us, makes the enemy in some measure ridiculous^
and serves to support the soldiers under the incessant fatigue they
are employed in at this post.^
Inclosed, you will find the recruiting accounts, stated by a board
of field officers, with as much exactness as they were able, but they
are far from being complete. The officers were absent or detached
with the infantry, the amount of whose accounts are not carried out.
I think the furnishing officers who may be employed in the recruit-
ing service with powers to draw money from the county lieutenants,
a bad method. It would render the settlements of the accounts
much easier if money on that account was issued to the colonel, or
officer commanding the regiments only, the recruiting officers to
spittle with him, he for tlie wliole with the State. If they were
either negligent or unsuccessful, he w^ould naturally discharge
them and send others, and nothing would be allowed in their ac-
* Major Henry Lee, Jr., surprised the enemy at Paulus Hook, not over a
mile and a quarter from New York, on the night of the 19th of July, killed
lib )Ut fifty, and took one hundred and fifty-seven prisoners, exclusive of
seven officers of superior rank.
Corvespondencej Addresses^ Etc. 485
counts but what he was sure would be allowed to him in the general
account.
The officers can not have too high a sense of your exertions in
their favor, and it gives me a very sincere pleasure that you find
the gentlemen in public business so readily concur with you, and
that the spirit of animosity is not so great as it once appeared to be.
Time must wear off the sharp edges, and I fondly flatter myself t »
see all parties so mellowed down as with cordial unanimity to purjjv*.
the public interest, which has, without doubt, in some instances,
been left out of sight. Parties may, indeed I believe not, exist in
every free State, but when the public good is the principal aim of
both, they will not produce private enmity.
In conversation, yesterday, with Colonel Moylan, his regiment came
upon the carpet. A resolve of Congress seems to have had in view
that the regiments of horse that have been raised in particular States
should be considered as part of their quota in the Continental army.
He would be very happy to find himself in that situation, and
though the officers have* not all been taken from Pennsylvania, the
men were, I believe, all raised there. I will be obliged to you if
you will please to communicate your sentiments on that head.
I have very frequent applications for orders to the commissary, in
different parts of Pennsylvania, to issue provisions to the wives and
families of soldiers, who have left them behind, and are, as they
say, starving. It is really a very hard case, but I do not consider
myself as authorized to give any such orders. Something, how-
ever, should be done for them, and I am told that all the women of
Colonel Proctor's regiment draw provisions in Philadelphia. . .
I received, last week, two letters from Colonel Nichols, inclosing
the attestations of six recruits, but two of them only are come on,
the others having deserted on their way to camp. This is really
paying very dear for soldiers, and some other way should be fallen
upon than sending them on with small parties of two or three men,
who can not pay the attention that is necessary to prevent deser-
tions. Perhaps it would be well enough to allow tKem to do duty
in the Invalids until a sufficient number is collected, and then an
officer with a proper party might be sent fi^m camp to bring them
on. Mr. Gibbons arrived a day or two ago, and is now on trial be-
fore a general court-martial.*
^ President Reed replied to the above letter on the 6th September. He ap-
proved of St. Clair's suggestion as to the proper manner of supplying money
to regiments; did not think he could do any thing for Colonel Moylan; the
issuing of supplies to the wives of soldiers would be attended with many
486 The St. Clair Papers.
General St. Clair to General Washington.*
West Point, Octcher 4, 1779.
Sir : — I have been revolving in my mind the matters your Ex-
cellency had under consideration last night, and beg leave to submit
my sentiments upon them ; but they are only broken hints, as I
have a very imperfect knowledge of the locality, not having been
upon the grounds for many years, and then not having viewed
them in a military light.
From Fort Washington to the high grounds at the bottom of the
Bay, below Harlem River, is a front to that river of three miles, at
no part more than two miles from the North River. Our troops,
drawing down toward King's Bridge, would probably induce the
enemy to take tliis position.
About six miles below Fort Washington, a bay makes in from
the North River, from the bottom of which, across the island to the
East River, the distance is one mile only. Supposing the enemy
obliged to cliange their first position, this would probably be their
second, as it has these advantages, that, be our superiority in num-
bers what it may, they can present an equal front, neither flank can
be turned, and, in so short a line, groat obstacles can l)e immediately
thrown in the way. But, query: Whether their left flauk would
not be exposed to the fire of the ships from the North River with
the enemy in the first |)osition, as above described. The difficulties
in the way make this less eligi!)le than first supposed. In the
secobd, it nj)pears very eligible, as the distance across is, I believe,
very capable of defense, and they would thereby 1k» cut off from the
town^ where, doubtless, the stores of all kinds are deposited; but
unless it was nuid(^ with perfect secrecy, the attempt would proba-
bly prove abortive.
Drawing the troops to King's Bridge and Ilarlcm River would
certainly induce the first position, as it i)romises to be effectual, for
inconveniences. '• There are such demands for every species of woman**
work that no industrioiH woman can sutler. In special cases assistance is
j^iven thorn. 1 believe Colonel Proctor, who is very inijenious in that way,
did i;et some rations issued to women belonging to that regiment, but when
it was di8cov<»red it was stopped. Relief njay be granted in particular cases,
but it would never do to consent to it as a general system."
* These hiijts as to plan of campaign were based upon the supposition that
Count D'Estaing would force his way into tho North River, and offered at
the request of General Washington.
Correspondence J AddresseSy Etc, 487
preventing the passage of that river, and, from its contiguity to the
North River is also convenient for preventing a landing in the rear.
A landing on Long Island, it seems, may be easily effected from
Harlem River, either above or below the mouth of it, and the col-
lecting of boats there would not discover the real design, as they
are equally necessary in either case. Flushing, the same distance
above, is a very convenient place, if not occupied by the enemy. It
is four miles from thence to Jamaica, and eight from that to Bed-
ford, where there is a capital pass, which should be instantly pos-
sessed, otherwise the army would be obliged to make a considerable
circuit by New York to approach Brooklyn. It is an open country,
and good roads from Flushing to Bedford.
The Count D'Estaing can land hb troops anywhere upon the
southern coast of Long Island — Jamaica Bay, for instance — whence
a junction could easily be made near Bedford. The distance, I
think, is not more than eight miles.
The ships may certainly be destroyed from Long Island, as they
must run into the East River, and the post at Brooklyn will soon
fall. With these New York, be its garrison what it will, must fidl
also. This appears to me the most eligible method, as there is great
probability of success, and much less risk than in forcing a passage
over Harlem River, or landing on the island by the North River, in
either of which the fate of America must, in a great measure, be set
upon a single cast.
When once established upon Long Island, perhaps a sufficient
number of troops may be spared to reduce Rhode Island.
If the posts on the North River are not drawn in, I suppose two
thousand men might,- in a week, with a proper artillery, reduce
Stony Point without breaking in much upon the greater operations
of the army. Verplauck must follow immediately.
These hints are all founded on a supposition that we can deceive
the enemy, and throw ourselves on Long Island, whilst the gross of
their army remains upon York Island ; but it is not improbable that
they will betake themselves entirely to Long Island, in which case
the high groimds, according to the idea I retain of them, from Flat
Bush to Bedford to the Eaflt River, would be a good position.
488 The St. Clair Papers.
General St. Clair to PREsroENT Reed.
Camp, October KXA, 1779.
Dear Sir : — ... I have heard with much pain of the un-
happy disasters that have prevailed in town,* but have not been able
to divine the cause. It surprises me exceedingly that Mr. Wilson
could have been pointed out as an enemy to his country, as his con-
duct has, from a very early period, been uniformly friendly, although
his opposition to the Constitution of Pennsylvania has been, per-
haps, too warm. His advocating the causes of the accused persons
should certainly not have been considered as a crime, as it is both a
part and a consequence of that liberty we have been struggling to
establish. I am pleased, however, that your spirited conduct in
quelling the riot meets with general approbation, and that you were
happy enough to rescue that gentleman, as it was pretty generally
known that you were not upon the most friendly terms.
May I hope that it will have the effect to remove any coolness
that subsisted ? If I could see you perfect friends, I should be very
happy; for I know his worth, and would spare no pains in my
power to bring it about. But I have said enough of this, and per-
haps too much.
^Tbis refers to "The Fort Wil:?on Riot/' whieh dis<;raced Philadelphia,
October 4, ]771», und which is trucenble to two causes, viz.: (1) The extor-
tions gniwiii!^ out of tho dej)reciation of the currency; and (2) the violence
of party feeling between the Constitutionists and Anti-Constitutioni^ta.
Most of the Continental soldiers in the Pennsylvania line, with St. Clair at
their head, were of the hitter party in sentiment, but supported the Consti-
tution and Government under it during the war. Leading (Mvilians, their
friends, were of the same opinion, which was publicly expressed by lion-
Edward Biddle: "Our present Government is lamentably defective, and
has in it the seeds of the worst of tyranni'»s, but to attempt by force to over-
turn it, would in my judgment be wicked, as well as impolitic." Congress
and the iStales attempted to mend the difficulties — high prices, the opprc^s-
sions and the frau'ls — incident to a paper currency b(»rn of revolution, by-
laws to govern prices and punish engrossers. Washington himself had been
moved to indulge in very passionate language. lie rejoiced that Pennsyl-
vania proposed to bring the murderers of tlie patriotic cause, the monop-
olizers, forestallers, and engrossers, to condign punishment. "I would to
God," said he, ** that some one of the more atrocious in each State was bung
in gibbet-i upon a gallows five times as high as the one p»repared by Haman.
No punishment, in my opinion, is too severe for the man who can build his
greatness upon his country's ruin." But despite such legislation, which
really defeated the end sought to be accomplished by making victin)s of the
conscientious and allowing rascals to escape, paper continued to depreciate
Correapondenccy Addresses^ Etc. 489
General St. Clair to General Washington.
Camp at Totowa, November 2d, 1779.
Sir : — In cantoning the troops, there are two objects which seem
to claim particular attention — the securing West Point and cover-
and prices to rise. The popular excitement in Pennsylvania became intense,
and a self-constituted committee of citizens of Philadelphia, attempted to
regulate the prices of salt, sugar, coffee, flour, and other staple articles, to
which regulation Robert Morris and other leading merchants refused to con-
form. In this they were sustained by Hon. James Wilson, the eminent
citizen who, as a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and member
of Congress, had been foremost in the cause of the Colonies. This seemed
to incense the party seeking to control the sales of articles of consumption,
beyond all bounds, as it was the second time he had stood in their path.
When they had attempted to drive out the wives and children of the Loy-
alists, and caused the indictment of persons suspected of sympathizing with
the British when they occupied Philadelphia, Mr. Wilson had, with true
courage, stood forth as their defender in the Court; and, although they suc-
ceeded in having two Quakers executed, he secured the release of twenty-
three other suspects. They were now resolved on having revenge on Mr.
Wilson, and all others who had reprobated their course.
Several hundred militia assembled on the 4th of October, with arms in
their hands, and after participating in a violent meeting, paraded the streets.
It was whispered about that they intended to seize Mr. Wilson, and they
inarched, for that purpose, to the City Tavern, expecting to find him and bis
friends there. Disappointed in this, they moved towards his residence, sit-
uated at the south-west corner of Third and Walnut streets, under the lead
of two desperate characters — Bonham and Pickering. Friends of Mr. Wil-
son, including General Mifflin, General Thompson, Captain Campbell, and
other Continental officers and friends, to the number of thirty or forty, had
gone to Mr. Wilson's house to defend it. They were all armed. The mob
approached, with drums beating, and dragging two pieces of cannon, in a
very threatening manner. There is a conflict of testimony here— one ac-
count saying that as the mob was passing the house. Captain Campbell (a
one-armed veteran of Ilazen's regiment), flred a pistol at them through an
open window; and others, that the mob fired upon the house, and that the
defenders responded. Captain Campbell, in the house, and an unknown per-
son on the street, were killed. The mob forced a door on the Third street
side, but aS they entered were met with a well-directed fire, which dropped
several of them. At this point. President Reed appeared, followed by Major
David Lenox,* at the head of a detachment of the City Troop, and succeeded
in dispersing the mob. Arrests were made on both sides, but there were no
prosecutions, as the Assembly passed an act of free and general pardon.
After this, party contests were less violent.
1 Major David Lenox, a gallant, patriotic, and useful soldier of the Revolution, a
citizen of Philadelphia, from 1784 to 1786 a partner of General St. Clair, in mercan-
tile operations, and at the time of his death, in 1828, President of the Pennsylvania
Society of Cincinnati.
490 The St Clair Papers.
ing Jersey in such a manner as to preserve an easy communication
with Pennsylvania. But West Point requires two thousand eight
hundred men, and, for the Northern posts dependent on it and the
necessary detachments below, a thousand more will not be an extrav-
agant allowance. I will suppose, then, that the army may be can-
toned to answer these purposes in this manner : The corps at West
Point to remain there, and those under your Excellency's immedi-
ate command to take post in Jersey. But of the first, there will,
on the first day of January remain little more than three thousand
men ; and, of the last, about two thousand four hundred. Should
those posted in Jersey be in the vicinity of the enemy, they would
be liable to have their quarters beat up ; they would probably have
a new position to take, which may be very difficult in the winter
season, and be exposed to the loss of their baggage and artillery,
as it will not be possible to maintain the horses at the army. Should
they be removed to any considerable distance, in order to place
them in greater security, they could not answer the purpose of cov-
ering the country. It is not probable that many recruits will have
arrived by the first of January, be the measures of the States ever
• so decisive — a part, however, of the quotas of Pennsylvania and
Connecticut may, |)erhaps, be counted on, which is all, 1 appre
hend, may be expected before the month of March, at soonest.
Should the troops be posted in the upper part of Jersey, or in the
vicinity of West Point, the most vahiable part of that State will be
left entirely open to the enemy, the communication with Pennsyl-
vania become more difficult, the carriage be greatly increased
throu;j:Ii ii rough country, and where forage is not abundant. Diffi-
culties present themselves on all sides ; but, on the whole, I think
some middle station should be chosen, in Jersey, so situated as to be
within a few hours' forced march, witli light troops, of the Newark
Mountain, which aj)i)ears to me a barrier of considerable impoi-
tauce ; but I have not a sufficient local knowledge to be able to
point out a particular place. There will be a time when the army
there, suj)posing that disposition should be thought pro})er, will be
very weak ; but then a body of the militia might be called out,
which would not much interfere with their filling their battalions,
as the number of men they would want is not considerable, and,
from the season, not at all with the affiiirs of husbandry. With
them joined to the trooi)s, there would he no great danger of any
serious attempt from the enemy, from the distance they would have
to penetrate into the country, and the difficulty of a retreat in case
of misfortune.
Correspondence J Addresses j Etc, 491
But at West Point there are only the number of men necessary
merely for the works, and, therefore, not a sufficient number for its de-
fense, should it be attempted in any other way than by a coupe de main.
It is not, however, probable that the enemy will sit down before it
in the winter season, and, should that be their design, it must be
discovered in time enough to throw in a reinforcement, and part of
the York militia might also be called out without impeding the re-
cruiting service, as their battalion are near complete.
On one hand the ease and comfort of the troops require their
being cantoned as soon as possible ; that their huts may be con-
structed before the severity of the winter sets in ; more especially
wiien we reflect upon the state of their clothing. On the other,
until the winter is at least so far advanced as to preclude the possi-
bility of an attempt upon West Point. But a serious attempt upon
West Point, as I observed before, requires such previous prepara-
tion as can not well be concealed, and a body, I should suppose, of
at least eight thousand men, and both sides of the river must be
occupied, so that the probability is against its being made in the
winter, when their communication with New York by water must
be precarious. There is no probability at all of their marching to
it, as the means of transporting the apparatus for siege, and the nec-
essary provisions are not, I believe, within their power. I should,
therefore, think that in a fortnight hence the camp may be broken
up ; but this will be, in some measure, governed by the weather.
After all, it must be owned that, should the enemy bend their
force against the army I have supposed in Jersey, it would be a haz-
ardous situation ; but, as they have discovered no inclination to at-
tempt any thing of that kind since the detachments have been made
from this army, and, whilst the season was favorable to military
operations, it induces an expectation that they will not be more en-
terprising, on great scale, at least, during the winter.*
I am most clearly of opinion that no troops can be spared, at this
time, for the southward ; neither do I see any offensive operation
*The above observatious were called for by General Washington, and in
the disposition of the army for the winter, and the design upon Staten
Island, were fully approved by the Commander-in-Chief. 1^ was proposed
to quarter the cavalry in Connecticut, station a brigade at Danbury, a suf-
ficient garrison at West Point, including the post at King's Ferry and Con-
tinental Village, a small body of troops at the entrance of the Clove, and
the main body of the army in the country in the neighborh(9od of the S9otch
Plains. Washington's headquarters were fixed at Morristowu.
See letter to President of Congress, 24th November.
V I
492 The St. Clair Papers.
that can be undertaken with much likelihood of success. It ap-
pears, indeed, to me, that we have but one object — Staten Iskmd—
the garrisons of which are most probably reinforced.
General St. Clair to Brigadier-General Irvene.
Mt. Loks, Nov. 24th, 1779.— 2 o'clock.
Dear Sir : — I have met with Mr. Abeel here and he informs me
that our position will not be determined until he has had a meeting
with General Greene, which he expects this .evening, so that, in all
probability, we shall keep our present station to-morrow at least
There are provisions at Morristown which he woidd send on to u«.
but as the commissary's wagons are broken down (the wheel? i
mean) if you please to order them on to that place, he will give
them new wagons, which they can load back with the provision.
If any thing else occurs, I shall give early notice.
Prejsidext Reed to General St. Clair.
PlIILADELPIILV, Dec. dtk, 1779.
Denr Sir : — Your favor of the 3(1 iust. is now before me. The
delicacy of giving any directions with resi)ect to the clothing, which
might in any resjK'ct interfere with the views of the General, in-
duced us to submit it entirely to Jiis direction. In future we shall
be on a more (pertain footing.
Your wisiies to see harmony and good agreement prevail in time
of i)ublic calamity, do honor to the goodness of your own heart.
And I hope that, notwithstanding some unfavorable appearances,
it may in due time be accomplished. 1 assure you I shall be so far
from declining any overtures of that nature, that I shall cheerfully
meet them. Mr. Wilson's understanding and abilities will always
make him resj)ectable, if he does not devote them too far to the
purposes of party, lie is one whom no man would choose to wish
for an enemy, and I believe it entirely depends on himself to increase
the nunilxT of his friends.
When, as 1 hope is the case with us, party has not rankled into
personal enmity, I Hatter myself civility and society may be re-
stored. Tim^and mutual good dispositions alone can effect it.
It is a great satisfaction to see harmony so prevailing in the mill-
Correspondence^ Addresses j Hie. 493
tary line. God grant it may continue and increase. Perhaps the
influence of example may reach us.
General Washington to General St. Clair,
MoRRISTO^\'N, 27th January, 1780.
Dear Sir: — ^You will be pleased to repair to our lines and inves-
tigate the causes of the late misfortune and disgrace at Elizabeth-
lown, and report your opinion thereupon, as soon as inquiry is made.^
You will also examine into the state of our guards, and see if any
change can be made in their position for the better ; having respect,
as far as present circumstances will allow, to the object in view,
which are security to this camp, cover to the country near the en-
emy's lines, and prevention of that injurious and abominable traffic,
which is carried on with the city of New York. While you are in
the discharge of this duty, it is my'wish that you would obtain, in
as unsuspected a manner as possible, a perfect knowledge of the
enemy^s strength, situation, and guards on Staten Island and at
Paul us Hook, the state of the ice on the North River, and such
other information as it may be beneficial and important for us to be
■I * - iM ■■■ - m.
^ A detachment of British troops, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
Bushkirk, crossed over from Staten Island at Trembley's Point, and entered
Elizabethtown between eleven and twelve o'clock, on the night of tho 25th
of January. It consisted of one hundred dragoons, and between three and
four hundred infantry. They took several prisoners, burnt the meeting-
house, town-house, and another building, plundered sonie of the inhabitants,
and retired without loss. A similar attack was made at the same time on a
small party at J^ewark, and with equal success. The academy was burnt.
In bi»th places the surprise was complete. The whole number of prisoners
taken from the Americans was four officers, and about sixty privates. —
Col<inel IlazevkS MS. Letter ^ January 6th.
On the same day the above letter was written, General Washington in-
formed Colonel Hazen that General St. Clair would go down in the morning
to make an inquiry, and endeavor to find out if it would be possible to re-
taliate on the enemy; and, if not, if some different position of the grounds
might not be necessary. He thought enterprises by small parties practicable,
but the strength of the enemy would render too hazardous any thing more
extensive. Since the North River was passable, he had thought it practica-
ble to carry out the plan of Colonel Willett, for burning the enemy's trans-
ports, which were supposed to be frozen in the ice at Turtle Bay. Inquiry
was to be made as to the fact of the boats being frozen up, first. If, then,
Colonel Willett should choose to undertake it, he was to be indulged, and
Washington recommended the selection of Webb's regiment, the men of
which were clothed in red, as well calculated for such an enterprise.
494 The St. aair Papers.
acquainted with. It is my wish, also, that you may obtain a com-
plete knowledge of the places and manner in which the enemy's
shipping, flat-boats, and other craft are laid up and secured, thereby
discovering whether some successful attempt, by stratagem or other-
wise, may not be made to destroy them. The relief which went
down to the detachment under the command of Colonel Hazen,
when joined thereto, will form a body of two thousand rank and
file ; and as there were reasons for apprehending that the enemy
had some oflensive plan in view, which actually took place that
very night, I ordered Colonel Hazen to remain there with his com-
mand a few^ days, or till further orders. You will please to take
command of both detachments, and retain the old till the objects
here enumerated are fulfilled, unless you should think best to order
the return of it to camp before. If, in the coiurse of your tour of
duty below, and investigation of the enemy's posts, any operation
upon a large or small scale presents itself, you will delay no time
in communicating your ideas fully on the subject to me, provided,
in the latter instance, a favorable opportunity is not lost by delay,
in which case you are left altogether to your own discretion, bearing
in mind always that new disappointments will add discredit to our
arms. But, while tlic state of the ice admits a free and easy pas-
sage of troops from New York, any attempt otherwise than by sur-
prise may be dangerous.
General St. Clair to General Washtngton.
Cr.vne*8 Mills, January 28, 1780.
Sir : — I arrived at Colonel Hazen's quarters the night before last,
and yesterday, with him, visited the several posts, which I found to
be llahway, Crane\s Mills, Connecticut Farms, Elizabeth town, and
Newark. Elizjibethtown and Newark are occupied by small de-
tachments only, aud guards are posted at De Hart's and Halsted
Points. A small guard is also kept at the New Blazing Star from
the post at Kahway.
In this situation the troops are as compact as, I believe, the nature
of the canton nient will allow consistently with the objects in view ;
yet tliey arc far from being so much so as could be wished. The dis-
tance these different places lie from one another, and want of horse to
communicate j*peedily any movements of the enemy, render it very
easy U) surprise (me or other of the posts, particularly Kahway,
which is only two miles from the Sound, and lies five miles from
hence and five miles from the Blazing Star. The small detached
CorrespondencCy AddresseSy Etc, 496
guara at that place may be very easily taken off; and then their
flank, and even their rear, is entirely open.
To cover effectually such an extent of country as from Newark to
Amboy, in the present state of the ice, would require a very con-
siderable body of troops; and the dispersing them in small bodies,
exposes them to many accidents, and greatly favors desertion, which,
with much regret, I find has prevailed in these commands.
In Elizabeth town, I found a four days' guard, consisting of one
hundred men, with a field officer. This I reduced to a captain and
fifty, to be relieved daily, which I thought would answer every pur-
pose that could be expected from the hundred, as they may, when
on for one day only, be kept constantly alert, and half of them at a
time patroling during the night Indeed, I believe good patrols
would answer every purpose better than small guards ; but, where
the distance betwixt posts is considerable, they should be composed
of horse. The guards at De Hart's and Halsted Points are cer-
tainly much exposed, and if the enemy suffer them to remain, it
must arise from extreme caution, or their having something of more
importance in contemplation, for I can not suppose they w^nt in-
formation of our position.
I have not yet been able to ascertain the enem3r's number on
8taten Island, or at Paulus Hook, but expect to-day to have pretty
good accounts of the last, as also of the state of the ice on both the
North and East Rivers ; but from all that I can learn, and from the
intelligence Colonel Hazen has received, their numbers on the Is-
land amount to two thousand and upwards. The reinforcement
thrown in from New York consisted of three regiments — supposed
about seven or eight hundred men ; part of them are cantoned, and
part encamped about the middle of the island. Intelligence is,
however, very difficult to be obtained, and is not, in my opinion, in
a good train ; the person who seems to be most denended upon bear-
ing a very bad character, and known to act as an agent for the
enemy. Indeed, it will be almost impossible to get it into another
train, unless the intercourse betwixt the inhabitants and the island
can be prevented ; nor can a stop be put to the traffic carried on
with the city, unless some other way of rewarding those we employ
be fallen upon than countenancing it in their favor.
Nothing has yet presented itself to induce any attempt upon the.
enemy, which should at least have probability in its fiivor. Their
advanced picket at Dungan's Mills might be taken off, but it is a
trifling object, and the retreat of the party might be prevented. If
any thing is to be done on the island, it must, I believe, be by open
496 The St. Clair Papers.
force, which they seem to expect, as, from the information of a de-
serter, they are improving their works and adding abatisy and keep
their troops as close to them as possible. They are also constructing
a new work, with timbers, on a hill that commands the redoubt at
the Watering Place. There is at present a passage to New York,
but it is frequently interrupted by the driving ice.
Dr. Burnet expected a trusty, intelligent person from New York
last night, and I shall see him to-day. By him, I expect the inform-
ation your Excellency wishes with respect to the East River, and
the situation of the enemy's vessels. If it favors Colonel Willet's
enterprise, I shall desire him to wait ui)on your Excellency imme-
diately. I find, by an order of Gen. Tryon's of the 13th, that a
number of bateaux are to be laid up at De Nuys's Ferry, at the
Narrows.
I suppose Colonel Hazen has informed your Excellency of the at-
tempt the enemy intended upon the detachment at Eahway on
Wednesday last, wliicli was prevented by Colonel Gray's obtaining
some notice of it. I can not help repeating that horse are much
wanted to give any degree of security to the cantonments ; but, a
one object is to cover and secure tlie inhabitants, they ought, some
of them at least, to be furnished by the State, and if these were
trusty, good men, acquainted with the country, they would make
the l)est patrols i)ossible. I believe, too, they would more effectually
check the spirit of traffic than it will ever be done by the soldiery,
who hold it, in some measure, a disreputable employment.
. I wish I could give your Excellency any hint that might help to
check or prevent the shameful desertion that prevails, and for which
the troops of Pennsylvania, especially, have so little reason. It
would, perhaps, answer a good end, while the ice continues firm, in-
stead of detachments from the army, to send whole corps ; the first
to be taken from those lines where that vice has not crept in. By
the time one or two commands are completed, the communication
will probably be more difl[icult.
I have in(iuired of every person I thought could give me proper
information into the caiis(^s of our misfortune at Elizabethtown and
Newark, and it appears to have been owing to negligence in not
having the i)atrols out in pr()i)er time, and to their having fatigued
• themselves too much tlie night before; and it is certain that the
captain had not a single vidctte, nor even a sentry, on the stable
where his horses were.
I am not quite satisfied whether your Excellency intended a
formal inquiry, or that I should inform myself in the manner I
CurrcspovdiTicey Addresses j Etc. 497
have done. Nothing further occurs at present. If any intelligence
of moment arises, it shall be immediately communicated ; and I
will detain Colonel Hazen until I hear from your Excellency.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
MoRRiSTOWN, January 29, 1780.
Dear Sir : — You will be pleased to forward the inclosed letter by
flag. It is from a Mr. Ranselair, who comes particularly recom-
mended by General Schuyler. As he is impatient for an answer, as
soon as one reaches you, I wish to have it sent up by express.
I want to be informed in what manner the troops are accommo-
dated as to quarters, or whether any part of them are put to incon-
venience on this account. I shall be somewhat influenced by this
circumstance as, to the continuing or recalling the detachment which
went down under Colonel Hazen.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
MoRRiSTOTS'N, February 2, 1780.
Dear Sir : — I am this moment favored with your letter of this
date.
The detachment which I mentioned as to march this morning,
owing to some causes that have unavoidably intervened, docs not
leave camp till to-morrow.
With regard to the enterprise you have in view, should circum-
stances make it eligible in your opinion, I have no objection to your
trying the experiment.*
General Washington to General St. Clair.
Headquarters, February 2, 1780.
Dear Sir: — I have received vour second letter^ of this date. As
I wrote you this forenoon, I leave the enterprise in view entirely
with you, and the execution to be attempted or not as you may
* As the letter of St. Clair to which the above refers is missing, it is im-
possible to tell the nature of the information ho had received,\and the enter-
prise he designed based upon it. The probability is that it was to be an
attempt to surprise some post of the enemy. The letter of St. Clair to
Washington, February 7, may give a clue to the design.
^ Ali:»Hin<;.
32
498 The St. Clair Papers.
judge proper from a full consideration of all circumstance?, the in-
telligence you have received, and the characters of the persons who
gave it. If it should apjKiar to you tliat there is a strong proha-
bility of its succeeding, the cxi)eriment can be made ; if not, it may
be best not to undertake it.
The dragoon has two or three bundles of prepared combustibles
in charge, and some post funds.
General St. Clair to General Washington.
Crane's Mills, February 7, 1 780.
Dear Sir:— Nothing extraordinary has happened since my last,
neither have I received any intelligence of consequence, my man
from New York not yet being returned ; I expect to sec or hear
from him this evening. — It is said that in consequence of the report
of some deserters who got into Paulus Hook from Connecticut
Farms, the day before the detachment was relieved, that post is re-
inforced every evening from New York. If this be true, which I
hope to ascertain to-day, a stroke may be made upon them. The
country was very much alarmed yesterday by the aj)pcarance of a
party and a number of sleighs on the sound. The rejwrt reached
me as I was on my return from Woodbridge, with the addition that
they were actually landed and in Elizabethtown, which occa-sioncd
the troops to be got under arms that were nearest. It proved to be
a party from New York, most probably carrying provisions ; they
came on the ice at Bergen Point, passed up towards De Hart's
Point, about half way; and then turned off and landed near
Deckers, on Statcn Island. The sleighs were in numb(»r about one
hundred, and the escort consisted of about sixty infantry and
twenty horsc^s.
I have made some alteration in the disposition of the canton-
ments. The body of tlie trooj)s now lie in a line from Springfield to
the southern part of Westfield, with one hundred and twenty men
advanced to Connecticut Farms, and the same number in this
neighborhood ; fifty men detached to Newark, and fifty to Wood-
bridge. The different parties of mounted militia are instructe<l to
patrol the roads along the sound from Newark to Aml)oy; fifteen
of them are stationed at Newark, fifteen at Rahway, and fifteen
at Woodbridge. These are a kind of volunteers w*ho depend ujx^n
the Legislature for a reasonable compensation for their services.
As the people came very readily into this mode, and discovered
Correspondence, Addresses, Etc. 499
an unwillingness to engage in any other way, I declined raising the
twenty your Excellency had empowered me, and if these forty-five,
in the manner they are stationed, will do their duty, there is little
doubt but that, with the assistance of our foot patrols, every move-
ment of the enemy will be timely discovered.
A son of Mr. Iladden, who was lately made prisoner at Newark,
waited upon me yesterday with a request from Mrs. Hadden, who
has your Excellency's permission to go to New York, that your Ex-
cellency would allow her to pass by Paulus Hook. I promised him
to mention it, and I believe there is no doubt but flags will be re-
ceived there. Major Skinner went in that way, and a flag came
from thence the day before yesterday with a letter for him, and by
opening that comouniriition, some useful observ'ations may, per-
haps, be made.
Geneu^vl Wasiiingtok to General St. Clair.
MoRRlSTOWN, St]i Febnuiry, 1780.
Dear Sir: — I received your favor of the 7th yesterday afternoon.
As I can see no inconveniency from permitting Mrs. Hadden to
pass in by Paulus Hook, you will, therefore, grant her request ; and
make such further use of that communication in the way of flags,
while the frost contmues, as you may judge essential for any pur-
poses you may have in view, or for obtaining useful information.
I would imagine, however, that the enemy will object to this line,
for the same reasons which we may desire it.
I have no objection to Kemp and Crane going over to Kingston ;
you may, therefore, indulge the friends of the persons who were
lately taken in their application.
Gener^vl St. Clair to General Washington.
Springfield, February ll</i, 1780.
Sir: — The enemy made an incursion into this State this morning,
about an hour before day, in three different 2>laces from Staten
Island, and one from Paulus Hook.
A party of about three hundred, commanded by Colonel Simcoe,
landed at Woodbridge, a small party on Rah way Neck, and the most
considerable body at De Hart's Point, and marched to Elizabeth-
town.
The guards at Elizabethtown and Woodbridge were timely ap-
prised of their approach, and retreated to some little dbtance from
500 The St. Qair Papers.
both these posts, and were not attacked, and have sustained no other
loss than having each one man wounded.
I have not been able to ascertain the force of the party that came
to Elizabethtown. The two persons that were made prisoners
there seem entirely ignorant of it, and had followed the troops in
order to plunder. Their numbers are said to have been two thous-
and, which is improbable; but from General Sterling and General
Skinner, both being [unintelligible], they must have been consid-
erable. A number of houses in the town have l)cen stripped of every
thing, and ten or twelve of the inhabitants carried off.
The party at Woodbridge committed no outrage of any kind upon
either the persons or houses of the inhabitants, but carried off about
thirty head of cattle. Their principal aim seems to have been the
guard, and, missing of that, they stayed a very short time. On
their retreat they were followed by the horse patrols, some of the
militia, and the troops, who say they wounded several, but none
were left on the ground. The party that landed at Rahway, in a
very obscure place, plundered two houses and carried off two men,
and seemed to have had no other object. But the surprising a
party of fifty men seemed too trifling to have been the design of so
large a party as that at Elizabethtown. Whatever it may have
been, the finding the guard so alert probably induced them to de-
sist. The party from Paul us Hook consisted of about three hun-
dred horse, and lauded at Ilackeusack. The person I had sent to
Kew York, and who had been detained at Paulus Hook in conse-
quence of orders the day before, to suffer no jx^rson to go out, came
over with them.
They proceeded some distance into the countr}', and from the route
they pursued, he thinks, intended to have i)assed the Cedar Swamp,
aud were very particular in their inquiries alK)ut the situation of
your quarters, and wliere I was quartered, and the guards that were
jKJsted Ixjtween Ilaekensack and ^lorristown. He says particularlv
that, after marching some way into the country, he heard an officer
ask tlie comnuindaut where they were going. He replied he could
not tell him that, but they had more than thirty miles to march that
niglit ; tliat in a sliort time after this, finding the snow very deep
and the roads not broken, they returned, and he was dismissed.
If tlieir design was an attempt on your Excellency's quarters, the
other party's were intended to divert our attenticm from that party
of horse that were to have marched u|X)n our left flank, and I hope
you will piinlon me for hinting that there is not a suflScient body of
troops near enough to render you secure. Had they been designed
Correspondence J Addresses^ Etc. 50X
to have fallen upon our rear, wliich they might have done, they had
troops enough to have given us full occupation, and them the op-
portunity. But supposing either of these designs, it is difHcult to
account for their retiring so soon, without even attacking the Eliza-
bethtown guard, which was not above a quarter of a mile out of
town.
The jierson from New York, says that the East River is still open;
and, in general, gives the same account of the situation of the ship-
ping guards and quarters of the general officers as I had the honor
to transmit to your Excellency in a former letter. His account of
Paul us Hook is an accurate one. It consists of a pretty large re-
doubt, with a smaller one within it, cajmblc of containing al)out one
hundred and fifty. Tlie barracks about ten rods without the works,
abatiscd to the landside; but not to the water, and not one piece
of cannon planted that way. The garrison consists of about six
hundred men, from which they detach daily a sergeant's guard to
the Green Island, about a mile from the Hook, and lower down the
river ; and that they liave ceased to send the reinforcements I men-
tioned before for some days.
I Imve had no authentic intelligence from Staten Island for some
days, and, indeed, it is very difficult to obtain.
The inhabitants in general cry out so much against Morris Hat-
field that I have not employed him, and they are all afraid of being
detected by his brothers on the Island. I exjxKJt, however, to hear
from there by to-morrow night, and if it is of consequence, will
transmit it immediately to your Excellency. I still think Buskirk's
cor])s may be taken off.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
Headquarters, Morristown, 12^i Feb,, 1780.
Dear Sir: — I received yours of yesterday late last night. I am
pleased to find that the vigilance of your guards and jmtrols disap-
p)inted the enemy, whatever might have l)een their intentions. I
have taken precautions to guard against an attempt by such a party
as might be reasonably supposed to be able to reach this in the
course of a night, and I hoiKi that a short continuance of this
weather will make the ice inqiassable by horse ; from foot, there is
no danger at t\n^ distance.
If you still think an attempt upon Buskirk's corps practicable,
you are at full liberty to try the experiment. I am confident you
502 The St. Qair Papers.
will undertake nothing but what will be justified by appearances
and a probability of success.
P. S. As the enemy have made an incursion with their horse by
the way of Hackensack, will it not be prudent in you to extend your
patrols of horse more to your left while the ice is jmssable ? When-
ever persons apply for liberty to go within the enemy's line, having
the permission of the Executive of any of the States, Congress, or
the Board of War, you may suffer them to pass without an applica-
tion to me.
General St. Clair to General Washington.
Springfield, Feb, 20, 1780.
Sir : — The enemy made another attempt last night, about eleven
o'clock, to surprise the party at Newark, and plunder the town, but,
being happily discovered on their approach by the patrols, the guard
and the inliabitants were alarmed, and obliged them to retire with-
out their effecting any thing except carrying off two men, one of
w^hom is supposed to have purposely thrown himself in their way.
Tlierc was some firing betwixt their advance and the patrols, but
without loss on our side, or, I believe, on theirs, though it is said
that some of them were wounded.
The guard retired to a height in the rear of the town, until they
discovered the strength of the i)arty, which consisted of alx)ut one
hundred foot, when, being joined by the inhabitants, they moved
down to attack them.
The enemy immediately retired, and were pursued to the river,
whore they were obliged to quit about twenty head of cattle they
had collected, and some horses, and I hear of nothing missing but
one sheep and an old horse.
The ice stiJl remains passable, botli in Hackensack and Second
Rivers, and in Newark Bay, and the Sound, but with some difficultv,
there being many i)laces, particularly in the Bay and Sound, that
will support very little weight.
I believe the North lliver, though still fast, will not admit the
I)as.«age of tn)ops. Whilst they remain in that situation, jyerhaps
the p:)st at Paulus Hook might l)e attempted with j>robable success,
as, from the intelligence I have, they are not very vigilant there ; the
garrison do(NS not now exceed five hundred men, and, if I am rightly
informed, the place is entirely open to the North River. I think
there is no doubt but that the ice u\K)n the Flats will be strong
enough for some time, unless the weather should alter, and guides
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 503
may be procured to conduct a proper party clear of the inhabitants.
The detachment here might be sufficient, for, if it is carried, it
might be by surprise, and, in that case, numbers are of no great
avail. I have not yet, however, such information as to enable me to
digest a plan of attack, but am in hopes to receive it to-night, and
shall immediately communicate it to your Excellency.
There is not much time to lose, but the critical moment is that in
which the ice is sufficiently strong along shore, when it is too weak
in the North and Sound.
General WASHiNOToy to General St. Clair.
MoRRisTOWN, February 23, 1780. — Half-past 10 a. m.
Sir : — I have this moment received yours ^ of seven o'clock. I
apprehend, with you, that the circumstances you mention will pre-
vent the execution of your project ; for which reason, and the bad-
ness of the weather, I delay the march of the covering party till I
hear further from you. If the intelligence you expect proves favor-
able, I shall be obliged to you to dispatch a second messenger, and
I will take measures here accordingly.'
P. S. Will not the state of the moon be unfriendly to your at-
tempt towards morning ?
General Washington to General St. Clair and Lieuten-
ant-Colonels Edward Carbington and Alexander Ham-
ilton.^
MoRRiSTOWTJ, Sth March, 1780.
Gentlemen: — The powers herewith authorize you to proceed to
Amboy, on the 9th instant, to meet commissioners on the part of
the enemy, for the purpose of settling a general cartel. You will
perceive what has been alrea<ly done in this business by the papers
' Missing.
* General St. Clair ordered Colonel Sherman to assemble his brigade nt
Wcstfieldjon the evening of the28d, whence he was to march to Springfield, so
as to arrive there at eight o'clock; all of the guards were to be called in except
thoife at Rah way and W(»odbridge; the men were to be marched completely
equipped, but without their packs, and each man was to be furnished with a
gill of rum. Those orders were carried out, but the enterprise had to be
abandoned at the last moment, on account of its having been ascertained
that the enemy had been apprised of the intended movement, and was pre-
pared.
604 St. Clair Papers.
accompanying this. The only instructions I have to give you arc
these : That you transact nothing under your commission but upon
principles of perfect equality and on a national ground. If tlie en-
emy will not treat with you on this footing, you will put an end to
the negotiations. But, after your oiRcial business is over, I wi:?h
you, in private conversation, to enter into a discussion of the pro-
posiiLs, so as to remove any difficulties they contain, and prepare
the way for some future particular agreement, which may give re-
lief to our officers and men in captivity.
If you enter into a general cartel, you must of necessity include
the southern prisoners ; but, if you are obliged to confine yourselves
to what I now recommend, you will avoid including them. The
propoi^als appear to me generally liberal, though, in some respects,
exceptionable. The tariff, however, is moderate enough. Having
entire confidence in your judgment and discretion, I think it un-
necessary to enter into a detail of the exceptionable parts ; ])ersuaded
that they will readily occur to you, and that you will take proper
steps to have them amended. The settlement of accounts is a
point of importance and difficulty. As the matter now stands, I am
unable to give you any explicit directions on the subject. If you are
likely to enter into a general cartel, you will immediately advise me,
and I will obtain further instructions from Congress. If tliis is not
the case, you will hardly be al)le to draw any engagements from the
enemy on this head, and you will i)erceive this point is not to bo made
a preliminary nor ultimatum. You will do the best you can, en-
deavoriu;;, bv all means, to enjratre the British ComniLssioners io ad-
vanoo a sufiiciont sum of money to pay the debts of our officers for
board and the like, and enable them t > leave their captivity. You
will conununicate to me, from time to time, any matters you may
desire my advice jipcm, and it shall cheerfully be alForded. I sincerely
wish you a successful and honorable issue to your commission.*
* Tlioconvoutiftn failinl. a>» bad h^on foresoen. In communicntinc^thp formal
report of tlio American Coniinissionors to ConLTC!.*.*, March 31st, General
■\Va.-bini:ton alluded to tbo report transmitted by tbo Minister of France,
tbat, on ncconnt of tbo difficulty in procuring men in Germany, the Tn'tish
Court bad iii>ti'u<-ted Sir Henry Clinton to treat with General Washlngt<.>n,
on national pr.iuDds. The unreliability of this report was ebown by tbo re-
sult of tbo Convention at Aniboy. Therefore, following Washington's in-
structions, tbo commijisionera refused to treat on any other grounds. Tbo
Brit'sii Commissioners insintedon tbo exchange being, at all events, extended
to one half of the Second Division of tbo Convention tr«><»p;*. General
"NVM-bin^tr.n saiJ bo would carry ('Ut such apian if Congress ordered it, but ho
asked to bo excused from deciding it. *'0n the ono bund, the aeq^uiaitiun of
Corrcspc^ndence^ Addresses^ Etc, 605
General Phillips' to General St. Clair.
Amboy, March 20th, 1780. *
Sir: — I entered upon the commission which i^ now ended, prom-
ising myself there would be derived from it real advantages to the
unlucky sufferers of both armies by a general exchange; unsuccess-
so many men will be of great moment to the enemy, if they meet with
success at the Eouthward; on tho other, I see not how wo shall lo able to
maintain our oflScers in captivity, and tho expense is no trifling considera-
tion."
General Phillips reported to Lord George Germain: "This attempt for a
general cartel and exchange has proven ineflectual, as every former one I. ad
done founded on an objection to tho powers given by Sir Henry Clinton;
and your Lordship will directly observe the great olject of tho American
Congress is to work some public ai't, in which General Washington may bo
concerned with Sir Henry Clinton in character of equality with Great Brit-
ain, on the principles of nation against nation at war; and the positive dec-
laration of tho American Commissioners on this matter fully evinces tho
fact, and that a general cartel can r.ever fake place on any other ground,
which, it may be imagined, will never bo suffered by Great Britain. In a
number of attempts to release tho troops of Convention, the matter was
broken off under several descriptions. At one time, tho American Corgresa
would not exchange the troops in corps; at another, they were willing to
exchange private soldiers to a certain number, but it was never understood
what number or in what manner. Interested, as I have been, it has led me
to hold conversations with a number of American officers, proving to them
that tho troops of Convention ptood under a particular de-cription, and that
exchanging tho oflScers witliout the men against American ofDcers, prison-
ers of war could not bo considered as equal, the American officers going to
an inim 'diate activitv of Fcrvice, and tlio Co!:vention officers not doinir ro.
as tho regiuHMits to which tli<»y belonged would still bo in captivity; and
however elii;ible and convenient for the oflBcers themselves, it would be of
no advantage to the King's service."
''William riiillip?, Major-General in tho British army, who commanded
the artillery uinler General Borg(»yno in the investment of Ticondero^a.
He had won d stinctit)n as a soldier in Germany, and from his experience
there quickly saw the importance of having possession of Sugar- Lrmf Hill,
in the work of reducing the forts on Lake Champlain. Ho took piJrt in tho
battles of Bemis s Heights, and was made a prisoner at Saratoga. The
troeps surrendered there under the terms agreed on between General Ga^es
and General Burgoyne, were called Convention Troops, and were com-
manded by General Phillips on their march to Virginia. General Phillips
was actively engaged in the South aftor his exchange, and died of bilious
fever at Bollingbrook, on tho James Kiver, 14th ^lay, 1781, one year after
the correspondence with St. Clair, while General La Fayette was investing
tbo place. It is claimed, by British chroniclers, that shot passed through
ki
506 The St. Clair Papers.
ful prosecution of that matter, the papers composing the minutes of
our proceedings will explain.
I felt great satisfaction, however, at the proposition which was
made by you and Lieutenant-Colonels Carrington and Hamilton to
enter into a private conversation upon the subject of exchanges, and
to try if it miglit not be possible to bring that purpose to bear un-
der an usual aud customary mode by letters between the two Com-
mandcrs-in-C!uef, without any future appointment of commission-
ers, which seems to have retarded rather than have hastened a
business SD very essential to the number of suffering individuals.
I am sure, sir, your candor will allow that I, as well as Lieutenant-
Colonels Gordon and Norton, entered into your idea with the utmost
cheerfulness, and I apprehend it was mutually agreed ujwn to con-
verse upon the matter dispassionately, and to endeavor at removing
those difficulties which might appear to act against a general ex-
change, in which the troops of Convention ^vere to be connected. I
allow tliis to have been done to a certain degree, when it became
necessary for us to make a projx)sition that might fix certain stated
points of time and cliaracters, and put the matter upon a future in-
disputable footing. This drew from you, sir, a paper which you
held t ) us as an ultimatum on your part,* that was so contrary to
our expectations aud seemed so little calculated to answer the good
purposes proposed, that it forced us reluctantly to become silent
up;)n a business which we found so very unlikely to be brought to
any desirable issue.
I can not sulfcr you to depart from this place without making an
observation or two upon the paper you delivered to me ; and, in the
first instan(!e, I must be allowed to remark that Lieutenant-Gover-
nor Hamilton ^ is placed in a description of exchange which had never
tho house where (Joiieral Phillips ^va^» dying, and that when hi\ Fayette's
attention was called to it, he refused to delist. This, however, is not true,
(jeneral Phillips was huric^d in the old Blandford church-yard, from which
his remains w(;ro never removed. His correspondence with St. Clair dis-
played a humane sentiment highly creditahle.
^ This was in accordance with tho det«^rmination of "Washington not to
treat on any but terms of absolute equality. It was also important that tho
IJritish army sh<»uld not bo speedily reinforced witli tho C\>nvention troops.
Hence, t(H'hnicalit".es were more strenuously insistcrd on than they would
have been, probably, under other circumstance?.
2 Henry Hamilton, Lieutenant-Governor of Canada, was captured at Vo<\.
Vinccnnes, by Geori;e llogers Clarke, on the occasion (»f his expedition to
tho Xorth-wcst. Hamilton and several of his chief officers were sent as
prisoners to*^VilHamsbu^g, Virginia, where, on account of their alleged Cv^m-
Correspondence J Addresses^ Etc. 507
been a part of our conversation on that subject ; the proposition for
his being released ^va8 mutual, and we offered to your view, at the
same time, several officers who were in the same situation with him-
self; but the Lieutenant-Governor and these officers were always
included in cur ccmversation, to be exchanged against such of your
officers, prisoners of war, as might be in Georgia; and never, in
any time of our discourse, came into a calculation of that plan of
'exchange which comprehended the American officers prisoners of
war in these parts.
The paper contains, in the second instance, a long interwoven
matter, in the body of which is expressed, that the balance of offi-
cers, if any, after a discussion of certain points, shall be applied, as
far as they will go, towards an exchange of the second division of
the troops of Convention ; but, Sir, the points to be discussed sur-
round this offer in such a manner as to put out of question any
possible operation. The persons who may be produced under no
present certain description, aud of Canadians who have been pro-
duced, must necessarily involve the matter in such a perplexed dis-
cussion as would, in course, prevent the troops of Convention from
receiving any advantage from the American officers, prisoners of
war, in Georgia, as described within the period of the 31st of De-
cember, 1779.
In the prosecution of an exchange on our part, the first object
has invariably been, the officers and soldiers, prisoners of war ; after
them the troops of Convention, by corps; but in pursuing the lat-
ter, the greatest attention must be observed to avoid, not only the
reality, but the apjKjarance also, of partiality, and that in exchang-
ing the first division the greatest care must be had to give effect to
the exchange of those corps whoso unlucky lot has put them into
a second division ; and it is necessary, also, that, afler having
agreed to your proposal, that certain genial officers should go with
each division. It should never be conceived those general officers
would suffer themselves to be exchanged without a due considera-
tion for the troops, and under such a description of numbers cs
plicity in inciting tho Indians to murdorous attacks on tho frontiers, they
were thrown into juil and heavily ironed. Governor JelTerson finally or-
dered them released from thi.'ir confinement, but tho wrath of the people
wouM not bo appealed, On acctmnt of tho claim. of the State of Virginia
to the control of Hamilton, General "Washington could not authorize the
Commissioners to recognize him as a prisoner of the United Colonies on tho
occasion under consideration.
508 The St. Qair Papers.
might prevent any possibility of a seeming partiality, or a desire of
being exchanged unconnected with the officers and soldiers.
The first division under the description is free of any doubt, but
the operation of the second would bear a little hard upon my char-
acter, positively so upon my feelings, if I did not contend, even to a
risk of the loss of my own liberty, that a proper and suitable num-
ber of officers and mon should be absolutely exchanged with me,
and a view left open for the future exchange of the rest, when there
may be American prisoners of war in Sir Henry Clinton's hands, to
enable him to propose an exchange for the remainder of them.
This might be done, I apprehend, consistent with the feelings and
the honor of the troops of Convention, and of their general officers,
supposing the proposition made by myself, Lieutenant-Colonels Gor-
don and Norton had l)ecn accepted, by which the balance of Amer-
ican prisoners of war in these parts joined with the American pris-
oners of war in Sjuth Carolina and Georgia, to the 31st of Decem-
ber, 1779, would go to the release of the troops of Convention, as
far as they applied ; the release of the remainder would depend
upon the future oi)erati()ns of the war ; and, although they might
have occasion to lament their ill-fortune, would acknowledge the
impartiality of the conduct used towards them, the corps being ex-
changed by lot, and the general officers in u proportion with those
corps.
Had any exchange taken place, I should have contended that,
after leaving a proj)er number of officers with each remaining corps
of tr')o]).s of Convention, the others might have had the lil>erty of
going to EurojK' upon their paroles, under the stipulation that
American officers made j)risoners of war might have their paroles,
also, agreeable to the t(Tms of the j)roposal signed by me and the
four American ofliccrs.
Having, thus far, explained to you my sentiments, I am free to
declare to you tliat 1 think an exchange might have taken place,
had not such ])articular terms been ])rojM)sed as have put it out of
my ])ower, individually, to olfcr them as a man of honor, and so in-
timately ('»)nnect(nl with the oxcliange, to hw Excellency, General
Henry Clinton, and I am of the oj)ini(m an exchange may still
take j)lace, should you incline to recede from the particular articles
which liave combined to form the difficulty. I shall, at all times,
be ready to meet you, personally, at Elizabethtown or Staten Island,
and endeavor, with the consent of our sui)eriors, to bring this
very intereftfrnGf matter to a ha])pi(.T coudiLjion than we have now
been able lo do.
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc, 609
I feel great pleasure in having met you, Sir, and beg to testify
the greatest esteem for your very polite conduct towards me and
the other gentlemen.
You will, in course, consider this a private letter.
Major-General Phillips to General St. Clair.
Amdoy, March 22d, 17S0.
Sir: — When your leisure will allow you to examine the compara-
tive views of the officers who are on parole of the British and
American armies, you will i^erceive that, exclusive of some char*
acters on both sides, for whom no estimate has been' made, there re-
mains a balance in favor of Mr. Loring, British Commissionarr-
General of prisoners, of forty-eight numbers, equal to something
more than a major and a captain.
Having had very much at heart, for a long time, the situation of
Major Harnage and Captain Hawker, of the Sixty-second British
Regiment, belcmging to the troops of Convention, the former of
whom has a family, I am to request the favor of your interposition
with General Washington that these officers may be allowed the
liberty of going immediately upon their paroles to New York. The
principles of liberality, exclusive of the equality of parole exchanges,
give me, I apprehend, a just claim for naming these officer^ upon
this occasion, and I am sure I need not say more upon the subject,
being fully convinced they will be admitted upon their paroles.
It becomes necessary for me in this public letter, to give the same
fair and honorable discription, as I hope I have done in every part
relating to our commission, of what respects Lieutenant-Governor
Hamilton.
Unacquainted with what rank he might hold in the army, and
uncertain whether he derived any military rank from being Lieu-
tenant-Gt)vernor of Detroit, I wrote to those persons and charac-
ters at New York who have a right to govern me in my transactions
relating to that gentleman, and if his exchange had fortunately be-
come a matter for our decision, I should have been fully competent
to decide of what value he might be estimated in the tariff we have
used in our calculations on this subject ; but that being out of the
question, I now offer, fhom motives of humanity on my part (which
I have no doubt will govern you in your report of this matter to
General Washington), that if Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton, Major
Hay, Captain La Motte, and Mr. Justice Dejean be sent in upon
* 1 * - ,»
610 The St. Clair Papers.
their paroles to New York, Colonel Mathews, an American prisoner
of war on Long Island, shall be admitted to go out on parole for
them. It is to be understood, at the same time, that this^does not
determine or bear on the question of rank, but that we are acting
merely from motives of compassion to suffering individuals, in en-
deavoring to afford them, although not exchanged, the comfort of
being witli their respective friends. Should I, by accident, have
omitted the name or description of any person capitulated for by
Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton, and with him a prisoner of war, I
request, through your interposition, the favor of General Washings
ton's consideration for such person or persons, that they may be per-
mitted to go into New York upon parole, and I give my full assui^
ance that adequate ranks from the American prisoners of war shall
be sent out for them.
I will not tire you with a recapitulation upon paper of the varioua
conversations wd have had on the subjei*t of exclianges of prisoners
of war, the troops of Convention being ertirely out of the question,
more than to assure you that I believe whenever his Excellency,
General Washington, will permit it, the American officers, prisoners
of war, violatoi-s of jMirole, to be admitted iwto an immediate ex-
change (provided only they can not be sent into New York), that a
general exchange of the prisoners of war on both sides might take
place.
I can not but feel much satisfaction that although this meeting
of British and American Commissioners has ended like that of
former interviews of the same nature, it has, however, served to
describe the matter of a general exchange in such a manner as to
offer a number of i)reliminaries to a fair and honorable view, and I
most sincerely h()j)e, as I am convinced you do, sir, that some more
fortunate (they can not be more zealous) persons may be employed
on so humane a purpose.
I will add only one more paragrai)h to this long letter. It is a
wish that, in the unfortunate contest between Great Britain and
America, the professional character of lil)erality and humanity
usual among military men, may be preserved and adhered to, upon
all occasions where those feelings may operate to render individuals
less unfortunate. I can not conclude without assuring you, sir, of
the great satisfaction I have had in meeting you, and it is with great
pleasure, as with great truth, that I declare how very much I esteem
the fairness and liberality which has governed your conduct during
the present meeting.
Correspondence y Addressed, Etc. 511
General St. Clair, to General Phillips.
Camp near Morristown, April 3, 1780.
Sir; — I have now the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of the
three letters you did me the honor to write on the 20th, 22d and
29th * ultimo, and should not have so long delayed the acknowledg-
ment of the first two had it been earlier in my power to have given
you a satisfactory answer ; that of the 29th came not to hand until
yesterday.
I am happy to inform you that the American Commissary of
Prisoners has received General Washington's orders to signify to
Major Harnage and Captain Hawker that they have his permission
to go to New York on parole, as their situation will thereby be ren-
dered less irksome to themselves, and it will afford some gratification
to you.
The General can not accede to the proposal respecting Governor
Hamilton, and the gentlemen included with him, in the capitulation
with Colonel Clarke. Although their release would have been con-
sidered in a general exchange, he docs not think himself at liberty
to make them the objects of a particular parole exchange, as they
are claimed as prisoners by the State of Virginia ; besides, the re-
turn on your part appears to him unequal.
It was extremely obliging in you to interest yourself in favor of
Mr. Randolph and Mr. Fitzhugh. His Excellency will give the
necessary orders that Lord Torphicen and Lieutenant Hud-
son may go into New York on parole, and will consider these gen-
tlemen as opposed to them for the present, but he chooses to limit
the stay of Mr. Randolph and Mr. Fitzhugh to a certain period ;
and it is expected that when they return to New York (if the British
officers should not be recalled), that two other American officers of
the same rank with Lord Torphicen and Mr. Had den, and the oldest
in captivity, will be immediately liberated on the same conditions.
It did not occur to me that the stipulation with respect to Chap-
lains had not been signed by the respective Commissaries of Prison-
ers, but it was fully understood, and Mr. Beatty has now orders to
interchange with the British Commissary a certificate that the
Chaplains belonging to either army, when taken, are not to be con-
sidered as prisoners of war, but are to be immediately released. If
the persons agreed to be exchanged at Am boy, and opposed to the
Americans who have been sent to Elizabethtown in consequence,
^ Missing.
.^■te
612 The St. Clair Papers.
are not yet sent on, he will again have orders to return them with
all possible dispatch.
Inclosed is a passport for Mr. Bibby. What the result of our
conversations at Amboy may be I can not determine, but the desire
I have, with you, to give relief to the sufferers of both armies, in-
duces a wish that they may produce the hoped-for effect; but it will
be yet some time before that can be known. Whatever it mav be, it
is the duty, as it can not but give pleasure to every humane and
liberal man, to alleviate, as much as ix)S8ible, the distresses of un-
fortunate individuals in this unhappy contest. As far ae my influ-
ence or example reaches, it shall ever be my care.
It is very flattering to me that my conduct on the late Commis-
sion met your approbation, and I thank you for the very civil men-
tion you have been pleased to make of it. I should be wanting in
sinceritv and politeness if I did not assure vou that the satisfaction
was mutual, and that nothing would give me more pleasure than to
meet you again, and be an instrument in bringing to a happy issue
a business in which humanity in general and your own present feel-
ings are so much interested.
P. S. — I forgot to mention tliat I think there is little reason to
expect any change with resjwct to those who have broken their
paroles. All of them that ciin be come at will certainly l)e sent in ;
but I believe General Washington will never be brought to give
them a preference in exchange, which he can not help considering
as annexing a reward to a i)crtidious breach of honor.
General Phillips to General St. Clair.
New York, A^nl Sth, 1780.
Sir: — I vcstcrdav received your letter dated the 3d inst., and am
much obliged to you for the attention }'ou have paid to my etters,
which you mark to have received. The passport for Mr. Bibby came
too late by forty-eight hours, but I shall, however, send him to Sir
Henry Clinton by the first opj)ortunity of a ship^s sailing to the
southward, and, perhaps, l>efore that hapjKins you may l>e able to
write a little more explicitly than you have done upon the subj(?ct
cf our conversjitions after the Commission had broken up, for, if I
recollect rightly, you were to have sent me some little idea how far
you had impressed a certain body at Philadelphia with the likeli-
hood of exchanges taking place under certain descriptions of private
conversations between you and me.
Correspondence y Addresses^ Etc. 513
The paragraph of your letter relating to Messrs. Bandolph and
Fitzhugh's returning, and for other officers being, then, sent out, is
very reasonable, and there can be no doubt about it. I am sorry
there appears no likelihood of a present exchange of officers, pris-
oners of war ; for, you may depend upon it that, until the violators
of parole are accounted for on your part, no other American officers,
prisoners of war, will be exchanged, and it leads me to observe ^o
you, that, in a review of the violators of parole, there appears a
number of names, particularly in the rank of lieutenant, of per-
sons taken at Fort Washington, who are undoubtedly within the
same degree of exchange with any others on Long Island taken at
that time, and I imagine if you will talk with Mr. [ ] upon the
subject he will explain it to you. I allow that the violators of pa-
role do not deserve reward for what you properly term a ** perfidious
breach of honor," but I must be of the opinion that a stricture
upon the conduct of these persons refers to them only, not to us,
and that we have an undoubted right to hold their persons in actual
captivity, or that they should be exchanged. I can not but much
wonder you do not wish to get rid of them in that manner, more es-
pecially as you can not be ignorant of my being informed of the
real state of your prisoners of war on Long Island, who can not be
released without paying their debts for subsistence, which can never
be held as entirely private, considering their public characters. I
have no doubt of all the proceedings between the Commissaries of
Prisoners, under our direction at Amboy, being carried into execu-
tion, and I request you will make my compliment of thanks to Gen-
eral Washington for his indulgence to Major Haraage and Captain
Hawker.
This letter is carried out of New York by Major Von Stein, of
Lieutenant-General Knyphaussen's regiment, a prisoner of war on
parole here, and included in the estimate signed by the two Com-
missaries of Prisoners. He returns to Pennsylvania with money for
the German officers, but particularly to settle his own private ac-
counts, which he left undischarged there, when he came in upon
parole.
This officer will, in course, have liberty to return into New York
after he shall have settled his business, but, should he prefer re-
maining among his fellow-sufferers, I shall, in a future letter, name
two captains in his place which will fill the measure of the estimate
of the officers on parole before mentioned to have been agreed upon
by the two Commissaries of Prisoners.
lam very happy in thus corresponding with you. JMuch good
514 The St. Clair Papers.
accrues to suffering individuals by &ucli intermediate explanations
to superior officers, and I shall cjntinue to write to you from time
to time, as such occasions may ofier, and request you will do the
same to me. It can not fail of giving you pleasure, as I dare say
you are convinced it will me, whenever we can have it in our power
to alleviate the sufferings of unfortunate individuals.
P. S. — ^I inclose you a parcel of newspapers which contain, I be-
lieve, true intelligence as much as relates to Europe. Would to
heaven that Great Britain and America were once again united ;
the riches of Spain would then, as usual, be shared among the sons
and brothers of Great Britain and America.
General St. Clair to General Phillips.
Camp near Morristown, April 15th, 1780.
Sir: — I have been favored with both your letters of the 8th inst.,
and am very sorry that the passport for Mr. Bibby did not arrive in
time. It was sent as soon as possible after the receipt of your for-
mer letter. However, from the delay, he may be able to carry with
him the result of our conversations, with the intentions of Congress
thereupon, which you will be made acquainted with as soon as they
arc known to the General.
It gives me great pain that the exchange of those persons who
have violated their paroles should, iu the first instance, be so stren-
uously insisted on, as I see but little probability of the proposal
that has been made respecting them, on our part, being receded
from. Any number of such, however, that were captured at Fort
Washington, there will be no difficulty about, as they must be, at
least, as early prisoners in their respective ranks as any, and Mr.
Beatty will have directions to exchange them. It is very true any
strictures upon tliese i)eople's conduct can refer to them only, nor
do I dispute the right you have to insist ujx)n their exchange, or
holding them in actual captivity ; yet the exchanging them in pref-
erence to others who have preserved their faith and honor, holds out
a strong temptation to the violation of both.
I took the earliest opportunity to present your thanks to General
Washington respecting Major Ilarnage and Captain Hawker, and
to mention Mr. Pausch to him.
He very readily consented to Mr. Pausch*s going into New York
on parole, on account of the relation in which he stands to his Ex-
cellency, General Knyphaussen ; but he does not approve of Mr.
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 515
"Williamson's being opposed to him. For the {nresent, however, Mr.
Williamson will not be ordered back; but, he thinks, when particu-
lar characters are wanted, on one part or the other, out of the
general line of exchanges, there should be previous notice and
agreement between the Commissaries.
I find myself extremely happy in your correspondence, both from
the humane purpose of it, and the great respect I bear you per-
sonally, and have to regret that it must for some time be interrupted,
as I am this day setting out on a visit to my family.
General St. Clair to General Washington.
* Camp, July 3, 1780.
The reduction of New York, together with the British army, is
certainly, of all others, the most desirable object, but the seige of
any place, although not regulary fortified, furnished with such a
' To drive the British out of New York was the object always uppermost
in Washington's mind. In 1779, ho bad hoped to do a stroke upon the
enemy there, but circumstances did not admit of it. Now. that La Fayette
had brought word from the Court of France that the Colonies would be sus-
tained vigorously and eflSciently by the King's army, navy, and money and
that the Count de Rochambeau was on his way with a fleet, Washington re-
curred to the purpose nearest his heart, and invited the suggestions of Gen-
eral St. Clair as to the plan of campaign. Hence the letter above. It will
be seen that, while St. Clair presented a comprehensive plan of attack (which
Washington approved of and mainly adopted, as will be seen by reference
to his letters to Congress, La Fayette, and Greene) he did not regard the
undertaking as feasible as a combined movement against Canada. In this,
he touched La Fayette in a tender place. It was a favorite scheme of the
Frenchman, that of reconquering Canada and restoring the power of the
monarchy in the North, only second to that of giving freedom to the Colo-
nies. But whether ho had impressed his views on St. Clair, or whether the
latter, recalling his early military experience, and knowing that the posses-
sion of that country would be the most efiectual method for destroying
British power in America, is not known Nevertheless, he pressed the mili-
tary movement on Washington's attention, and was supported by both La
Fayette and Gates. Washington and Congress were averse to it for politi-
cal reasons only. They doubted the wisdom of a policy which might bring
about complications with France when the day of adjustments should arrive.
It seemed cruel to let a shadow of suspicion against the French fall upon
the devoted and pure La Fayette. "God grant," wrote he to Washington,
in 1779, "that the sum of freedom may at length arise for the happiness of
mankind." "Serving America is to my heart an inexpressible happiness."
It will be seen that n<»t only was the Canadian invasion scheme abandoned,
but the attack on New York failed.
516 The St. Clair Papers.
garrison as New York will be, is a very serious busincFs, and tbougb
the enterprise may succeed, it has not that degree of certainty which
in our circumstances should induce the undertaking it. The Mling
in some lesser operation might be very disastrous, but in one of that
magnitude, it would go near to ruin us.
The force in New York and its dependencies is estimated at 8,000
effective rank and file ; militia and refugees, 5,000 ; returned with
Sir Henry Clinton, 3,000 (or 2,500) ; total, 16,000.
To offset these, we have, exclusive of the garrison of West Point,
which, in case of an attempt upon New York, may be reduced to
500, 7,500; recruits may possibly come in to the amount of 6,000;
and the French may be, perhaps, set at 8,000; total, 21,500.
With this force, possession is to be obtained of New York Island,
which will, most probably, be very warmly disputed with us, and
may lessen our numbers considerably for the campaign. But I will
suppose that with 20,000 effective men, we have got footing on the
Island ; still, that number will he found insufficient to the purpose,
because its operations must be directly against New York, or it
must be divided to act at the same time on Ix)ng Island, which may
give the enemy an opportunity to make a stroke at either, and their
succeeding against either, defeats the designs of the whole. But
still further, all prospect of success depends upon the command of.
the water,' and however answerable our force may appear to the
purpose, it should be reduced to a certainty that the enemy, during
the course of the siege (which may be expected to be of no small
duration), can not oblige the fleet to abandon us.
But, supposing the point fixed, that the naval force is sufficient,
would it not be a better way to distress tlie enemy, to operate in
some distant se(;tion with a part of the troops and shipping, and
keep them blocked in New York with the rest ? Canada is an ob-
ject of considerable importance, and the loss of it would l>c felt
very sensibly. The troops of that country are valuable, and the
friendship of almost all the savages on the continent depends upon
it. The troops for its defense are not numerous, and the disposition
of the inha])itants may, I believe, be depended on. If a body of
troops, equal, perhaps, to the whole force in Canada, was to enter
that country by Colonel Hazen's road, and another body of the
French, of about the same strength, which should carry with them
all the necessary apparatus for the whole, with a few sliips of war,
sliould enter it by the St. Lawrence, their junction (supposing no
^ That the blockading fleet should be superior to the British, was indispen-
sable.
CorrespondencCj Addresses^ Etc. 517
accident to happen the fleet before Quebec), would not be difficult,
and the reduction of the country the almost certain consequence.
Even a greater force than I shall mention might be spared and
enough left to preserve the blockade ; and, indeed, it would, per-
haps, not be improper that the body which enters Canada by land
should be stronger than I have proposed.
If the exertions of the States should produce a very considerable
reinforcement to our army, and the naval superiority of France be
ascertained, another detachment of troops and ships might be made
to operate against Halifax, which place, should the harbor be found
too much fortified for the vessels to attempt to force the passage,
may, nevertheless, be carried by the land, as there are many con-
venient places for landing at no great distance from it, and where
there are good harbors — La Mere, particularly, on the Halifax side,
which runs up, if my memory serves me, within fifteen miles, and
several on the Bay of Fundy. I have said a few ships of war
should enter the St. Lawrence; these, I think, need be no other
than frigates, and may be very safe against a much superior force
by occupying the Island of Condre,' which lays immediately below
the traverse, where the passage of the river is narrow and difficult,
and no anchorage until you get above the lower point of it.
A simple frigate in Penobscot will prevent the withdrawing the
troops there, as I believe they can not march from there to any
part of Nova Scotia.
St. Augustine will probably fall into the hands of the Spaniards,
and the army under General Gates, though there is little probability
that it can recover Carolina, may, however, check Lord Cornwallis,
and perhaps oblige him to act on the defensive.*
These are my thoughts on the matters your Excellency was
pleased to refer to me, and to all, or some of these points, our views
and preparations should be principally directed ; but how our finan-
ces and the resources of the country may accord with them, I can
not determine. Canada can furnish wheat in great abundance, but
little flour, and no meat.
The blockade of the British army if it can be effected, whilst our
operations are carried on with vigor in some more distant quarter,
would do them as much injury in Euroi)e as the reducing them by
force. It would render them ridiculous in the mean time, and
^In the St. Lawrence River, below Quebec.
'Gates was not only not able to cope with Cornwallis, but met with a
crushing defeat, which compelled the reorganization of the Southern army
un er Greene.
518 The St. Clair Papers.
might end in a submissiony wliilst it would efiectually prevent the
§clat that attends a vigorous and well-directed defense.
General St. Clair to General Washington
Camp, July 12th, 1780.
• . — . . • •
The fleet having entered the bay of New York, and that city be*
ing the object, it appears necessary to pass some vessels of force
above the Narrows, in order to oblige the enemy to discover their
intentions with regard to Staten Island. If they do not mean to
dispute the possession of it, their garrison will be withdrawn in-
stantly ; but it may be that they may choose to sacrifice some part
of the troops on that island, with a view to retard your operations.
In either case, I think that island must be taken possession of and a
junction formed upon it with the French troops, the debarkation of
which, if the enemy keep possession, may bo so regulated as to be
made at the same instant that such part of this army as your Ex-
cellency shall think proper crosses to it ; which will necessarily in-
duce a division of the enemy's force, and render the resistance feeble
against both — or, reduce them to suffer you to land without opjx)si-
tiou. The commencing our operations from Staten Island will save
so much transportation that it becomes an object of consequence.
The passage from thence to Long Island is not often difficult, and its
shores are, in many places, suited to the landing of troops, partic-
ularly along the bay side from New Utrecht by Gravesend, Flat
Lands, and Janiaic Bay, when the wind is at or l)ctwixt the North
and West. The army being once established upon I^ong Island, the
investment of the enemy's works at Brooklyn and their reduction
follows, of course, if they do not previously give you battle; which,
from whatever quarter the operations j)rocee(i, I am persuaded thev
will endeavor to do. But this is one reason why I would prefer
throwing the army, or at least the greater part of it, over from
Staten Island to Long Island, as that country does not present manv
advantages to the enemy, and you may possess yourself of the most
favorable position, which is the high ground from Flat Bush, across
towards the East River by Bedford, be fore them. If they givevou
battle there, and are worsted, the reduction of all river posts is for-
warded, and I believe the city may be very much annoyed during
the oi)erati()ns against Brooklyn — the works there once carried, it is
no longer tenable. Another reason why I would prefer operating
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 619
upon Long Island is, that there is not so great a probability of a
vigorous resistance at the entering upon it as upon York Island, for
there are so many landing places that the enemy may be held in
great doubt about those you mean to make use of. Supposing that
they have discovered your general design, the country is by no means
so favorable to them as York Island ; and in order to prevent them
from opposing it with their whole force, a body of eight or ten
thousand men may be moved towards Morrisiana, which will oblige
them to keep a force in that quarter sufficient, at least, to resist any
undertaking they may suppose them equal to ; or leave open the
principal passage to York Island. These, together with the garri-
sons of Brooklyn and Paul us Hook, which can not be less than five
or six thousand, will so much reduce them as to give little proba-
bility of success to an attempt upon your main body acting on Long
Island. Besides, if boats are collected in the East River, which,
were it only to amuse the enemy there, must be done, any part of
that force at Morrisiana may occasionally be thrown over to Long
Island. At any rate, a detachment of the army sufficient to restrain
their foragers must be somewhere in that quarter. But suppose the
post at Brooklyn carried, possession is still to be obtained of York
Island, but it will then be easier as they must, of necessity, abandon
the city, and we shall have the command of the shores of both
rivers. It is not at all improbable that in the course of our opera-
tions the city of New York will be destroyed; indeed, I have very
little doubt that it would be the most sj)eedy manner of reducing
them, as the greatest part of their magazines must go with it, and
it may be worthy consideration, even if it should not be aimed at.
They will probably retire to the high grounds in front of Mr.
Wairs house, where an exceeding strong cctmp may be formed ; and
there wait in hopes of relief till the most irresistible of all assail-
ants, famine, humbles their pride and obliges them to sue for terms.
These are my general ideas about the attack on New York, upon
the supposition that every necessary ship is taken to preserve the
command by water — but it is very easy to take towns upon paper.
Should there be any probability that the command of the water may
be lost, the army should by no means be ventured upon Long
Island.^ Some frigates should be in the Sound.
^In connection with St. Clair's communications of the 8d and 12th of July,
above given, the reader should refer to a "Memorandum for concerting a
plan of operations with the French army," under date of the 16th of July,
sent by General Washington to Marquis de Lafayette, to be commuuicated
520 The St. Clair Papers,
General Washington to General St. Clair.
Headquarters, Augxtst 1, 1780.
Dear Sir: — You will perceive, by the orders of this day, that the
corps of light infantry is immediately to be formed. The command
of it, for the campaign, is promised to the Marquis de Lafayette,
to Count De Rochambeau, ami Chevalier De Ternay. The most important
paragraphs are the following:
1. In any operation, and under all circumstances, a decisive naval superi-
ority is to be considered as a fundamental principle, and the basis upon
which every hope of success must ultimately depend.
2. The advantages of possessing the post of New York, by the squadron
of Franco, have been already enumerated to Count De Rochambeau and
Chevalier De Ternay, and are so obvious as not to need recapitulation. A
delay in the execution of this enterprise may defeat all our projects, and
render the campaign inactive and inglorious.
8. To render our operations nervous and rapid, it is essential for us to be
masters of the navigation of the North River, and of the Sound. Without
this, our land transportation will be great, our expenses enormous, and our
progress slow, if not precarious, for want of forage and other means.
4. With these ideas, and upon this ground, it is conceived that many ad-
vantages will result from the French squadron's taking possession of the
inner harbor between Staten Island and the City of New York, and detach-
ing a frigate or two above the chcvanx-dc-friae in the North Uiver, opposite
to Fort Washington, for tlie purpose of opening the navigation of the river,
shortening the transj>ortati()n by hind on the upper and lower communica-
tion, and bringing the enemy to an explanation respecting Staten Island.
Shipping so near the town would, at the same time they cover the frigates
in the North lliver, keep the garrison in check, and be more likely to facili-
tate other movements of the army, than if they were to remain at the Hook
or below the Narrows.
5. Our operations against the enemy in the City of New York, mny com-
mence from either of three point«, to-wit: jSIorrisiana, or the height near
King's Bridge, or Staten Island. Each has its advantages and disadvan-
tages, but under u full vit^w of all circumstances, the preponderancy is in favor
of Morrisiana; esj)ecially since the aid of his Most Christian Majesty has
come by the way of Khode Island, instead of Cape Henry, as it was ex-
pected they would do, and touch at Sandy Hook, in consequence of advices
lodged thcjre.
G. As the means for carrying on our operations are not yet sufficiently ap-
preciated, nor is tlie time by which our aids will arrive sufficiently ascer-
tained, it is impossible to bo precise as to the time the American troops can
with safety rendezvous at Morrisiana; but, as it is necessary to fix somo
epoch, it is hoped tliat it may happen by the 5th of August. I would pro-
pose that day for llio re-embarkation of the French efficient force at New
I nnd<»n (if they should have come there), and that they proceed up the
Con-espondencej Addresses^ Etc. 521
for reasons which, I dare say, will be to you obvious and satis&c-
tory. If we attack New York, the part which this corps will take
will make it a most desirable command. Should it be agreeable to
you to take it until the return of this gentleman, which is uncer-
tain, it would give me great pleasure. I wish you, however, to
consult your delicacy, and determine without the least restraint. I
want your answer.*
Sound to Whitestone, on Long Island, or to such other place on that island,
or on the main, as circumstances may require, and the Count shall be ad-
visea of. For, the operations against the enemy depending very much upon
their holding all or dismantling some of their present posts, and upon con-
tingencies on our side, it is not possible, at this time, to work out a precise
plan, or determine whether our approaches to the City of New York shall
be by way of York Island, Brooklyn, or both. Numbers must determine
the latter, and circumstances of the moment the former.
7. It must be clearly understood and agreed between the parties, that, if
any capital operation is undertaken, the French fleet and land forces will, at
all events, continue their aid until the success of the enterprise, or until it is
mutually determined to abandon it.
• • • o • • •
George Washington.
'The answer has not been found. St. Clair, however, says in his narra-
tive, that he joyfully accepted the command, grateful for this mark of the
high consideration for him manifested in this act by the Commander-in-
Chief, but the sudden return of Sir Henry Clinton to New York put an end
to the proposed movement, and the light infantry did not have an opportu-
ity to take part in active movements. This corps, says Sparks, "consisted
of six battalions, each composed of eight companies, selected from the dif-
ferent lines of the army. These battalions were arranered in two brigades,
one of which was commanded by General Hand, and the other by General
Poor.* The light infantry were stationed in advance of the main army."
Referring to this projected movement against the British at New York
(which must not be confounded with the plan concerted with the French),
in which St. Clair was to have the post of honor, I find this explanation by
Washington, in a letter to the Marquis de Lafayette: "Though I previously
intended to attack New York, if Clinton had gone to Rhode Island, yet I
did not send for you, because I thought it not improbable he would return
in consequence of our movement, as has happened, and because your pres-
ence where you are, in the other case, would have been of great utility to
the French fleet and army; but above all, because I was of opinion that it
would be impracticable for you to arrive in time, as I intended to operate
with the utmost celerity."
(1) General Poor died on the 9th September. He had been in continuous service
from the beginning of the war, and, by intelligent action and devoted patriotism,
had reflected the highest honor on his State (New Hampshire). He was a brigadier
under St. Clair, and In the battle of Bemis's Heights, was very eflacient. Washington
and St. Clair held him in high esteem.
522 The St. Clair Papers.
Prestoent Reed to General St. Claib.
Bloomsbury, near Trenton, August 26, 1780.
Sir:— Your favor of the 19th inst.* was delivered to me at thia
place yesterday. I shall forward Major Church's list of promotions
to the Council, in order to obtain their commissions. As* there is
no certain account of Colonel Connor, I think it would be prema-
ture to make an appointment in his place ; for, though his country
has not had the benefit of his service for some time, he ever bore
the character of a worthy, deserving officer, and, the disorder with
which he was afflicted having been contracted in the public service,
justice, as well as gratitude, will entitle him to much consideration.
Should he be alive, his feelings would be much wounded, and it
would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to rectify the error. Under
these considerations, therefore, I believe you will agree with me
that it is best to postpone it till we have more satisfactory accounts.
Colonel Harmer's merit is universally acknowledged, and I would
gladly do any thing to promote his interests consistent with my
duty, but I am sure he would not desire it at the expense of an un-
fortunate, brave brother officer. . . .
General McDougall showed rac the petition, or remonstrance, of
the general officers to Congress. As several of the particulars, such
as half pay for life, pensions for widows and orphans, comfortable
and decent clothing, etc., have been provided by Pennsylvania for
its troops', unsolicited, and that upon a plan which was supposed to
be highly satisfactory, I was somewhat surprised to see it had l>een
signed in so unqualified a manner ; unless tiie provision of the fetate
was in time, quantity, or other circumstance, unacceptable, I think
it would have been best to have discriminated, for many members
of Congress now think that the troops of all States are in the same
unprovided condition. I was always of opinion that the provision
for tlie federal army should have been on a general scale ; but, ex-
perience having shown a fatal defect in their arrangements, necessity,
not policy, led me to promote a i)artial supply, and to make it hon-
orable and effectual. But, if it is really the sense and desire of the
officers to lay iLside their State provisions, and return to an immedi-
ate dependence on Congress as the supreme governing power of
America, I am sure there is not a person or public character in
Pennsylvania that will give it the least obstruction. It is certainly
the true line of Government, and, I am sure, if duly and regularly
* Not found.
Correspondencey Addresses, Etc. 628
lived up to, will render the army more effectual and independent of
partial systems, local or personal prejudices. As this memorial was
signed only by the general officers, you will easily have opportuni-
ties to know their sentiments on this point.*
We have sent to Europe for a complete supply of clothing for
both officers and men, and, unless the accidents of the sea should
disappoint or delay us, we shall, in a few days, send to Boston to
secure some part of the great capture lately made there ; but if a
general plan of provision under the direction of Congress is likely to
take place, we can transfer to the Continent what purchases we
have made. But I should not choose to do this till there was a per-
fect understanding of acquiescence of all parties interested. . . .
General St. Clair to President Reed.
Camp at Tappan, Sept, 5tt, 1780.
It is certainly good policy to give the soldiery an interest in the
issue of the contest, which, by making them public creditors, you
do. And I believe it would be a means, if not of preventing it
altogether, of rendering desertion much less frequent than it has
been. The Eastern States had done this previous to the recom-
mendation of Congress, and their troops are now in possession of
Government security, payable at four different terms, and bearing
interest. I hope the Middle States (and Pennsylvania in particu-
lar), which have always got the start of their eastern brothers in
matters of generosity, will not be behind-hand with them in matters
of justice.
• *. . . . ...
The enemy seem to confine themselves to the defensive. We
lately foraged the country about Bergen in a very insulting man-
ner, and with such a disposition of our troops that, if they had
offensive designs, must have been a very great temptation, though,
to be sure, the passage of the North River is not an easy operation.
I wish their seeming listlessness may not proceed from too perfect a
knowledge of our situation.
We are starving, and, unless something very efficacious for the
1 Colonel Walter Stewart to Gtjneral St. Clair, Philadelphia, January 8,
1782: " Exertions have been and still are making in Congress to constitute
us an army belonging to the United States, and leaving entirely out the
idea of State troops. Whether it will be carried or not is yet uncertain,
but we all hopo, in this quarter, it may.'
624 The St. Clair Papers.
supply of the army is done v^ry speedily, we must disband or turn
freebooters — an evil of almost as much magnitude as the first*
You have much influence with members of Congress, t entreat
you to make them sensible of the risk to which they are exposing
their country, and of the double risk to which they expose them-
selves, for it begins to be a prevailing sentiment, both in the army
and in the country, that a party amongst them have been bribed
to drive things into confusion. When the resentment of a people
18 aroused their reveuge does not always extend to the guilty only.
*'*At this very juncture I am reduced to the painful alternative, either of
dismissing a part of the militia now assembling {though, by the way, they
were to have rendezvoused the 25th of last moTith), orlet them come forward
to starve, which it will be extremely diflBcult for the troops already in the field
to avoid. . . . Every day's experience proves more and more that the
present mode of obtaining supplies is the most uncertain, expensive, and in-
jurious that could be devised. It is impossible for us to form any calcula-
tions of what we are to expect, and, consequently, to concert any plans for
future execution. . . .
** I can not forbear recurring in this place to the necessity of a more ample
and equal provision for the army. The discontents on this head have been
gradual!}' matured to a dangerous extremity. There are many symptoms
that alarm and distress mo. Endeavors are using to unite both oflBoers and
men in a general refusal of the money, and some corps now actually decline
receiving it. Every method lias been taken to counteract it, because such a
combination in the army would be a Severe blow to our declining currency.
Th(^ most moderate insist that the accounts of depreciation ought to be
liquidated at stated periods, and cert ideates given by Government for .sums
due. 'i'hey will not be satisfied with a general declaration that it shall be
made good.
"'i'his is one instance of c()inplaint. There are others equally serious.
Among the most serious, is the inequality of the provision made by the sev-
<Tal States. Pennsylvania maintains her officers in a decent manner; she
ha- given them half-pay for life. What a wide difference between their sit-
uation and that of the officers of every other line in this army, some of
whom are actually so destitute of clothing, as to be unfit for duty, and are,
for that cause, only obliged to confine themselves io quarters. 1 have often
said, and beg leave to repeat it, that the hall-pay provision is, in my opinion,
the most politic and effectual that could be adopted. On the whole, it some-
thing satisfactory be not done, the army (alread^'so much reduced in officers
by rosii^nations, as not to have a sufficiency to do the common duties of it),
must either cease to exist at the end of the campaign, or it will exhibit an
example of more virtue, fortitude, self-denial, and perseverance, than has
perhaps ever yet been paralleled in the history of human enthusiasm." —
Washington io the President of Congress^ August 20, 1780.
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 625
General St. Clair to General Washington.
Camp, September 9, 1780.
The attack on New York always appeared to me a very hazard-
ous and doubtful enterprise.* I think it now out of the question al-
together, on account of the advanced season ; our scant force ; the
precariousness of our supplies, and the want of a sufficient naval
force, in which a decided superiority is necessary to give the under-
taking the least probability of success. If the Second Division of
the French Fleet should arrive soon, and that naval superiority be
obtained, it would require some time, as well as bringing forward
the apparatus and stores for a siege, and I should still hesitate
about the propriety of commencing operations against that place.
We could not, probably, reckon on more than two months to keep
the field. Winter would be upon us, and, with the force the enemy
have there, it is not unreasonable to suppose that they could suc-
cessfully contest the ground with us for that space. I should hesi-
tate, still more, because, though there have been instances of sieges
carried on in winter, there is an uncertainty of a constant and regu-
lar supply of provisions, and a failure in that would as certainly
* From this letter, it will be seen that the opinion had been reached that,
owing to the non-arrival of the Second Division of the French Fleet and
troops, as expected, it would be a desperate undertaking now to attack the
British at New York. The fleet, under the Chevalier de Ternay, was in-
ferior to that of the British under Admiral Arbuthnot, and, for this reason,
although a plan for a joint attack was formed with the present force, and
communicated to Count de Rochambeau, that officer refused to approve of it.
He held that, unless he should be reinforced by the Second Division of French
troops, or succors should arrive from the West Indies, where the Count de
Guichen was engaged, or Sir Henry Clinton should detach apart of his force
to the southward, it would be wiser to act on the defensive. Washington
approved of this, although greatly disappointed in the inaction of the cam-
paign. His anxiety was great, as, without money and without provisions, it
was impossible for him to keep an army in the field. '*The Commander
feared," said the Count de Rochambeau, •*and not without foundation, con-
sidering the absolute discredit of the finances of Congress, that the struggles
of this campaign would be the last eflforts of expiring patriotism. He
wished, at any hazard, to risk an attack upon the enemy in the stronghold,
while he had the French troops at his disposal.". The Chevalier de Ter-
nay decided to make his station in Boston Harbor, and Washington gave
ordere for his troops to recross the river, and proceed toDobbs's Ferry, about
ten miles from King's Bridge, where he intended to establish a more eligi-
ble communication, in case New York should prove to be the eventual object
of the Americans.
526 The St. Clair Papers.
subject us to a miscarriage, as if the enemy defeated us ; it is, in-
deed, the most disgraceful of the two, because it might be foreseen.
The season is too far advanced for an attempt on Canada also.
From the misfortunes to the southward,' North Carolina is in dan-
ger of being entirely overrun ; nor are the frontiers of Virginia in
perfect safety. The troops proposed to be raised in that country and
Maryland may. not be completed in time to check the torrent, and,
when completed, no great dependence can be put upon them for
some time, as the greatest part of them will be raw, and the whole
undisciplined. It will, therefore, it appears to me, be necessary to
make a detachment from this army to that country, which, with the
others, may form an army of observation, and keep Lord Cornwallis
in check. The new troops will acquire discipline from the example
of the others, and from being, probably, frequently engaged in small
parties with the enemy, and the whole brought to such a state as to
be fit for offensive operations as occasion may require. That occa-
sion will probably happen soon, for if the Second Division of the
French Fleet arrives this fall, it will be at the time most proper for
acting in South Carolina. If then the superiority at sea is cer.
tain, I would propose to embark the French troops, and send them
to Charleston. This would oblige Lord Cornwallis to fall back,
the army of observation would enter the country at his heels, oblige
the inliabitants to return to their allegiance to the States as they pro-
ceeded, intercept his convoys, harass him in his march, cut off his
communication with the country, and, finally, by a junction or co-
operation with the French, facilitate and secure the reduction of
Charleston. All this might be done in the course of this winter,
an<l the greater part of the troops employed in it rejoin the main
army before the oj>ening of the next campaign. But this is all
upon the supiX)sition that provisions and all other things necessary
are t^ be had in that country, and that proper means have been used
to procure them — without tliesc, men are useless anywhere. If there
is still a prospect of acting against New York, the detachment I
have proposed can not be made, nor, indeed, can it be a very large
one, in any case, for though at present the prospect of offensive
operations being over, a considerable one might possibly be spared,
attention must be paid to what our force will be in January next.
Another consideration should have some weight, vi«., that Sir Henry
Clinton may very probably expect tliat we will detach from this
'This was tho defeat of the atmy under General Gates on the 16th Au-
gust, about eight miles from Camden.
Correspondence, Addresses, Etc. 527
army, and may wait that opportunity to change his operations to
the offensive.*
This is the best opinion I have been able to form on the several
matters your Excellency was pleased to lay before the Council.
To THE Officer Commanding at West Point.
Robinson House, September 27, 1780.
Sir: — You will immediately make a distribution of the troops
under your command to the several posts, that the whole may be in
a state of defense at the shortest notice. You will also have each
work supplied with ten days* provisions, wood, water and stores, and
keep up constantly that supply ; and you will take every other pre-
caution for the security of the post. The enemy will have acquired,
from General Arnold, a perfect knowledge of the defenses, and will
be able to take their measures with the utmost precision. This
makes it essential that our vigilance and care should be redoubled
for its preservation. You will do every thing in your power to gain
information of the enemy's designs, and give me intelligence, as
early as possible, of any movement against you.
A party of militia, who have been employed cutting wood,
and another as guards to the stores at Fishkill, that have been
called in, are to return to their dej*tinations.
Colonel Gouvion will remain a few days at this post, to assist in
the necessary arrangements. I am, etc.,'
Geo. Washington.
*The general plan here outlined in September is very similar to that pur-
sued by General Washington in the winter Ho dispatched Greene to South
Carolina, to confront Cornwallis, and when Sir Henry Clinton sent a de-
tachment to Virginia, under Arnold, he appealed to Governor Jefferson to
call out the militia, and ordered Lafayette, with a corps of Continental
troops, to Virginia, to co-operate with Baron Steuben, asked Kochambeau to
send a portion of the French fleet to operate in the Chesapeake Bay and the
James River, and suggested a co-operation of the French, Spanish, and
American vessels against the common enemy at St. Augustine, and for the
purpose of recovering South Carolina and Georgia. See correspondence
with Count de Kochambeau, General Lafayette, and Congress, December
1780, to February, 178L— Washington's Writings, Vol. VII
'The following indorsement, in the handwriting of General St. Clair, is
on the back of the letter of instructions: "On the announceraentof Ar-
nold's desertion, an immediate attack being expected. I was sent to take the
command from Tappan."
On the day that the above instructions were written, General McDougall
628 The St. Clair Papers.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
[Instructions.]! Tappan, October 1, 1780.
Sir: — You will repair forthwith to West Point, and take the
was directed to take the command at West Point till the arrival of General
St. Clair.— 5!parA«, W. of WT., Vol. VII., p. 221. Note.
For several months, beginning while he was in command at Philadelphia^
Benedict Arnold had been carrying on a secret correpondence with the
British commander at New York. After he obtained the command at West
Point, his treasonable purposes were brought to a sudden issue. On the 20th
of September, John Andr6, Adjutant-General of the British army, went on
board the sloop of war Vulture, and proceeded up the Hudson, with a view
of holding an interview with Arnold. On the night of the 21st, a boat was
sent by Arnold to the Vulture, which brought Andr^ to the shore, about six
miles below Stony Point, "and there, under the shadow of the mountains,
after midnight, the conspirators met." Thence they proceeded to the house
of Joshua Hett Smith, within two miles of Stony Point, where they break-
fasted and completed arrangements for the surrender of West Point. Plana
of the works, their armament, the number of troops, etc., were furnished to
Andr^, and concealed by him between his stockings and his feet. As the
Vulture had beeri flrod on by the Americans, she dropped down the rivor,
and this necesssitatod Andr(;'s remaining concealed at Smith's house all day.
Arnold furnislied him with a pass, under tlie name of John Anderson, which
was to be used with the guards. Smith refused to put him on board the
Vultui'e, but agreed to escort him beyond the American lines. They started
in the evening, crossing the river at King's Ferry. They traveled eight
miles, and were stopped by an American patrol, who accepted the pass, but
advised them not to proceed farther that night. The next mornini; they
started again, and wlien the neutral ground was reached, Smith returned to
the river, and Andre continucfd his journey. He had exchanged his uniforrn
for plain clothes, and now regarded all danger as past. Hence, when he was
stopped soon after by three men, one of whom was dressed in British uni-
form, Andres caution deserted him, and he imprudently exclaimed, "Gen-
tlemen, 1 hope you belong to our party." " What party?" was asked. -'The
lower party," said Andr6. "We do," said the other. Thereupon, Andr^
declared himselt to be a British officer, and told them not to detain him, as
he was on important business. The three men— John Paulding, Isaac Van
"VVert and David AVilliams — then informed him he was their prisoner. No
offers of compensation could swerve them, and Andre had met his doom.
From Colonel .Sheldon's headquarters, Andre sent a letter to General Wash-
ington (September 24th), informing him of his real name and position, but
denying being a spy.
On the morning of the 25th, Arnold, whose headquarters were at the
Robinson House, was startled by receiving a message from Washington, an-
nouncing that he would breakfast with him. While Washington stopped to
iSee note l,p. 529.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 529
command of that post, with its dependencies, till further orders.
The troops under your command will consist of the Pennsylvania
division, Colonels Meigs' and Livin^ton's regiments of Continental
troops, and a body of, Massachusetts and New Ham])shire militia.
The inclosed is a copy of the instructions left for the commanding
officer, which you will please to observe. Unless you should think
it necessary, for the immediate security of the post, to draw the
First Pennsylvania Brigade nearer to West Point, I should wbh it
to remain somewhere iu its present position, as it may then, at the
same time, serve the purpose of reinforcing the main army in case
of a movement against it. But, on the first appearance of the
enemy coming in force up the river, that brigade should have pre-
vious orders to march to your succor.
Orders have been given, in the case last mentioned, for the posts
inspect Fome posts, Lafayette and Hamilton rode forward to the Robinson
House, where they arrived as Mr. and Mrs. Arnold were about to sit down
to breakfast. They were invited to join the family, which they did. Pretty
soon, an officer arrived with a letter to Arnold, which contained the infor-
mation that Andre had been captured. Arnold saw that all would soon be
disr»overed to Washington. Excusing himself, he withdrew and proceeded
to make preparations for flight. Before leaving, he confided his secret to
his wife. Some hours passed after Washington's arrival before the terrible
fiicts became known to him. He then took instant steps for defeating the
plot. Ho caused the arrest of Ilett Smith, and secured Arnold's stafiT-officers,
who, however, were ignorant of all proceedings. On the 2Cth, Washington
wrote to the President of Congress, and on the 27th, issued the above order.
For the best accounts of the treason of Arnold, the reader is referred to
**The Life of Benedict Arnold," by Isaac N. Arnold; and to Irving's Life
of Washington.
^ At the time the above order was received. General St. Clair was quite ill
with fever. He, however, immediately responded, and found no more leisure
time for sickness. Bcf(»re arriving at West Point, he dispatched the follow-
ing brief letter to Mrs. St. Clair:
Dear Madam: — I hud intended to write you a long letter, but am so much
hurried that I can only tell you that I am now pretty well recovered — per-
fectly of my fever, but have not quite got my strength again; the fine season
coming on will bring that with it. General Arnold's desertion has been the
cause of my going 4,o lake the command of the posts where he was, from
whence you shall hear from me very soon. I will send a man to you with
such necessaries as you want and I can procure, and for farther particulars
must refer you to business letters. I was very much pleased with one I had
lately from John Murray,* as well with the matter of it as with the writing,
which was better than I expected. Tell him he shall have what he wrote
for. My love to all the children. I long much to see you all."
1 His third son.
34
580 The St. Clair Papers.
of Verplanck's and Stony Point to be evacuated, with all the can-
non and stores, and the garrison added to that at West Point. But
I would not wish this step to be precipitated ; as, in case of an at-
tempt to surprise you, these posts will not only be useful to give you
the alarm, but they will probably, in all cases, gain you time, as the
the enemy would hardly venture to pass them with the transports
full of troops. The baggage and extra stores may be sent off at
the first aspect of a serious movement ; but the troops should not
evacuate until the enemy are in a situation to invest the posts.
Dobbs's Ferry may also serve you as an outpost ; but care must be
taken to distinguish the firing against a single vessel passing from
that against a number, which will, of course, be more continued.
Great vigilance should be used in patroling on the east side of the
river, as it would otherwise be easy for the enemy to land a body of
men below, and surprise Verplanck's Point. I must entreat your
particular care of the boats on the river ; to keep them in repair,
and, as much as possible, collected. All those at King's Ferry —
more than are wanted for the necessary service of the communica-
tion— should be moved up the North River. A part of the militia
at Verplanck's and Stony Point may also be drawn to the main
garrison.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
Headquarters, Orange Tow^% 6^i October , 1780.
Dear Sir : — Four brigades, which are to compose the garrison at
West Point, march from this camp to-morrow morning. As wx)n,
therefore, as a sufficient numlxT of men to relieve the Second Penn-
sylvania Brigade and Meigs' regiment arrive, you will direct those
corps to join the army, which will lay near Pickaness,* by the short-
est route. I have myself given orders to General Wayne to move
to-morrow morning, with the First Brigade. You will be pleased
to remain yourself, until relieved by another Major-General.*
The following note was indorsed on the letter :
Dear General: —^ly position occasioned my taking the liberty of
* The cbani^o indicated in the above lett'»r was brought about by General
Greene, wlio, on the Tjih October, solicited the command. Greene was
senior Major-General, and a great favorite with the Commander-in-Chief, on
which Greene relied confidently. "I shall make useof no nrgumcBts," said
he, ••being ])er?uaded iny pretensions and inclinations will have their full
operation, and that nothing short of the public good and military prosperity
will contravene my wishes. Washington endeavored to dissuade Greene,
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 531
opening your letter, suspecting it might concern me. We will be
up in the morning.
I am, etc., AVm. Irvine.
General St. Clair to Geneilvl Washington.
West Point, 7th October, 1780.
Sir: — I received your Excellency's letter of yesterday, and am
very glad that you have ordered up the troops which are to compose
the garrison, as it is very necessary they should be here, that things
may be got into some kind of order before the winter. At
present they are very much deranged. Tlie laying in a proper
stock of firewood is a very heavy but a very essential business,
and the militia which have been employed in cutting it, I am
told, have done little more than supply the post at Fishkill, and are
very little ahead. I expect a report of the quantity to-day from
Colonel Hughes, to whom I have recommended to allot them a mod.
erate task per day, as the best means to make them most useful.
The magazine of provisions is very nearly exhausted ; thirty bar-
rels, only, of salted meat on hand, exclusive of what is in the works
(about five days' for the troops posted in them), and no cattle, and
the men have been, some days, reduced to three-quarters of a pound
of fiour. I expect, however, two hundred barrels of that article
to-day, and have written to Colonel Hay (to be laid before the Leg-
islature of this State), very pressingly, to have an immediate and
ample supply of provisions thrown in, as it may not be possible to do
it some time hence, from the state the river is frequently in, about
the beginning of winter.
I directed Colonel Livingston * to collect and send up here all the
boats that were not necessary below ; provided they had not been
ordered there by your Excellency for some particular purpose. His
answer is, that they were ordered there for transporting the cannon,
in case it became necessary to evacuate the i)osts he commands.
They will, therefore, remain there, unless I have your directions to
the contrary ; but, I must beg leave to suggest to your Excellency that,
after the intention of the enemy becomes apparent with respect to
• ■
but to no ptirposc. "West Point he must have. This display of selfishness
does not oaake us forget tho merit of tlie man.
General Greene remained at West Point from the 9th to the 16th of Octo^
ber, when he whs relieved by General Ileath. Ue wus appointed to the
command in £>ouih Carolina.
^Colonel Livingston commanded Ht Verplanck's Point and Stony Point
532 The St. aair Papers,
m
them, it will most probably be too late to evacuate them with any
pn)bability of saving the canuon and stores. K they be evacuated
before their intention is discovered, it will be in their power to oc-
cupy them, after they may have failed in an attempt upon this
place. I find some heavy brass field artillery here, which is not, I
suppose, intended for garrison use, and had better be removed.
Some repairs have been making upon the carriages, but that might
as well be done anywhere else. The Pennsylvania Brigade shall
march as soon as the other troops arrive.
The times of the militia begin to expire on the 14th, and will be
all expired on the 24th. I have not heard from Major TaUmadge,
nor have any accounts from New York by any other way.
General St. Clair to PREsroExr Reed.
Trenton, January 4th, 1781.
Sir: — ^The Marquis and myself, with several other officers, ar-
rived at this place about 3 o'clock. The mutineers, consisting nearly
of the whole Pennsylvania line and the regiment of artillery, are at
Princeton^ where they arrived last night, and this day has hccu
spent in negotiating betwixt them and General Wayne, Colonel
Richard Butler, and Colonel Stewart ; and I have the lienor to in-
close you a copy of the terms proposed by them, with General
"Wayne's answer. These are the onlv officers they allow to have
any communication with them, or to pass within their posts, which
are, I am told, well chosen, and the guards very regularly mounted ;
and a committee of sergeants ihanages their business. You will see
how extravagant their proposals are, and General Wayne has gone
as fur as he well could do in compliance with them. They have, as
yet, ikme very little injury to the inhabitants, and profess that thov
do not mean any ; but they begin to talk of their neighborhood to
New York, which makes it justly feared that there are amongst
them some emissaries of the enemy. This circumstance induces
Governor Jjiviiigston t > think that it would be prudent, ia cas3 they
persist, to suffer them to pass the Delaware, as it would then be
out of their power t > g> to the enemy ; and, if force should ha nec-
essary, a part of the militia of this State might be thrown over to
co-operate- with those of Pennsylvania in their reduction. No defini-
tive resolution is, however, taken ujwn that head; but it is neces-
sary your Excellency should he apprised that it is in contemplation,
that the proper measures may be concerted, in case of necessity.
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 533
We propose to go to Maidenhead, to-night, to be able to get to them
early to-morrow, before they have opportunity to intoxicate them-
selves, and your Excellency shall have the earliest notice of what
may happen, or of any thing that may occur to-night that comes to
our knowledge.^
P. S. — The chief justice of this State, and some members of
the Legislature, went up to. day to expostulate with them, but were
not permitted. An express is this moment arrived, that they have
refused General Wayne's terms, and proiwse to march to-morrow.
General St. Clair to General Washington.
MoRRiSTOW'N, 7th January, 1781.
Sir: — Your Excellency has heard of the shameful defection of
the Pennsylvania line ; and I am very much concerned to inform
you that, as yet, there is no prospect, as we know of, of any desire
appearing in them to return to their duty. I hapi)oned to be in
Philadelphia the day the accounts of it arrived there, and set out
early next morning, in company with the Marquis de Lafayette, to
make trial of what influence we might have ; but, though we were
suffered to come into Princeton, and there was an appearance of
satis&ction in the countenances of the troops, we were not allowed
to have any communication witli them. A committee of sergeants,
who are doubtless at the bottom of the whole, liave got the business
into their own hands, and no person is allowed to speak to the sol-
diery but through them.
Their demands arc no less than an almost total dissolution of the
line. They are, to the best of my recollection, the dbcliarge of all
those who have been enlisted in the years 1777 and 78, and who
received the bounty of twenty and one hundred and twenty dollars ;
immediate imyment of their arrears and depreciation ; and a general
indemnity. General Wayne, in answer to these demands, made
*Tbo revolt of tbo PtMinsylvania lino t«>ok place at nine o'clock, on the
night of the fi:>t*of January. A few refusod to j»n*ii, but a great propor-
tion, including the artilh;rists, formed and marched toward Philadelphia.
A few Bub.»rdinato ofllcors resisted, and wore roughly handled. Captains
Billings and Talb(»t lost their lives. Tho demand of tho troops was fur an
immediato dischari^o. They moved under tho direction of a board of ser-
gcants. Tho regiments were under the immedialo command of General
"Wayne. That otHcer, and Colonels Butler and Siewart, continued with the
inqn.
584 The SL Clair Papers.
tbem such promises as ought to have satisfied reasonable men, look'
ing only for redress of grievances, whether real or imaginary, but
they were rejected ; so that I have no doubt but emissaries from the
enemy are amongst them, and believe that nothing but force will
reduce them to reason. Unhappily, however, there seems to be no
disposition in the militia of this State to come to that method ; and
it Avas the opiniim of the Governor and such members of the Legis-
lature as we saAV at Trenton, that they should be suffered to pass the
Delaware. This I informed Governor Reed of, from that place,
that he might have time to take the proper measures ; but they
seem disposed to keep post at Princeton. Whilst we were at the
last place, Colonel Laurens came up, and we very soon after re-
ceived a notice that our being in town was very disagreeable, and
desiring us, for our own safety, to retire ; and our stay was after-
ward limited to an hour and a half. As we had no prospect of be-
ing of service, we set off, lest they should think of detaining us.
We have since heard that they have made General Wayne, Colonels
Butler and Stewart, prisoners ; but the most alarming circumstance
is, their having organized themselves, and appointed all the neces-
sary officers.
There are still a few men at the huts, to whom I have sent this
morning, with an assurance that they will be considered principally
in whatever may be done for the line at large, and have directed
that they may be collected and marched to PersijKjnny, to render
their communication with the revulters more difficult; and have
given directions for removing the remaining artillery and ammuni-
tion to Siickvsunnv.
We were unfortunate to miss Major Fish bourn, and have no
kno\v ledge of your Excellency's intentions. I thought it pn)bable
tliat you might have come down to this [)lace. If that is not your
design, I Ijeg I may Ix^ favored with your Excellency's instructions.
P. 8. — I liave not learned that any movements of the enemy in-
dicate an intention to enter Jersey, yet I can not persuade myself
tliat thev will not endeavor to avail themselves of this disaster,
though, jxirhaps, they may defer it until it is certain that force is
necessary.
After Major FLshlwurn's deixirture from Princeton, from a desire
exj)resse<l by the committee to confer witli some of the Council of
Pennsylvania, General Wayne sent an express to Philadelphia, re-
(juesting some of that body to meet them. They were expected to
arrive yesterday.
Correspondence, Addresses, Etc. 535
General St. Clair to General Wayne.
MoRRisTOWN, January 7</i, 1781.
Sir ; — His Excellency is not yet arrived ; neither have we heard
from him, having, somehow, unfortunately missed of Major Fish-
bourn on his return, but we are in expectation every moment to see
him. He will certainly be very desirous to meet you and the other
gentlemen who have been with the troops, to hear your report, and
have you convey to them his comments. They must be convinced,
from the knowledge they have of his character and his friendship
for the soldiers, that every redress of real grievances within his
power will be granted to them.
I would wish you to meet them as soon as possible, that an end
may be put to this unhappy business.^
General St. Clair to Brigadier-General Wayne.
MoRRiSTOWN, January 9, 1781.
Dear Sir: — ^This will be brought to you by a person who has been
sent by Sir Henry Clinton with proposals to the discontented troops,
And was honest enough to bring them to me. In order that we
might be certain of their intentions with respect to the enemy, we
have thought it best to suffer him to go on with a message, and he
is to return here with the answer.
We have heard that they have already detained two who came
to them on the same errand. If this person should meet with the
same fortune, you will be pleased to have him discharged, if in your
power.
I am extremely anxious to hear how matters are going on, and
what prospect there is of the aflkirs being terminated. I beg my
respects to Colonel Butler and Colonel Stewart, and hope soon to
have the happiness to see you in more agreeable situations.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
New Windsor, January 10, 1781.
Dear Sir: — Your favors of the 7th and 8th * instant, from Morris-
* This was expected to fall into the hands of the mutineers, and so worded
I they might expect the arrival of the General.--Ao<<j by General St. Clair.
* Not found among the St. Clair Papers.
536 The St. Clair Papers.
town, have bath reached me in the course of this day. I can not
conceive how Major Fishbourn could have misunderstood me as to
my intention of going down. The postscript of my letter of the 3d
to General Wayne,* which was added after I had consulted Governor
Clinton and the general officers, was to the contrary. Upcti re-
ceiving your letter of the 7th, I sent directions to General Heath to
assemble all the general officers, and officers commanding corps, at
his quarters, to-morrow morning, where I shall .meet them. What
I have to propose is of too delicate a nature to commit to paper;
neither can I say, until I have had the meeting, whether it will be
prudent for me to go down towards Morristown. You shall hear
from me after the meeting is over. I think it appears, by the letter
which has fallen into your hands, that there has not been much, if
any, intercourse between the mutineers and SirH. Clinton ; and, if
the future correspondence can he intercepted, it will embarrass the
British and the troops. You will have been the best judge of the kind
of answer which it would be proper to give to Sir Henry's message ;
but, as we had not force sufficient to wish to decoy him out, perhaps
it will have been most prudent to answer him in the negative.
I am certain that, in consequence of my letter of the 8th to Gen-
eral Wayne, every offer that cmild with propriety be made, has
been made.' What further is to be done can be better determined
by you on the siK)t, than by me at this distance. The steps you
have hitherto taken are judicious and strictly projKir.
Be pleased to tlumk the ^larquis and Colonel Laurens for their
letters, which a press of business prevents me from answering.
If I do go down, it will be by Chester, Warwick, Colonel Sew-
ard's, Diivenj)()rt's Mill, and to Morristown. You will send ex-
presses on that route, but do not let it be known that I mean to
take it.
1 Tin's following WHS tho post"*cript referred to:
"P. S.— .January 4th, 7 o'clock A. M. — Upon second thoaght, I nm in
doubt whctlior I sluiU comedown, because the nuilineei*s must have returned
to their duty, or th(; business be in the hands of C<»ngress, before I ctiuld
reach you, ami because I an) a<lvised by such of the general officers »8 I liavo
feeen, not to leav(? this post in the jire^ent situation of things, temper of tho
troops, and <listress of the garrison for want of flour, clothing, nod, in shurt,
every thini;.''
2" At tl»is distance it is impossible to retomniend any particular line of
cof»duct, but only in general to observe, that such measures founded in
justice ainl a j>r«'per degree of generosity as will have a tendency to con-
cilirtto or divide the men, appear most likely to succeed. Certain it is, that
should they finally go to tho enemy they will bo a considerable augmenta-
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc, 587
Generax Washington to General St. Clair.
New Windsor, 12</i January, 1781.
Dear /Sir;— The receipt of your letter of the 9th/ inclosing one
from General Wayne, has, if possible, added to my embarrassments.
I had heard from General Sullivan and Lord Stirling, that the mu-
tineers had delivered up the British emissaries immediately upon
their arrival at Princeton. From this I was in hopes that they had
precluded themselves from all assistance from that quarter, and that
the reduction of them by force, should matters come to extremities,
would not be difficult. But now, their conduct appears to me in
this light : they have made known the propositions offered by Sir
Henry Clinton only by the way of threat, and seem to say, if you
do not grant our terms we can obtain them elsewhere.
At the meeting with the general and field officers yesterday, it
was almost a unanimous opinion that their men might be depended
upon. I, therefore, gave directions for a detachment of one thou-
sand men (this number should be exaggerated if spoken of), to be
prepared and held in readiness. If things are in a train of nego-
tiation, as would seem to be the case from General Wayne's post-
script, to move a force between Trenton and the enemy might create
suspicion in the minds of the mutineers and make them fly to the
enemy for safety. I do not think it prudent to write to the com-
mittee of Congress, to Governor Reed, or to General Wayne, lest
my letter should be stopped ; I thmk, therefore, from a consideration
of the subject in every light, that it will be best for you to go down
to the Pennsylvania side, opposite to Trenton, and send for some of
the gentlemen over there. Inquire minutely into the situation of
affairs, and if there are no hopes of a reasonable compromise, get
from them an opinion of what ought ultimately to be done. If force
should be determiiKjd upon, the Governors of Pennsylvania and Jer-
sey should instantly make arrangements for bringing out as many
of their militia as can be collected, while the detachment above
mentioned is marching from hence, that the intercourse between
Trenton and this place may be as expeditious as possible. Desire
Colonel Nelson to fix a relay of expresses from the neighborhood
tion of Btrength against us; or should they bo dispersed, their loss to the
service will bo severely felt. Both these evils are, therefore, to be avoided,
if there is any proper ground on which it can be done." — Washington to
Wat/fUf Sth January.
^Not found.
588
The St. Clair Papers.
of Trenton to Morristown, and let the quartermaster at Morristown
continue them from thence to this place.
General Washixotox to General St. Clair.
New Windsor, January 15<A, 1781.
Dear Sir: — I have duly received yoar favor of the lltb/ to-
gether with one from tlie committee of Congress of the 9th inst.
As I had just dis|)atched an express to you with ray letter of the
12th, I have detained your messenger until this time in expectation
that something so decisive would have turned up as might have
fixed the line of conduct which we ought to pursue.
But nothing new having come to my knowledge which could give
sufficient ground for determination, since my last, I can only refer
you to it.
The detachment shall he held in readiness till I hear from you,
which I anxiou?>ly exiKJct every moment. Indeed, nothing can be
of greater importance than to communicate with the utmost rapidity
every incident that may happen during the continuance of this un-
happy affair. '^
* The letter U missing frora the St. Chiir Piiper:». i
' When the news of tho revolt reached Pinladelphia, Congress appointed
a cDniniittee, consistirii; of (5enHrul Sullivan, Mr. \Vither!!!p(X)n, and Mr.
Mathews, who were instruetcd to eonf(»r with President Jleed on tlie sub-
ject. The latter proceeded to Princoton and thc^ committee to Trenton.
Meanwhil**. tlie mutiiu'ers delivered up two emissaries sent by Sir Henry
Clinton, which shcnvod their atlucliinent to the .Vmerican cause. Tbe*&e were
tried by a C(»urt, con-istirii; <»f (ii'nerals Wayne and Irvine, and Colunels
liutler and Sttrwart, and Major Fislihourn. Cdndctnned and executed on tho
11th. The foUuwini^ j)ropo>a]s were oQcred to the mutineers by tho com-
mittee and PrcsidL'nt ll«'<"d:
••1. To di.*c!iari;e all tho>e wh<^ had enlisted indefinitely for throe years,
or durinijj tin* war; tho fact to be inqiiirtMl into hy three commission ur)«, to
be appointcil hy the Kxt'i-utivc, and to bo asccrtainrd, where tho orij^inal en-
lisrtmiMit (^>ul«l not bt; pr»'<lu<'ed, hy tiiu oath (»f the soldier.
'•2. To give iiuMU'tliato cfrtilicMti's f<»r thi.' dcpr('ciati(»n on their pay, and
to setth' arrt'ar;i'^<"S n-i soon as circuinstanccs woultl admit.
•♦To furni>h iIm-mi ininnvliatoly witl» certain s})ecilied articles of clothin*^
which were gr<'atly wanliMJ."
These term-, wiiieli (j«Mieral Sullivan assiired Wa«ihington were such as
the critiital >:tu;itioii of adairs warranted and justice dictated, were ac-
cepted on the further slipulation that three ei»rninissioncrs should be deputed
by the line t»> act conj«)intly with the others in determining what soldiers
Correspondeneey AddreaseSy Etc. 589
General Washington to General St. Clair.
New Windsor, 3c? February , 1781.
Dear Sir: — The unexpected reduction of the Pennsylvania line*
from the late unfortunate affair, adds to the necessity of the greatest
attention to improve the measures adopted for recruiting it. I do
not know precisely what these are, but I am informed, in general,
that money is raising for the puq)08e, and that the recruiting serv-
ice goes on with success. In order to have it conducted with regu-
larity and activity, I am to request you will undertake to super-
ehould be discharged. Thu» the dispute, whieii hnd its origin the previous
yeur, as mentioned in St. Clair's Corres^pondenee, as to the real term of en-
listment— for three years or for the war — was finally authoritatively settled.
It gave a great ^bock to the country, and filled the minds of the chief of-
ficers with apprehensions for the future. It is not at all likely matters would
have come to this pass and the cause placed in such jeopardy, but for tbo
insubordination of leading officers of the Pennsylvania line on the occasion
of tho appointment of Major McPherson to one of the regiments by Gen-
eral Washington. Tho chief oflTender on that occasion was General Wayne
himself. The example set b}' him then was not forgotten by the sergeants
and the troops on the present occasion.
' Under the arrangement entered into between the Congressional Cora-
mittee and the mutineers, advantage was taken and a majority of the men
returned home. This nearly de>troyed St. Clair's divic^ion, and, as active
operations would not be undertaken until in May or June, an eflfort was
to be made to restore the line. The Pennsylvania Council notified St.
Clair, on the 5th February, that the State was prepared to aid in the work,
and requested him, through Secretary Matlock, to designate the places of
rendezvous, and order the officers to repair to their stations. It was an-
nounced that, in order to meet traveling expenses, an additional sum of ten
pounds to each officer and six pounds to each subaltern would be allowed,
on account of depreciated money., St. Clair invited General Washington to
select the place of general rendezvous, with which he complied in the fol-
lowing note :
New W'lNDSOR, l^fh Feb., 1781.
Dear Sir: — . . .
In my opinion, Bristol and that neighborho<xl will be, upon many ac-
counts, most suitable and convenient for this purpose. It is on the most
direct communication to the army, from whence the troop<( assembled may
be drawn without loss of time, upon an emergency. I would wish them to
bo cantoned as compact as possible, ft)r the belter preservation of discip-
line, and on account of exercise and maneuver, both of which should bo
constantly practiced.
I hope to hear that the gout, of which you were apprehensive, has had
its turn, and left you in good health. I shall set out on Thursday for Now-
port, and shall probably be absent between a fortnight and three weeks.
540 The Si. Clair Papers.
intend it, and will make your arrangements with the Btate accord*
ingly. Inclosed you will find a copy of the instructiona of the re-
cruiting officers of the other parts of the army, which will also be
proper for the Government of those of your State.
We have found, from experience, that, by some means or other,
numbers of men are lost between the place of enlistment and that
of rendezvous. To prevent this, as far as possible, will be worthy
your particular attention.
I have permitted General Wayne to retire for a while. General
Irvine will immediately assist you in the execution of this business.
It seems a great part of the soldiers of your line have fraudulently
procured a discharge, by the precipitate admission of their oaths be-
fore the papers relative to their enlistment could be produced. In
right, this can not exempt them from their engagements, and, after
what has hap])ened, if it were thought expedient to compel the re-
turn of such as being explicitly engaged for the war, have thus per-
jured themselves, I should have no doubt of its justice, and should
not hesitate to take effectual and convenient measures to notify them
that if they did not immcdiatcl}^ return to their duty, they should
be considered and treated as deserters. I perceive there are objec-
tions to the measure, and, unacquainted as I am with all the cir-
cumstances, I can not competently judge of its propriety. I, there-
fore, shall be obliged to you for your opinion.*
Let me hear, from time to time, of your progress.
General W^v-siiington to Gener^vl St. Clair.
New Windsor, 22d February^ 1781.
Dear Sir: — You will, by the time this roaches you, be acquainted
with the dcstiniition of the detachment under the command of the
Marquis de Lafayette,' which, though as large as could possibly be
afforded from the troops in this quarter, is not so competent to the
certain eonii)]etiou of tlie object in view as 1 could wish. By some
accounts from Phila(lelj)hia, 1 am led to hoi)e that further assistance
* For a ri.*ply to tliis lettor, sou letter to WashingtDn undor date of 2d
31 arch.
■-(j«»nerMl Lafayette was provided with a detachment of about twelve hun
dred from tlie main army, and was instructed to j)ro(!eed to Virginia to net
against the corp-i of tlie enemy under Arnold, in conjunction with the mili-
tia, and some ships from the fleet of Chevalicir De^touches, which had sailed
for the James liiver on th<f tHh February from Newport.
Correspondence y Addresses^ Etc, 541
may be derived from the Pennsylvania line. If you find it practi-
cable to form a battalion of eight companies of fifty rank 'and
file each, three officers to a company, and two field-officers to a bat-
talion, in such time as tho IMarquis shall think will answer his pur-
pose, you will be pleased to do it, and put it' under his command.
The detachment will be but temporary. The nomination of the
field-officers I leave to you. It is possible that the battalion may be
formed, but not in time to embark at the Head of Elk with the
other troops. This will not be so material, provided it can be done
in a short -time afterwards. That time, you and the INLirquis will
determine. If the companies can not be completed to fifty each, I
would have them at forty rather than lose the reinforcement, or
even half a battalion of two hundred under the command of a
field-officer, rather than none. Transports can be provided and held
ready at the Head of Elk, should they not embark with the other
troops. The places of rendezvous of the first, second, fifth, and
sixth battalions are none of them very distant from Elk, and I
should imagine the detachment would be most readily and conven-
iently formed from them. But this I leave to your judgment.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
New Windsor, 2(Sth February, 1781.
Dear Sir: — Congress, by a resolve of the 20th instant, have deter-
mined that the Pennsylvania line, except Moylan's dragoons, and
the troops upon command to the westward, shall compose part of
the Southern army, and have directed me to order it to join the
army in Virginia by detachments, as they may be in readiness to
march. You will, therefore, in obedience to the above resolve, put
matters in a projH^r train to carry it into execution with all dis-
patch possible. You will now, in case circumstances should permit
the detachment under the command of the Marquis to proceed down
the Chesapeake, not confine yourself to a single battalion of four
hundred men, as mentioned in mine of the 22d, but endeavor to
send as many as possible by so good and expeditious a conveyance.
I think it essential that one of the brigadiers should proceed to
Virginia with the first detachment that moves, and there be ready
to receive and form the remainder as they come on. There may be
greater necessity of an officer of rank being at hand, as the line,
from the late disturbances in it, will have lost somewhat of its dis-
cipline. General* Irvine being employed in superintending the re-
642 The St. Gair Papers.
cruiting business, the duty devolves upon Ghnoral Wajne. I hate
written to him on the subject.
General St. Clair to Gexeral Washington.
Philadelphia, Mardi 2rf, 1781.
Sir, — Your Excellency's letters of the 3d and 9th of February
came duly to hand, but I delayed answering them from an expec-
tation that YOU were absent from the army, and in case I had noth-
ing explicit to inform you of with regard to the recruiting, that
business not having come before the Assembly until yesterday, al-
though Geuenil Irvine, General Wayne, and myself, have canatantly
attended t4) press them upon it A committee have reported a plan
recommended by us, which is, in general, to call forth the number
of men required by assessing them upon the classes of inhabitants
under a very heavy penalty, and, at the same time, to carry on the
recruiting by voluntary enlistments. It is yet uncertain whether
the House will c:)me into it, but it is a favorable circu/nstance that
it has met with the aj)probation of the Council.
It is certain that a great many of the soldiers obtained their dis-
charges in a most flagitious manner, but nothing better was ex-
pected from the alternative allowed them. I am, however, of opin-
ion that no good consequences would flow from the attempt to pun-
ish them.* It was tliroatcned bv 8:)mo of the officers, and has
driven a great many out of the State. They are too numerous, and
it would carry with it something like a breach of faith, which the
Govornineut does not like to incur, and, though the measure was
certainly entered into hastily, it appeared to the gentlemen who
transacted it to Ikj necessary.
Your Ex(*ellen(Vs favor of the 22d came by express to Potts
Grove, the night l)ef<)re last, and 1 returned immediately to this
place to confer with the ^lanjuis. You may imagine ray chagrin
at not Ix^ing able to conij)ly witli so small a request upon such an
oceasion ; hut, after mature consideration it was thought imprudent
to attempt it, as none of the men have yet l>een settled with, nor to
tiiis moment are the au<lit<>rs appointed for that purpose, nor any of
the promises that were made tliem at Trenton complied with, and a
very tew only of the furloughed men returned. Our number at all
the different j)laces of rendezvous does not exceed five hundred, and
*See Wu^hi^gton'a letter to St. Clair, 3d February a^ifc.
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 543
those extremely discontented. I shall again press the Council and
Assembly to an immediate settlement of the accounts, and order the
men on furloughs to join their regiments that your Excellency's or-
ders of the 26th, which I have just received, may be carried into exe-
cution as soon as possible. But I fear few or none can be got ready
in time to second the Marquis, as it is indispensable that they be
clothed and settled with, and that provisions be provided for them
on their march. I can only promise that nothing on my part
shall be wanting to expedite it.
General St. Clair to the Board of War.
Philadelphia, March 4th, 1781.
Gentlemen : — As the troops of Pennsylvania are ordered to march
to Virginia by detachments as soon as they can be got in readiness,
it will be necessary that camp equipage be provided for them, and
sent f^ward to Yorktown as soon as possible ; but, as it will be
some time before the whole quota of the State can be raised, and I
am not certain what that will amount to, I have to request that
tents, knapsacks, haversacks, camp-kettles, and blankets and can-
teens, be got ready for two thousand men and sent to that place as
soon as may be, having hopes that in a fortnight a considerable
part of that number will be able to move. I shall take care to
give timely notice to the quartermaster if further provisions be nec-
essary.
General St. Clair to the Speaker^ of House of Assembly.
Philadelphia, March 22, 1781.
Sir; — I beg leave to lay before you an extract from a letter of
General Irvine to me, dated Carlisle, March 14, 1781, which came
to hand yesterday : — '
**I think there is great defect in the mode of communicating the
laws or resolves. I mean by newspapers. Some counties never
hear of a single Act till the county member gets home — as a proof,
the commissioners of this county are only now making out the class
rolls for the first class. The regimental returns will show how slow
things go on. I do not think we shall be able to take the field much
before the first of June."
1 Frederick Muhleberg.
644 The St. Clatr Papers,
The law the General refers to, is that passed last session for com-
pleting the quota of the Federal army, which will be found to be, if
my information is right, in every other part of the State, as well as
Cumberland county, totally inadequate to th^t purpose. I mention
this to show the necessity of immediately adopting some other ef-
fectual measure for speedily raising and completing the quota of
this State, and as they are to compose part of the Southern army,
the fate of that country may depend upon the exertions of this. It
is likewise very necessary that means be fallen upon to pay off the
arrears due to the soldiers, as I have it in command from General
Washington to send them forward by detachments as soon as possi-
ble, and the sending troops to that country in a discontented mood
may be attended with consequences of a most disagreeable nature.
General St. Clair to President Reed.
April 3, 1J81.
Sir: — I beg leave to acquaint you that I have received infor-
mation from several cantonments of great uneasiness prevailing
among the soldiery, occasioned by the detention of their bounties
and the non-payment of the gratuity to the re-enlisted soldiers.^ It
has l)eeu rej)reseuted to me, that unless they are soon made easy on
these heads, it is likely to end in general desertion. I hope I may
not 1)0 thought importunate, as I know the difficulties that exi.st re-
specting money, and am sure that the Council arc as anxious to
remove them as I could wish, but I should be wanting in my duty
if I neglected to communicate to them such information as I receive.
I must mention, also, the case of Colonel Moylan's regiment. The
General expects it to march with the detachment; they have not
more than fifty horses fit for service, and arc in want of every kind
of equipment. The time of the furloughs granted at Trenton is
now expired. I sliall call upon all those to whom they have been
granted, immediately to join' their regiments under pain of being
considered as deserters ; but the more effcctuallv to enforce their re-
1 To this, President Roed replied from his residence on the s imo duy :
*' I have just received your favor, uliich is n. melancholy confirmation
of the accounts received from the commissioners for recruiting, who repre-
sent that they can get no money from the county treasurers, nor can the
commissioners of purchase get jiriy to feed the troop's, so that I fear we
shall, in a short time, experience some disagreeable effects. The treasury
here is exhausted by the various demands, so that Mr. 11. lienhoren can not
make out money suffijient to pay the members of Assembly their Avages.**
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 545
turn, I could wish the magistrates in the different districts were
directed to make strict inquiry into the cases of all persons within
their districts who are or have been soldiers, and to commit such as
may be found with furloughs when the time has expired. I could
also wish that some printer in this city was directed to receive ad-
vertisements for deserters.
General St. Clair to General Washington.
Philadelphia, April 6, 1781.
Sir: — My last to your Excellency was of the 2d of IVIarcii, since
which an excruciating fit of the gout, which still deprives me of my
right hand, has rendered me almost totally incapable of business.
As soon, however, as I was able to bear motion, I had myself
brought down here to be at hand to forward the preparations for
marching the detachments, and to keep the Assembly in mind of
the necessity of recruiting the line, but can not boast of my success
in the last instance, as there is nothing yet done in it, and the ses-
sion has already been drawn out to so great a length that I am very
apprehensive the House will rise without taking the matter up.
The detachment, which will consist of nine hundred and sixty
rank and file, properly officered to form three battalions, will march,
I think, in about ten days, as I have reason to hope that money will
be provided for them by that time. A sufficient quantity of cloth-
ing for that number sets off to-morrow for the different cantonments;
and the arms and camp equipage w^ill arrive at York town, where
the troops are ordered to assemble, in the course of the succeeding
week. I have ordered the four pieces of artillery that are with
Colonel Proctor's regiment, with a proper detachment from it, to join
this body, as it is probable, from the circumstances of the 16th ult.,
that General Greene may be in want of them. The route I intend
the whole shall pursue is from Yorktown by the head of Patapsco
and Alexandria to Fredericksburg, in Virginia, from whence Gen-
eral Wayne will be best able to judge of the route he must follow to
join General Greene. After this detachment marches, we may
possibly collect three or four hundred more of the old soldiers, and
that I think is the extent we have any reason to reckon on, so that
unless the Assembly takes some very decisive steps the recruiting
business will very soon be closed in this State. Whatever may be
determined upon, I shall take the earliest opportunity to acquaint
■^ 36
546 The St. aair Papers.
your J^:^ceIIenc7 with it, and propose to pay you a visit as soon as
able to ride.
Colonel Moylan^s regiment is in such a situation, that it must be a
considerable time before they can possibly move, having but eighty
men and fifty horses fit for service, in want of every equipment, and
no money in any of the departments to procure them.
An express arrived, last evening, from General Greene, who in-
forms me that after laying three days at the iron works in expectation
of Lord Cornwallis* advancing, and preparing himself for his recep-
tion, he received accounts of his having suddenly retreated towards
Cross Creek, leaving behind him all the wounded prisoners taken at
Guilford,* and his own hospital. Colonel Stewart, of the guards,
was killed in the action of Guilford. General O'Harra, Colonel
Tarleton, and Colonel Webster, wounded, and from every circum-
stance it appears they have suffered very severely. Your Excel-
lency must have heard of the arrival of the reinforcements in
Chesapeake. We have no accounts of any operations, except that
they are plundering the inhabitants in small parties on both sides of
the bay, some of which I am sure up as far as the head of Elk.
The inclosed is a return of Colonel Proctor's regiment. The can-
tonments arc at such a distance, and the conveyance so uncertain
that the returns are at hand very irregularly, but I shall endeavor
to have them sent on by the time and in the manner desired by the
Adj utant-General.
General St. Clair to General Washington.
Philadelphia, April 15th, 1781.
Sir ; — I have been favored with your Excellency's letter of the
8th iust., which has been in great part answered by mine of the
6th. In that, however, I was too sanguine as to the time when the
detachment would march, which I fear it will not do in less than
three weeks yet. The aj)plication from the State to Congress for
a loan of so much money as was necessary to put it in motion mis-
carried, aud there is now no hopes of any until a sufficient sum of
the new money ordered to be struck by the House of Assembly can
be got ready, which, the President informed me yesterday, would
yet require a fortnight; and as tlie re-enlisted soldiers and new
^The buttle of Guilford Court-House, N. C, was fought on the 16th of
March. Although a defeat for General Greene, it was disastrous to the
British, as the sudden retreat towards Virginia above mentioned proved.
Correspondence^ Addresses ^ Etc. 547
levies have not received their bounties, nor the retained men the
gratuity ordered them ; and as one-third of the depreciated notes
is to be paid by commissioners at the different cantonments, it is jiot
extravagant to allow a week more to these affairs. I do assure your
Excellency that nothing has been left undone, on my part, to for-
ward the march of the troops, or to reassemble the scattered rem-
nants of the line, and there is a perfect good disposition in the offi-
cers of all ranks to promote the recruiting, but the ridiculous mode
that has been prescribed by the Council has, in a great n^asure,
put it out of their power. I can not help, however, being surprised
that General Wayne (which, from your Excellency's letter to him,
he must have done) should have given you expectations that the
detachment would march much sooner, which, had there been no
difficulty even about money, they could not have gone a day before
the time marked in my former letter, on account of the want of
clothing, arms, and camp equipage.
The Assembly haverisen and though they have not, as I suspected,
left the recruiting unnoticed, they have done very little better, hav-
ing only made some loose resolves for continuing the recruiting by
voluntary enlistment under the direction of Council, and empower-
ing them to raise the bounties as they may think proper, and that
recruiting parties shall be kept in the State until the quota is com-
pleted, which I am sure will not happen in that way during this
war, should it last these fifty years. Council have not yet made
any order in consequence.
I very much suspect that I have set the number we may possibly
collect after the march of the detachment considerably too high in
my former letter, and I have no hopes at all from the recruiting,
but the detachment will be completed to ninety-eix rank and file.
General Knox, with your Excellency's approbation, has, I see,
ordered a considerable addition of artillery. The guns and stores
will be in readiness, but Proctor's regiment is certainly not equal to
so many pieces ; and, if General Greene has not to spare, your Ex-
cellency may think a further detachment from the corps of artillery
necessary.
I am very sensible of the necessity of great exertion from all
classes, but have but little hopes of seeing them ; such a listlessness
and inattention seems to have taken hold of the people that I doubt
if even the cannon of the enemy would rouse them. For my own
part, I feel very sensibly yet the influence of both duty and patrio^
ism, and I have made such representations to our humble bodies as
1 thought the nature of the case required, and beg leave to repeat
548 The St. Clair Papers.
that nothing in my power to second your Excellency's wishes shall
be wanting.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
New Windsor, April 25th, 1781.
Dear Sir: — I have received your favors of the 6th and 15th. I
am sorry to find, from the last, that unavoidable obstacles have
been thrown in the way of the march of the first division of the
line at the time you expected. I can only recommend to you to
get them off* as soon as possible, and in as good temper as possible.
It is essential that General Greene should be regularly advised of
the motions of those troops ; you will, therefore, be pleased (if you
have not already opened a correspondence with him) to inform him,
from time to time, of every circumstance relating to them.
Captain Craig, of Colonel Proctor's regiment of artillery, who is
stationed at Fort Pitt, has applied to me to have his company com-
pleted. That can not be done in the present state of the regiment,
but you will be pleased to consult the commanding officer of it, and
let Captain Craig have as many men as will put his company on a
level with the others.
I imagine Colonel Harrison's regiment, Colonel Procter's, a de-
tachment with the Marquis, and a strong Maryland company lately
gone from hence, will be sufl[icient to work the artillery that Gen-
eral Greene will usually carry into the field with him.
General St. Clair to General Wayne.
[Instructions.] May 2, 1781.
Sir : — The parties from the several regiments which are to com-
pose the firsT detachment, have orders to march from the canton-
ments to Yorktown the moment the auditors have finished the settle-
ments, respectively. You will, therefore, please to repair to York-
town as soon as conveniently niay be, to make the necessary ar-
rangements and take such measures as may prevent, as much as
possible, any delay at that place. You will please to take the com-
mand of it uj)on yourself, and proceed, by the inclosed route, to
join General Greene with all the dispatch that the nature of the
ca.se will admit of. Should any operations of the enemy render the
passage at Alexandria precarious, you are not to consider yourself
as bound by the route, but will make choice of such other place to
Correspondencey Addresses^ Etc. 649
pass the Potomac where it may be done with safety, making as
little detour as possible. As several of the parties must pass
through Lancaster and there be supplied with provisions to carry
them to Yorktown, your giving yourself the trouble to attend to
that article in your way may facilitate their march, and prevent dis-
appointment. I wish you a prosperous journey, and all happiness.
P. S. — You will please to favor me with an account of the return
of the numbers you march with, and direct the brigade quarter-
master to forward a return of the camp equipage and utensils re-
ceived by him. Let me know, also, what number of arms were
sent on to York. If there is any surplus, they may be stored and
left under the care of the commanding officer at that place, as also
any surplus of blankets beyond that which completes the detachment.
General St. Clair ^ to General Washington.
Philadelphia, June 16, 1781.
Sir: — ^TJpon my arrival at this place I found the Assembly met,
and no apparent disposition amongst them to do any thing to for-
ward the recruiting service; indeed, a passage in the President's
m
message, which represents the line as in respectable strength, seemed
calculated to induce them to believe it unnecessary. I, therefore,
thought it my duty to call their attention to that object, and wrote
to the Speaker of the House upon the occasion ; my letter was read,
the business immediately referred to a committee, and another ap-
pointed to bring in a bill. Fn)m the report of the first, we had
formed the most sanguine expectations that the line would have
been filled immediately, and the necessity of sending militia to Vir-
ginia superseded ; but the bill which General Irvine has inclosed to
your Excellency is in a very different spirit, and nothing is to be
expected from it but disgusting the people. It is distressing to see
how thmgs go on here ; a considerable part, and much the most re-
spectable, of the Legislature are disposed to do every thing that is
necessary and that circumstances will admit, but the majority, under
some mischievous influence, seem intent only on defeating the de-
' On the 5th of June, General St. Clair addressed a very urgent appeal to
the Pennsylvania Assembly for funds and necessary legislation to complete
the enlistments. He said that the enemy were making such rapid advances
that, unless the most vigorous measures were taken, it would not only bo
impossible to afford proper support to the Southern States, but they might
soon have the mortification to feel the enemy in the heart of Pennsylvania.
660 Tht St. Clair Papers.
signs of the others, without regard to the general welfare or the
particular disgraco the State incurs.
The accounts from Virginia are vague and uncertain ; but Com-
wallis has a force much superior to the Marquis, and, it is to be
feared, will prevent the Baron [Steuben], who is at the Fork with
about seven hundred new levies and some militia, from joining him.
Tarleton and Simcoe have been detailed to attack him, and though
he may escape them, most probably the stores will fall into their
hands, or be destroyed. What his Lordship's designs are is hard to
divine, but, as yet, he does not seem to intend fixing himself in that
country, as I can not learn that he has, as yet, made one post, but i»
moving on with his army towards the Potomac, and ravaging the
country below him with detachments. I sometimes think he de-
signs for Pennsylvania, nor is it altogether improbable ; for though
he has no force equal to a conquest, it would be a very effectual way
of counteracting your Excellency.
General Wayne joined the Marquis on the 9th instant. I have
no accounts from him since he left Yorktown. A letter of his of
that day came to hand a few days ago ; the inclosures I now trans-
mit to your Excellency, though I doubt not he made similar reports
to headquarters. The deficieucy has been occasioned by (insert ion
and sickness ; there now remain at the different cantonments about
one hundred men, most of whom are unfit for duty.
Your Excellency will oblige me by marking the precise time it
will be necessary for mc to join the army. I would not wish to de-
lay it a moment, but the state of Mrs. St. Clair's health (who I
fouud very ill, and still continues so) makes me desire to postpone
as long as the service will permit. I hope Mrs. Washington's health
is perfectly re-estaljished, and request you will do me the favor to
present my compliments.
P. S. — General Irvine, who is very uneasv at the inactive state he
is obliged to remain in, has proposed to endeavor to raise some corps
of volunteer horse and lead them to Virginia. If it can be done,
it may be of general service by turning the attention of the better
class of people aj^ain to arms. I have encouraged him in it, and
hope it may meet with your Excellency's approbation.
General Greene to General St. Clair
Camp Bush River, S. Carolina, Jmie 22, 1781.
Dear Sir : — I have received your favor of the 6th of May.
I am happy to hear that so respectable a body as eleven hundred
Correspondencey Addresses^ Etc. 651
men are on their way to reinforce the Southern army ; and it would
give me particular pleasure to be informed that the second brigade
was in readiness to move, and that you were at the head of the di-
vision.
I am persuaded you will use every means in your power to for-
ward the business, and I rely much upon your assiduity and atten-
tion. The critical situation of our affairs calls for every exertion.
The enemy are formidable in the field, and this army is reduced to
a mere shadow from hard service and severe action.
Notwithstanding all our difficulties, we have been favored with
some very important successes. The enemy is divested of all of
their posts in this State and Georgia, except Charleston, Savannah ^
and Ninety Six. The last was closely besieged for near thirty
days, and we were upon the point of reducing it, when Lord Raw-
don, who has been reinforced from Europe, advanced to its relief,
and obliged us to raise the siege. . I lament that we were not more
successful in this enterprise, as the post is of great consequence to
the enemy, and our troops have been exposed to excessive labor
and annoyance in the attempt.
But these disappointments we shall ever be subjected to while the
enemy continue masters of the sea, and our force and means are so
incompetent.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
New Windsor, June 23, 1781.
Sir : — Yesterday I received your favor of the 16th. I am much
obliged by your care and attention for the public service. I, at the
same time, lament the small probability of success which you have
reason to expect from the representation you give of the disposition
of the Assembly of Pennsylvania. Some favorable circumstance,
or some adverse fortune, may very possibly yet draw forth their
exertions. Your zeal for the common cause, I dare say, notwith-
standing these disagreeable prospects, will induce you to continue
your utmost endeavors for the general good.
General Wayne has given me a similar return with that you have
inclosed to me. I am sorry to observe the smallness of his num-
bers. I hope, however, they will soon be increased.
Of the military stores you mention to have been left at York-
town, you will be pleased to order such as want repairs to be sent
to the laboratory at Carlisle, to be immediately fitted for use.
552 The St. aair Papers.
Those which are in order mav remain at York, and be deUvered tat
the use of the next troops which may rendezvous at that place.
It appears somewhat strange to me, that our accounts of the oper-
ations in Virginia are so vague and uncertain ; equally unaceou^t*
able appear to me to be the designs of Lord Comwallis from his
rapid and devious movements.' By his latter conduct, it would seem
that the effect of all his operations in North and South Carolina are
totally lost, and the enemy are likely again to be reduced to the pos-
session only of Charleston.
The time of your joining the army must depend upon the ex-
ertions of the State — their success in furnishing such number of
troops to their line as shall give you a suitable command in the field.
As soon as this shall be effected, I shall wish you to go on without
delay.
I am sorry to hear the ill state of health of Mrs. St. Clair. I
have the pleasure to inform you that Mrs. Washington is in a fair
way of recovery.
The army in this quarter is now taking the field. Their first point
of encampment is at Peckskill, where I expect to be joined by the
Count de Rochambeau, with his troops, which are on their inarch
from Rhode Island. I have wrote General Irwine on the subject of
his proposal.
General Wahhingtox to General St. Clair,
Headquarters near Dobbs' Ferry, July lOthy 1781.
Dear Sir: — I have been favored with yours of the 24th ult. and
4th inst. I am j)leased to find by the first that the Assembly of
Pennsylvania have at length j)aRsed a law which seems likely to pro-
cure tlie number of men voted.
You certainly misunderstood me when you were at New Windsor,
if you conceived it was my intention that you should serve this cam-
paign with the army in this quarter. I, at that time, foresaw the
difficulty there would be in pnn^iding commands for the general
officers wlio were already here, and which I have only been enabled
to do by ap[)oiuting General Heath and Lord Sterling to the com-
mand of wings, which are in fact no more tlian divisions, and which
also have their major-generals attached to them. There would be
an indelicacy, as you very justly observe, in sending you to Vir-
ginia at present, because you must necessarily supercede Marquis
de Lafayette, who has had much trouble, and who appears to be
just now reaping the fruits of his labor; I can, therefore, only ad-
Correspondence, Addresses, Etc. 653
vise you to remain in Pennsylvania a while longer, where you may
be very usefully employed in fixing the levies under the new law,*
and at the same time have an opportunity of attending to Mrs.
St. Clair, whose situation I sincerely lament. Should General Greene
come into Virginia, the difficulty would cease, and you might go
there at once without any inconvenience.
General St. Clair to General Washington.
Philadelphia, July 22d, 1781.
Sir: — ^I have received your Excellency's letter of the 10th inst.,
and am very sorry that the state of the army and the situation of
afiairs Will not permit my being employed this campaign in that
part of it under your Excellency's immediate command, and shall
therefore prepare myself for a southern march ; but there is no prob-
ability that it can take place very soon, as there will be much dif-
ficulty and delay in equipping the troops after they are raised, as
the State of Pennsylvania has no money and little credit, and there
is a great scarcity of the necessary articles of clothing. From the
present view I have of it, there seems little likelihood of any con-
siderable body being in readiness much before the first of October;
perhaps something may turn up to render it then unnecessary.
The Invalid Corps is at last in motion ; nothing has delayed them
so long but the want of money, which Colonel Nichols has been in.
defatigable to procure, and has at last succeeded for such a sum as
has got them on board in tolerable temper. A day or two before
their embarkation, the inclosed list of charges against him were
exhibited* to me, but as they could not be inquired into here, with-
out detaining many of the officers, I thought it best to transmit
them to your Excellency. They have been communicated to him,
but he is not arrested upon them ; the taking him from the com-
mand of the regiment at that time might have been inconvenient.
Lieutenant Bigham's court-martial has never come to hand, and he
remains here in a state of suspense. If your Excellency has de-
cided upon it, w^U you please to direct it to be sent on. This will
be delivered by Major Dunn, who, as I have very little employment
for him, wishes to be in a more active station until there is occasion
for him. I have given him leave of absence for a few weeks, and
if any thing happens that may require more gentlemen about your
*The Invalid Corps marched to West Point, where a formal inquiry was
had as to the charges, which were not sustained.
554 The St. Clair Papers.
Excellency than those of your own family, he will be a happy man
to have the honor of being employed, and I think your Excellency
may depend upon him. My most fervent wishes for your success
attend you — the most brilliant that can happen will not exceed them,
and wherever I am I shall always find myself interested in your
fortune.
P. S. — Should Lord Comwallis return to New York with all or
the greater part of his force, will not the Pennsylvania levies be
most wanted with you? Will you please to let me know your
opinion upon that case ? * I believe you may expect all the infantry
that have horse will go to Carolina.
Generai. St. Clair to Brigadier-General Irvdcb.
Lancaster, Augwi 16, 1781.
My Dear General: — The alarm that my Lord Cornwallis has spread,
and which produced my last letter to you by Dr. Lyon, has brought
one. I thought then that the stroke at the prisoners that was feared
was barely pcxssiblc, but, as such, ought to be guarded against; and
the Board of War detained me in town for a week, and at last con-
sented to my going, under a promise to inform me when it might,
or whether it might, be pn)i)er to countermand the order for drawing
our people togtither. I was very glad to find, by your letter to Cap-
tain Christie, whicli I met with and ()])oned to-<lay, that you had
forbid thc! march of the troops at Reading, concluding from thence
that you would not now tliink it necessary to march those on the
west side of tlie SusciuehjiTina. You will observe that I have di-
rected tlie arms at . . [several lines' defaced]
than tliey will Ik^ ecjuijiped ; liowever, Council are doing what they
can. AV(M)len clothing it seems impossible to procure — only forty
suits are on hand ; but a number of hunting-shirts, which, though
not the most <lesirai)le uniform, is better than none. It seems that
a h'tter of mine, immediately after my return from headquarters,
you have not received. It was, not, however, of consequence — con-
taining only an information that we were to make a southern cam-
paign together. J had before regretted that you were destined to
* Washini;t«>n rcpliod to thf» above letter on tho 7tli August at length. Ro-
ferring to St. Clair's r<'qn<?st he said: "The inovetiiont of Lord Cornwallis
with the tnx'ps uii<lt'r liis coininaiMl, will probably bo soon decided. On the
cireunistnnees of thi^s event may hang many of our future movements of
which, BO far as they relate to your command, you will be duly notified.*'
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 555
that setvice. You may believe it was no very agreeable news to
me ; if any thing could make it in any degree less so, it was that
we are to make it to gather No news. Adieu.
General St. Clair to General Irvine.
PHiLADELPinA, Augud 26, 1781*
' Dear Sir: — From the current report, and from the circumstances
that a considerable part of the army are in Jersey, and some of them
advanced as far as Treiiton, it seems probable that some stroke is
meditated to the southward ; in which case, the General will cer-
tainly expect that corps to be joined by the troops in this State. I
would, therefore, wish you to have all on the west side of Sus-
quehanna in perfect readiness to move at a moment's warning. It
is at present my intention to draw them to Lancaster, expecting, if
my conjecture is right, that the whole will embark at the head of
Elk ; and I shall to-morrow order tho different articles of clothing
that are provided to be sent to Lancaster, that the whole may be
distributed there. I am sorry, however, to inform you that it is
not sufficient for the few men we have, although the upper garment
consists of a hunting-shirt only. Should this arrangement not be
approved of, I will give you timely notice, and at any rate advise
when it will be proper to put the troops in motion.
Colonel Mentgez gave you, a few days ago, an extract from a
letter of the General to me. You will be pleased to give the most
pointed orders about the returns, and I shall be glad to know exactly
the amount of the two regiments and the recruits — the last, how-
ever, I do not expect amount to much, if the people in these coun-
ties, at least, have followed the example of those more interior.
I was favored with yours of the 15th. The first certain account
of the movements of Lord Cornwallis, I got from your letter to
Captain Christie, which I met with betwixt Reading and Lancaster
and opened. Your orders in both cases were perfectly correspond-
ent with those I had given ; but I find a letter I had wrote you on
my return from headquarters must have miscarried ; it contained,
however, nothing of any consequence. I showed that part of yours
relating to the armorers *to the Board of War, but they had given
their orders ; they do not mean, it seems, to remove the stores, etc.
Whenever L receive any account from headquarters, I shall write
you again.
P. S. — The French fleet expected every moment. The arms»
556 The St. aair Papers.
I hope, are repaired, and should be glad they were sent to Lan-
caster.
Genebull Washington to General St. Claib.
King's Ferry, Au^ 22d, 1781.
Dear Sir : — I have to request you immediately to assemble all the
recruits in the State of Pennsylvania at their respective places of
rendezvous, where they may be properly equipped to march, on the
shortest notice, to the southward ; and those recruits that are raised
in the State of Delaware, I wish you to inform whoever has the di-
rection of them, that they assemble at Wilmington and must be
in the utmost readiness so as to march when they receive any
further orders.^
General St. Clair to General Irvine.
PoTTSOROVE,* September 6, 1781.
Dear Sir : — In my last, I gave you my conjectures about the
movements of the army, and requested you to have the men on the
west side of the Susquehanna in readiness to march to Lancaster
and to send the arms to that place, expecting that they would
march from tlicncc to the head of the Elk. I am now to inform
you that they are to niarcli by land to tlie southward, in con-
sequence of which tliey will rendezvous at Yorktown, as soon as
camp equipage can be sent on for tliem, which, together with the
clothing, I am in hopes to accomplish by Sunday or Monday next;
and, if the arms have not already been sent to Lancaster, you will
please to countermand the order. The General left Philadelphia
yesterday with tlie first division of tlie French troops, and was pre-
ceded by General Lincoln with a division of Americans, and the
second division of the French troops marched tonlay. This moment
a gentleman arrived from town with this day's paper, in which is a
letter of the General's to the President of Congress, from Chester, in-
forming that he had just received the account of the arrival of the
^In attempting to carry out the above order, Qeneral St. Clair found that
the paymaster did not have tlio necessary funds, and he thereupon applied to
Congress, through Hon. Thomas McKeun, President, for assistance in rais-
ing the mt)ni'V.
2 Pottsgrove, Phihidelphia County, where St. Clair resided for several
years.
Correspondence, Addresses^ Etc. 557
French fleet in the Chesapeake, consisting of twenty-eight sail of
the line, exclusive of the Rhode Island squadron, which had not
then joined. It is added to a letter from General Gist, that they
had taken a British frigate at the mouth of York River, and landed
three thousand men on the south side of James River, so that it
seems highly probable that Lord Comwallis is in the toils, and
can not escape. Lord Rawdon, too, was taken in packet from
Charleston.
It is very mortifying that we should have no chance for a share
in this business — it certainly must be over before we can get up, but
we may possibly get in at the death before Charleston. Adieu ; I
hope to see you soon, though I am not without my fears that the
want of money may delay us longer than I think for, and am, etc.
P. S. — Pray order a return to be sent me specifying the number
of men that have been furnished by the classes.
General St. Clair to General Irvine.
P0TT8GROVE, September 14, 1781.
Dear Sir : — Your favor of the 1st, by Mr. Duncan, came to hand
two days ago, and, on the evening of the same day, I received that
by Major Moore, inclosing the court-martial. He had sent it for-
ward to General Mifflin, who had never thought of it. I am sorry
it has been delayed so long, for, when punishment follows crimes so
slowly, the effect of it is, in a great measure, lost.^ I issued an.
order yesterday approving the sentences, and directed Nagle and
Gill to be hanged at such time and place as you think proper, and
pardoned the others that were condemned to death, and ordered the
punishment to be inflicted on the others, except Charles Kelly, to
whom I have remitted it.
I find I was much mistaken about the time when the camp equip-
age and equipments would be got away from Philadelphia — a thous-
and obstructions have come in the way, and, what is most provoking,
*It would seem, from the following order, which I find in the handwrit-
ing of General St. Clair, directed to General Irvine, that military trials then
were almost as much delayed as civil trials of the present day:
(Without date) 1781.
Sir: —I find in the report of the guard this morning, a man confined two
and forty days. Unless there is something very particular that prevents it,
you will please to order a court-martial for his trial, and the other prboners
who are accused of desertion.
658 Tlu Si. Clair Papers.
obstructions that might have been easily removed or avoided — ^in-
deed, they appear to have been laid with a design to retard us—
however, by Monday every thing vrill set out, and the detachment
will be ordered to York by the time these may.arrive. One month's
pay in specie will be paid, which is alf I could obtain, but there is
every reason to believe it will be regular in future. I do not doubt
but the detachment in Virginia may be in want of some articles of
clothing, but their distress can not be such as it is represented, or
very little care has been taken of them — indeed, these representa-
tions were made to me before they reached Potomac River ; but, be it
as it may, I can do nothing for them at present. Colonel Butler
would have been very acceptable to me, but it is Colonel Craig^s
tour of duty and he will go on it. Please present my compliments
to Colonel Butler. I have received his letter, and will answer it by
the first opportunity ; at present I have not time.
General St. Clair to jVIajor Fountleboy.
Philadelphia, September 19, 1781.
Sir : — On receipt of this you will immediately put your corps in
motion for this })laoe — every man and horse that is able to move,
and take provisions at Lancaster to bring them here.
The exigency i.s pressing, and I request that not a moment may
be lost. If your clothing is not arrived and you should meet it on
the road, which I wish you to Ikj attentive to, you must either bring
it back or distribute it where you meet it, as may be most convenient.
K the last, it will be the best, as these people will return with great -
reluctance.
President Reed to General St. Clair.
Philadelphia, Septeviber 21, 1781.
Sir : — In the present situation of affairs, I should be happy in
being assisted with your good judgment and advice in forming such
arrangements as may l)e most effectual for drawing forth the strength
and resourc<?s of the State in the most effectual manner, and con-
certing a previous general plan for this purpose, and defending this
city.
I shall, therefore, beg the favor of your company in Market street
at 1 o'clock, to meet a few other gentlemen proper to be consulted
on such an occasion.
Correspondence j'^Addr esses y Etc, 559
General St. Clair to General Washington.
Philadelphia, September 29tA, 1781.
glf ; — I have been honored with your Excellences letter of the
15th instant,* which came to hand on the 26th. Previous to the
receipt of it. Congress had ordered me to draw all the levies of this
Btate to Philadelphia, from an apprehension that strongly prevailed
and some intelligence they credited, that Sir Henry Clinton, with a
body of about ^ve thousand men, intended, by way of diversion to
your Excellency's operations, or to counterbalance your success, to
visit this city and either plunder or destroy it. It appeared, in
deed, to me a very improbable movement, for, though it might have
been possible for him to force his way through Jersey to the b^ks
of the Delaware, the passage of that river might have been ren-
dered doubtful, and the Jersey militia with the troops General Heath
might throw down to their assistance would have made a retreat
very difficult. If he attempted it by water, the difficulty of return-
ing was increased, and th^ danger of losing all his ships added to it.
Your Excellency's letter w^as immediately communicated to Con-
gress, and this day they have repealed the order and left me at lib-
erty to join the army, which I shall do with as much expedition as
possible, and, I hope, I need not assure your Excellency that the
being detained here in a state of idleness when the army is in the
field has been a most mortifying circumstance, and what I would
have studiously avoided had the prospects been ever so unpromis-
*Tho letter of General Washington referred to, contained an earnest ap-
peal for more troops to assist him in his operations against Cornwallis. It
exhibited a good deal of impatience. He could not understand why the re-
cruits for the Pennsylvania line should be held back for clothing or equip,
xnents, while others were 'doing duty in the field, and combatting almost
every distress imaginable in the want of every necessary." He, therefore,
ordered the troops to bo marched forthwith by water to the James River,
Virginia. The letter of St. Clair explains why the troops had been detained.
Congress had become alarmed, fearing lest Sir Henry Clinton should make
a descent on Philadelphia, and refused to let St. Clair or the recruits leave
the State. Following is the order in the case:
" By the United Statet^ in Congress Assembled :
"Ordered, That Major^General St. Clair cause the levies of the Pennsyl-
vania line in Pennsylvania, to rendezvous at or near Philadelphia, with all
possible expedition."
Under this order the troops had been collected at Philadelphia, but upon
the receipt of the peremptory letter of General Washington before referred
to, and the representation of General St. Clair, the order was rescinded, and
the troops immediately marched to join the army.
560 The St. Clair Papers.
ing. They are now so favorable as might tempt forward the least
inclined to the service. Neither has there been any neglect to for-
ward the equipment of the detachment. The delay has arisen from
cruel necessity ; their march, however, will be rather expedited by
their having been brought here, as it will render wagons needless,
which I believe the quartermaster would not have been able to pro-
cure, nor has Mr. Morris had it in his power to give them one far-
thing, which has so soured both officers and men that I dread the con-
sequences. The Assembly have passed a law to raise money for the
recruiting service ujwn the delinquents under the former law; it
will be some time, however, before it will be produced. The place
for carrying it on I exjwct to settle with Council to-morrow, and
shall put the execution of it under the direction of Colonel Hump-
ton, as General Irvine is ordered to Fort Pitt.
P. S. — A considerable body of the militia are encamped at New-
town ; the whole of the city, and counties of Chester, Philadelphia,
and Bucks, are called out. Sir Henry Clinton is upon Staten
Island with about five thousand men, and has removed the cannon
from the battery of York. Admiral Digby is arrived with three
ships — a ninety, and two seventy-fours. The Princessa suffered so
much in the action that she is laid up in the East River — the Terri-
ble was abandoned and set fire to, and another seventy-four is still
missing.
Gkxekal St. Claiu to Mrs. St. Clair.
Headquarters before York, Va., October IQih, 1781.
Dear Madam : — 1 take the ()p])ortunity of an express to acquaint
you that I arrived here hist night after a journey of nine days, dur-
ing which nothing of any con^^e(lUcnce happened, and we were lucky
enough to have no rain during that time, which has been, however,
a misfortune to the country, and you know I have public spirit
enough to Ix'ur easily some j)ersonal inconveniences where the inter-
est of the coniniiinity is concerned, and should, therefore, have
borne a good ducking with much sang froid. Lord Cornwallis has
not yet given up tlie ghost, hut lie will be now constrained to sur-
render, and I think myself very fortunate to have got up before it
took place, more esi)ecially as I find the command of the American
army vacant for nie.
I hope your health continues, and that you will be careful to pre-
serve it. Give my love to all the children, and believe me to be,
with much affection, etc.
Correspondence^ AddresseSy Etc. 561
General St. Clair to Captain Gerlach.*
Camp, near York, October 25, 1781.
Sir : — By the bearer, one of my aids, you will receive the papers
laid by you before his Excelleucy, Geueral Washington, relative to
the goods and clothing brought by you in the flag- vessel General de
Beidesel, which have been submitted by him to a board of general
oflicers ; and, as it has been made clearly to appear to them that the
vessel was diverted from her proper voyage and part of the cargo
applied to purposes not only different but contrary to those for
which the passport was granted, your request to proceed with them
to the German Convention troops can not be complied with. The
goods, according to the custom of nations and the laws of war, are
forfeited, and you are desired to deliver them forthwith to the
clothier of the American aymy, who has orders to take them into
his possession.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
[Instructions.] Near York, in Virginia, October 29, 1781.
^ir:— The detachment of which you will have the command, for
* Captain Gerlach, deputy quartermaster to the Brunswick troops, was in
charge of u flag-vessel. General de Riedesel, having on board clothing and
provisions for tlie Convention troops. He touched at Portsmouth, where a
British General gave permission to British Commissary Ilooksby, who waa
included with him in the passport, to dispose of other goods that had been
shipped on the vessel to the troops at that place. When Lord Cornwallis
arrived there, Gerlach applied for permission to proceed with the clothing for
the Convention troops, but was refused, his Lordi^hip considering the vessel a?
under the protection of the flag. The vessel was afterwards ordered to York,
at which place the clothing and provisions intended for the Convention troops
were delivered to the garrison during the seige. At the time of the capitula-
tion, Captain Gerlach asked Cornwallis to make provision for the goods
brought for the Brunswick Convention troops, who declined, and advised
him to lay the matter before General Washington. Ho did so, and General
Washington referred the business to a board of oflicers, of which General
St. Clair was president. It was decided that the protection duo to the flag
was lest by permitting goods not embraced in the permit to be shipped to
the British army actively engaged in the field, and, consequently all the pub-
lic property was forfeited, as well as the private merchandise. The clothing
thus forfeited was valued at more than £15,000, a part of which the Colonial
Treasurer Morris agreed to take. The sum paid each oflScer in the army be-
fore Yorktown, £20. St. Clair suggested that bills bo drawn accordingly.
36
862 The St. Clair Papers.
the southward, is to consist of the Pennsylvania, Maryland, and
Virginia Continental troops.
You will march them by the most convenient route, and in the
most expeditious manner, without fatiguing the troops, towards
Wilmington, in North Carolina, of which, or other posts in that
State, you will endeavor to dispossess the enemy, if their situation,
from the intelligence you shall receive as you advance, shall, in
your judgment, render it practicable and advisable. If it does not,
you will continue your march to the Southern army, and put your-
self under the command of Major-General Greene.
As Wilmington, and other places in North Carolina, may cease
to be objects, from a change of circumstances in the States to the
southward of this, it will be necessary for you to open an immedi-
ate communication, by letter, with General Greene, and govern
yourself by his advice and orders ; and it may be well to communi-
cate, in confidence, to the executive of tlie State of North Carolina
the enterprise against Wilmington, that you may procure such in-
formation and aid as it may be in their power to give.
For ordnance and stores, and for the means Of transportation
and other matters in the quartermaster's department, you will con-
sult General Knox and Colonel Pickering, and will make your ar-
rangements with the commissary or State agent for supplies of
provision.
P. 8. — If there are any men upon detachment, they are to be
called in and marched with their regiments. A sufficient Lumber
of officers must be left to carry on the sick and invalids as fast as
they recover. Some good field-officers should remain to superintend
the business.
General St. Clair to Governor Nei^son.
Camp, at Richmond, November 9, 1781.
Sir: — I am sorry to be obliged to trouble you in your present in-
disposition, from which, however, I am happy to hear you are re-
covering.
Having left York with a very large convoy of military stores
and a considerable train of artillery for the southward, with horses
scarce able to carry themselves, but which were the best could be
procured, and flattered with the expectation that I could he supplied
in this State, I have reached tliis j)hiee, but on application to the
council, on that account, have been informed that the authority of
your Excellency was absolutely necessary (a sufficient number of
Correspondence^ AddresseSy Etc. 568
councilors not being assembled to do any act of themselves). Fifty
horses, at least, must be exchanged here, and then it will be with
difficulty I shall be able to proceed. I have, therefore, to request
your Excellency to graut an impress warrant for that number, and
if you should think proper to make it include a greater, you may be '
assured that a want4}n use will not be made of it. If vour Excel-
lency can not comply with the request, I .«Lall be reduced to the ne-
cessity of taking horses where they can be had as tlie others fail,
which will be attended with much inconvenience and delay ; besides,
the circumstances of the people from whom they may be taken can
not be attended to, and the disgust that attends all acts of niere
power will rankle in their minds, and may, hereafter, impede the
public service.
The object of my march is important, and requires all possible
dispatch, and I am sure you will give every assistance in your
power.
General St. Clair to General Washington.
• Richmond, November 14, 1781.
Sir ; — On the afternoon of the 9th instant I arrived at this place,
and this day will have all the troops and stores over the river. You
will, doubtless, be surprised at the time that the passage will have
taken up, and, indeed, it has been a very mortifying delay to me;
but notwithstanding that Major Claybome, the quartermaster-gen-
eral for the State, had been sent forward to make the necessarv
preparations to give us dispatch, I found not the smallest i)rovision
was made either for that purpose, or to procure forage for our
horses, and I have been forced to get on the best way I could with
the common ferry-boats, only one of which would take in a wagon.
The quartermasters seem to be every-where a very useless set of
people, but peculiarly so here. I could not even obtain one of them
(and they are numerous) to go forward to Petersburgh, that the same
difficulty might not again meet us there; however, means are taken
to prevent that hap|)ening. Your Excellency knows the wretched
condition in which the horses were when I left York, particularly
tho»e that drew the pieces, and I mentioned the hopes I had of
meeting with some assistance from the Government here ; unfortu-
nately, the Governor is too sick to attend to business, and there is
neither council nor a.**semblv. However, sixty horses arrived laat
night from Annapolis for General Greene's army ; these I must de-
tain, and, by means of them, I shall be able to get forward without
564 The St. aair Papers.
gcizing from the inhabitanta, which I must otherwise have been
obliged to do, and from which I am glad to be relieved, both on ac-
count of the unequal manner in which the burden falls^ and the
disgust it creates.
On the 10th, I sent an express to Colonel Febiger, at Cumber-
land Court-house, directing him to put the Virginia troops, which I
expected would at least have amounted to five hundred men, in mo-
tion for Taylor's Ferry, and yesterday received the inclosed letter in
return, by which your Excellency will see that the utmost I can ex-
pect of them is one hundred and fifty men, which will make General
Gist's brigade about five hundred, and, with General Wayne's, may
enable us to bring twelve hundred men to action. I have inclosed
the returns for your own particular satisfaction.
The accounts I have from Carolina are from General Jones, of
the 9th instant. The enemy still occupy Wilmington — their force
about four hundred British and six hundred Tories ; they have
erected some works about the town, and have a block-house at a
bridge over the Northeast River, about ten miles above it. About
two thousand militia have taken ix)st on the south side of Cape
Fear River, with a view to prevent the enemy from crossing by land
to Charleston
General St. Clair to General Greene.
Richmond, Noveviber 14, 1781.
Sir : — I have the honor to acquaint you that I am now on m j
march ,^ with tlie Pennsylvania and Mar}' land troops, to join your
army, and shall leave this place to-morrow for Petersburg and Tay-
lor's Forr}', at wliich I propose to cross the Roanoke. The route I
shall afterward pursue through North Carolina is not at present
fully determined, and will depend upon such intelligence of the
fx)rce and situation of the enemy in that country as I may receive;
for should it be such as offers a probability of, making a succc^ssful
stroke at them en jxtHsant, I shall do it, and join you as soon after as
p)ssil)le. Whenever I shall have fixed upon it, I shall take care to
give you as early notice as 1 can, and it is not improbable but you
may have it in your power to cf)-o}K»ratc with me. But as from our
succes.^es in this State, there may have hap[)ened a total change of
circumstances in the Southern States, you will oblige me much by
coniuiunicatingwhat may have come to your knowledge, and I sludl
be happy to receive your orders and advice.
Correspondencey Addresses ^ Etc. 565
General Rutherford* to General St. Clair.
Wilmington, November 18, 1781.
Dear General: — I have been informed you are marching to the
southward with a body of Continental troops, and that you intended
to take this place in your route.
I am happy to inform you that the glorious event of the 17th
ult in Virginia has probably extended its influence to this post,
seeing the enemy evacuated it with great precipitation on the 14th
inst. , supposed to be ordered to reinforce Charleston.
This circumstance may, perhaps, induce you tt) alter the route of
your army. This country has suffered so extremely w^hilst under the
enemy's influence, that it would be scarcely possible to sul)sist an
army here, even for a short time. The bridges, which are numerous
in 'iiieae parts, have also been destroyeil ; reimiring them will 1x5 a
business of time. I shall hold post here a few days until the enemy
are entirely gone, as some of their vessels are yet seen at the mouth
of the harbor. Whether detained by the weather, or seeing vessels
off, we can not tell, but we flatter ourselves they can hanlly reach
Charleston.
I sliall with pleasure receive your orders, if you think proper to
write me, and shall also convey you the earliest notice of every
event which may appear to interest the public welfare in these
parts.
Perhaps you will find it most convenient to direct your march
past Cross Creek, as I liave ordered provisions to he driven and col-
lected at tliat post, and others adjoining, purposely to supply your
army.
General St. Clair to General Washington.
Taylor's Ferry, November 26fA, 1781.
. Sir;— On the 22d instant I arrived at Williamsl)orough, in North
Carolina, to which place I had gone in advance of the troops (leav-
ing them to be conducted from Petersburarh bv General Wavne), in
order to settle the route it would be proper to pursue, and take the
necessary measures for provi^iions.
1 Griffith Eulherford, appointed a brigadier by tlio Provincial Congress,
in April, 1770; commanded a briirado in the battle near Camden, August,
1780, where he was t .ken prisoner, and, having been exchanged, commanded
in North Carolina whe-i the Hriti.^h evacuated Wilmington. After the war,
he removed to Tennessee, where he died about 1704.
566 The St. Clair Papers.
A report had prevailed, for a day or two, that the enemy had
evacuated Wilmiugton, and there I received such information re-
specting it as left no manner of doubt of the fact, which happened
on the 14th instant, two large ships, which lay in the mouth of Cape
Fear River, having taken the garrison on board, which, no doubt,
are gone id Charleston. This circumstance leaves me at liberty to
take the most direct way to join Creneral Greene, which I shall do
with as much expedition as possible by Salisbury, Charlotte, and
Camden, which, though not absolutely the nearest route, is never-
theless, from the best information I have been able to procure, much
the easiest and most plentiful, and by following of which time will
be gained. As the evacuation would have taken place at all events,
it is fortunate for the troops that it happened so early, as they would
have been exposed to much difficulty in a march through a very
barren country, intersected by many rivers that are not fordable.
Whether I should reckon it fortunate for myself, or not, I ^m not
so certain. But I am always satisfied with what produces any ad-
vantage to my country, and another State being freed from the
power of the enemy is a circumstance of no little importance at this
juncture. It has also freed me from an uneasiness that hung upon
my mind, that I might probably find them so posted as not to have
it in my power to dislodge them, and be reduced to the alternative
of an uncertain assault, or that of leaving them unmolested.
. Since I sat down to write, a letter has come to hand from Colonel
Fobigcr, by which I am informed that I can expect no jwrt of the
Virginia troops, as they arc not in a condition to be marched at
present. It also contains the copy of a letter, or memorial, from
the officers to him, on their l)eiug made acquainted with the orders
I had scut for immediately marching to this place all the men that
were equipped, which I take the lilierty to inclose. It is true that
they have reason to complain, but it pains me that they should
take such moans and such an occasion to express it; and I was
much surprised to sec Colonel P(x<ey*s name to the memorial. I
have wrote to Colonel Febiger, and taken no notice of the receipt
of his letter, desiring him to halt the detachment I had ordered un-
til the whole are in readiness, as it is now too late f»>r them to join
me, and, from a change of circumstances in North Carolina, it is
not so necessary.
Correspondence J AddresseSy Etc. 567
General St. Claib to Colonel Davy.
WiLLiAMSBOROUGH, N. C, Xoi'fmber 2Sth, 1781.
Sir: — The enemy having left Wilmington hiis determined me
to pursue a different route to South Carolina than that I had in
contemplation, and I have to request that you will direct provi^fions
to be laid in for three thousand men, on the roml from this place to
Camden, by the High Kock Ford, Guilford, Salisbury, and Char-
lotteburgh. The particular places I can not so well point out, where
our day's marches will end, not being perfect master of th<5 dis-
tances, but the general direction to the High Rock Ford will be
Harrisburgh, Colonel Stephen Moore's, Caswel Court-house, and
Henry Williams's, We shall want provisions, bread especially, at
as many places oa our march as it can be laid in with any conven-
ience, as we have not the means to carry above one or two days' sup-
ply with us. The intermediate places between Guilford and Char-
lotte I have not mentioned, but doubt not you will ha able to direct
the commissioners to make deposits for us, where it is proper and
convenient.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
Philadelphia, SOth November, 1781.
Dear Sir: — I have received your favor of the 14th instant, and
am very sorry to observe the difficulties and impediments which
have attended the march of the troops under your command ; they
are such as I feared, but such as I trust the resources of your genius
will surmount.
The returns you inclosed I am sorry to see so small ; the deficiency
in numbers must be made up in the vigor of your operations. Your
prospects agamst Wilmington, I think, are not unpromising, on the
ground you mention — though there is no accounting for the eventa
of war. If your attempt should fail, whatever may be the censures
of the people at the moment of the event, yet, I doubt not that
your character will eventually obtain that justice which I flatter
myself your conduct will ever merit, an instance of which you have
already had in the course of this war.
Inclosed you will find extracts from the rc«olutii)ns of Congieas
on the occasion of our kte success in Virginia. I transmit them to
yon, to be communicated to the troope under your command, thai
they may know the sense in which Congress are pleased to estimate
Iheir late services.
568 2 he St. Clair Papers.
m
Colonel Febigei's return of Virginia troops appears to me very
extraordinary. I fear that a dislike of the Southern service, or
some other reasons, have operated to lessen their numbers be^fond
what ought to be. I wish you, sir, to write to him in the most
pressing manner, to bring on every man engaged for a permanent
term, and who is possibly able to march, and let him know that no
excuse can possibly be admitted for unnecessary detentions.
General Greeke to General St. Clair.
Headquars Round O., South op the Edisto,
December ISih, 1781.
Dear Sir: — From intelligence received, I have reason to believe
that the enemy mftan to make a push into the country to destroy
the forage ; to prevent which, I have to request that you will march
on with all jx)ssible dispatch without injury to the troops, and bring
with you thirty thousand cartridges as a supply for this army. You
will move by McCord's ferry, on the Congarec, Orangeburg, and
Ferguson's Mill, on the Edisto to this place.
I have received your letter of the 14th of November, dated at
Richmond, but as Captain Pendleton, one of my aids-de-camp, was
charged with instructions and a letter to you,* I thought an answer
would be unnecessary.
General St. Clair to General Washington.
Camp near Osborne's, February 4th, 1782.
Sir : — Your very obliging letter of the 3(>th of November, camo
to hand about ten days ago, and the Resolve of Congress was com-
municated to the troops, with which they apjxiared to be highly
satisfied.
Nothing could have been more acceptable than the kind manner
your Excelleucy has been j)lcased to sjx^ak of my conduct. I do,
indeed, as})ire to your approbation, and do flatter mys(?lf that in all
events, whether fortunate or otherwise, I shall never do any tbing
to forfeit your esteem.
* Captain N. Pendleton, aid-de-camp, sent n nu'S.«nge to Genenil St. Glair,
from Warsaw .settlement, NovemlnT 24th, bv which he conveyed the wishes
of General Greene, which were, that he would leave his heavy btiggage and
stores, and all of the artillery except four pieces, and hasten to his ussistancot.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 569
I joined General Greene on the 3d of January, after a marcli of
fifty-seven days, during which we had a great deal of bad weather,
yet, notwithstanding, averaged about eleven miles for each day,
without fatigue to the troops, who performed it without murmur
or discontent, and, since our arrival, the enemy have not shown their
noses, and I believe are impressed with the idea that my detachment
is a very great one.
The situation of my private affairs requires my attention to
them this summer, which, if I do not give, they must go to absolute
ruin. I, therefore, propose to leave tliis country with that view,
about the beginning of April, if circumstances will admit Jt, and I
think it highly probable that if we have no opportunity to fight the
enemy before that time, it will not happen at all, and that they will
either evacuate the country entirely, or content themselves with
holding the possession of Charleston, until a treaty of peace shall
take place, an event all the officers think very near. I hope we
shall not ^hink it so near as to neglect the necessary preparations for
continuing the' war, which is much to be feared, but which I hope
will be prevented by your Excellency having your residence this
winter in Philadelphia. CJongress, I am informed, have lately vested
your Excellency with power to employ such general officers as you
may think proper, the others to retire upon half-pay until called for.
I am very loth to leave the army whihit the war continues, and yet
I do not think I can possibly return to this country ; not from any
dislike to the service here, but simply from the situation of ray
family and afiairs. I could wish that your Excellency would not
absolutely determine for my return, before I have the pleasure to
see you, or that you will hear from me on the subject again. ^
General Harmar to General St. Clair.
Camp Ashley Hill, S. C, September 2dth, 1782.
Dear General: — In consequence of the resolution of Congress of
'General St. ClHir commanded the lines of investment around Charleston,
while in South Carolina, but the dreary business of a sioj^c brought no stir-
ring events worth recording. Correspondence was carried on with Colonel
Small and Major Prevost. of the British army, which bore chiefly on com-
munications between the beleagured Tories and their friends in the country^
Frequent attempts at imposition finally led to an order forbidding all inter,
course.
In the month of May. St. Clair returned to Philadelphia, being compelled
thereto by the embarr&ssed state of his finances.
57a The St. Clair Papers.
the 7th of August last, directing a reform of the armj to take place
on the 1st of January, 1783, 1 do myself the honor of incloising you
a return of the non-commissioned officers and privates belonging to
tlie Pennsylvania line, specifying the number enlisted for the war,
and those whose times shortly expire. Perhaps you may judge it
necessary to lay this return before the Secretary of War, in order
that he may be enabled to make his arrangements accordingly. A
list of our officers, with their determination to continue in service
or retire, I have 'handed in to General Greene, which I apprehend
will be transmitted to you by this conveyance.
Since i^your departure from this army, we have fiequently ex-
perienced a want of provisions, chiefly owing to the neglect of the
State Gommissary, but are now agreeably relieved with beef toler-
able good and plenty.
Sickness rages to an amazing degree ; in the course of this month
we have buried near one hundred men, with the cursed disorder,
ague and fever, incidental to the climate. The sweet, delicious
Northern breeze I am panting after, and long to sniiff the fragrant
gale. We have been in great hopes of the enemy evacuating
Charleston for this month past, they have certainly made every
preparation for embarking, and I believe now only wait the arrival
of transports. Had they ere tin's arrived, the autumnal e<juinox
would have prevented their going. The 20th of October, I set down
as the dav we arc to enter the town — a jovful dav it will be!
Our present position is about sixteen miles from Charleston, with
our left to the Ashley, and reckoned by the inhabitjints as healthy a
spot as is in 8<juth Carolina, but we are prejudiced against it; the
climate at this season breathes nothing but disorder, and ill agrees
with Northern constitutions.
You, no doubt, have heard the unfortunate fate of Colonel Lau-
rens,; he was killed the 27th of last month, in a conflict with a de-
tachment of the enemy foraging in the Combahee River. His fall
is greatly lamented.
I shall be happy in being honored with a line from you.
COLOXEL HaRMAR TO (tEXERAL. St. ClAIR,
Camp Ashley Hill, Decenibei' 16, 1782.
Dear Gnirral: — I had the i)leasure of addressing you per Lieu-
tenant Har|)er, on the 29th of S(*pteniber last, since which we liave
been in continual expectation of the evacuation of Charketon*
Correspomlencey AddresseSy Etc. 571
That joyful event took place the day before yesterday. At 8 o'clock
in the morning, the light intkntry companies, the legion and two
six-poundera, under command of Brigadier-General Wayne, took
possession of the town. The army still keeps its old position.
What our future destination will be is yet unknown.
Orders have arrived from the Secretary of War, to form the
Pennsylvania troops into one regiment; the formation has taken
place, and General Greene has ordered the officers present upon the
spot to l>e arranged ; inclosed you will please to receive a copy of
the arrangement. This strikes at the principle of seniority, and
must displease the senior captains and subalterns in the State. My
mmle of arranging, upon a supposition that we raise two regiments
onlv, would be thus :
The oldest captain in the first regiment.
The next oldest in the second regiment, and the same rule to be»
adopted with the subalterns.
But the grand objection to this arrangement would be that the
troops would remain without officers; therefore, General Greene, to
avoid fluctuation, has thought proper to arrange the officers here
upon the spot, and his intention is that the arrangement should be
permanent.
In consequence of the resolve of Congress of the 7th August last,
' which directs a reform of the array to take place on the 1st of Jan-
uary next, and that the staff officers shall be taken from the retir-
ing officers, I have resigned my post of Adjutant-General of the
Southern army, and taken immediate command of the regiment.
The General has b^en pleased (in orders) to compliment my con-
duct while in that department. Major Edwards is my successor,
and Lieutenant-Colonel Mentgez is appointed inspector to the
Southern army.
I do myself the honor of inclosing you a copy of the last return
of the regiment. I expect, in a few days, to be able to obtain cloth-
ing sufficient for the men, and then we shall cut the proper military
appearance.
Be pleased to present my compliments to Dunn and Keene.*
> Aids-de-camp to St. Clair.
.1^^
672 The St. Clair Papers.
Geiteral St. Clair to General Washington.
November 26(A, 1782.
Dear Sir: — Agreeably to my promise, I ought,^ in a very few
days, to set out on my return to the army, but, I am sorry to say
it, I tind it will be impossible at the time I proposed, as I am now
so far from liaving completed the purpose for which your Excellency
was pleased to allow me to be absent as the day of my arrival. I
have had several interview's w^ith Mr. Morris ; he says, and I am
sure it is so, that he is making every exertion in order for a hand-
some payment to the army, and that he has expectations of soon
having it in his power, but that, notwithstanding it depends upon
so many contiugwicies, he will not venture to fix upon the time. I
could not ask him for a partial payment to me, though I am per-
•suaded that, if he had been in cash, from the friendship that has long
subsisted betwixt us, he would have offered it, as I let him very ex-
plicitly into my present circumstances, which is, in short. Sir — I am
not master of one single shilling, nor will any thing that I am pos-
sessed of command it ; I am in debt, and my credit exhausted, and,
were it not for the rations I receive, my family would actually starve.
This is rather hard, after sacrificing, as I have done, ease and inde-
pendence, and the best part of my life, and having settled accounts
in my hands for more than three thousand pounds, and considerable
sums due, the accounts of wliich have not yet been liquidated. This
will, I h:)pc^^, induce you t ) excuse my overstaying tlie timj limited
for my return, whilst you do me the justice to believe that, whatever
uneasiness I feel from the distress of my private circumstances,
which, r own, is not a little, I have not less from being forced to a
breach of my duty, the first of the kind in my whole life, and that
I shall be happy to return to it the moment I can, by any means,
put myself in a situation/
1 Tbo «rwtre<s»Ml situation in which General St. Chiir's family were placed
in 17SL' l)v tlio lailuiM* of the (iovtM-nment to nav liirii what was duo to Inm
oau-t'tl liiin the ix''^'»te-t pain and anxiety. He lia<l, hitherto, made up nil de*
flci(Mi«'it'< nut of ill.-* <»wn private means, hut when landed property no lon<'er
brouuiit cvrn a twcntietii of its value, that source failed. When in South
Carnlina. he wrolea pre-^sing letter to the President of Congress, a<iving that
his aecoinits might he settlerl and some of the sums he h'ad paid out for the
Goveriitnent refunded; and. when he returned to Philttdeli)hia he laid full
details of his ennditi<»n hefore his friend Kohert Morris. The latter eynipti-
thizeil deeply, and assi-ted him tu tlie extent of his power; but it was a
time when he was straining every nerve to ciupply means to keep troops ia
Correspondeneey Addresses, Etc. 573
General St. Clair to Genepal McDougall, Colonel Ogden,
AND Colonel Brooks, a Committee from the Army at
West Point, to Congr}:^.*
December (without day), 1782.
Gentlemen: — As it is of consequence that the representations to
the Bold. How he found relief for his family is not told in his papers, but
that the trial was a long nnd distressful one, is shown by the fact that ho
was able to remain with the army but a few days in December, and that
Washington found it nocebsary to recall him in February. See letter of the
19th February.
*Tho close of the year 1782 and the winter of 1783, when there was a
prospect of peace, but an uncertainly as to whether or not negotiations
might fail and a new campaign be required, was a period of great anxiety
to the leading patriot*, and of very great danger to the cause of u republic.
There seemed to bo no resources left, and there was a total want of harmony
between Congress and the States. In October, 1782, Washington wrot«9 to
the President of Congress, referring to the proposition to reduce the army:
"I can not help fearing the result of the measure in contemplation, under
present circumstances, when I see such a number of men goaded by a thou-
sand stings of reflection on the past and of anticipations of the future, about
to be turned into the world, soured by penury and what they call the in-
gratitude of the public, involved in debU, without one farthing of money to
carry them home, after having spent the flower of their days, and many of
them their patrimonies, in establishing the freedom and independence of
their country, and sufiered every thing that human nature is capable of en-
during on this side of death. I repeat it, that when I consider these irri-
tating circumstances, without one thing to soothe their feelings or dispel the
gloomy prospects, I can' not avoid apprehending that a' train of evils will
follow of a very serious and distressing nature. On the other haiid, could
the officers be placed in as good a situation as when they came into servicoi
the contention, I am persuaded, would be, not who should continue in tbo
field, but who should retire to private life."
When the army had taken up their winter-quarters at Newburg, and,
during the days of idleness, reflected on their situation, with accounts un-
settled, and no provision for future liquidation of them, there was much ex-
citement, which resulted, finally, in the appointment of a committee to wait
on Congress and explain the grievances of the army. The committee con-
sisted of General McDougall and Colonels Ogden and Brooks. The memo-
rial which they were charged to present embraced the following points:
1. Present pay; 2. A settlement of the accounts of the arrearages of pay
And security for what is due; 3. A commutation of tlio half pay allowed by
difierent res(»lution3 of Congress for an equivalent in gross; 4. A settlemei.t
of the accounts of deflciencios of rations and compensation ; and 5. A set-
tlement of the accounts of deficiencies of clothing and compensation.
This was courteously received by Congress, and resolutions adopted look-
574 The St. Clair Papers.
be made to Congress on the part of the army should. he general, and
all the different lines agreed as to the sobjeot of the proposition,
but from their situation it is impossible that the sense of some of
them — of the Pennsylvania line in particular — can bo known in
time to be conveyed to you, I have thought it might be of some
use to state what I conceive ought to be their sense of matters,
which you are at liberty to make such use of as you shall judge
most conducive to the end in view. The State of Pennsvlvania
very liberally adopted the resolution of Congress recommending the
half pay, and has enacted a law entitling the offi('>ers who shall con-
tinue in service until the end of the war to receive it during the
residue of their lives, but they have provided no funds nor ap-
pointed any mode for the payment of it. As this law was founded
on a promise of Congress, the Pennsylvania line will not consider
the United States as discharged from the obligation of that promiy
should the State fail to carry the law into executicm, and would cer-
tainly be very desirous that a fund should be proyided by their au-
tiiorlty to render the receipt of the half- pay unequivocal ; and it is
indeed a very reasonable and modest expectation that some provision
should be made for them in the future, as a recompense for the time
they have given to the public, for the sacrifice of their best years
and all their prospects in life ; and perhaps it might not Ix) amiss to
remind Congrats that when they took up arms it was not with a
view to make them a pr()fi'i*sion. Certainly, had it l>een ex[>ected
that the war would have been drawn out to the length it has been,
many, particularly those who have families, and have thereby ruined
them, would not have engaged in it. I .<ay, then, I have no doubt
but that, at the same time that they have the firmest reliance upon
the honor and generosity of the State, they would be glad to see a
ing to ftn adju^tmont of tlio olairn*. Pending Iho nogotiiitions — there being
a liivurgcnce of vi«»\vs of the iStates as to tlio question of lialf pay — the ex-
t'iU'MK'nt in camp wan heightened by the a|)peuranco of anonyiiious ap{>eHl8,
calc'uhiletl to intlunii' tlie passiofi.s of tile men, and giving rise to the suspicion
that ('ongPi's^ Would he (h'posed and a government edtahlished w.th Wa^^b-
iiigl««n at tlie iuad. The hitter was e(|ual to the emergency, and by rare
tact iirouglil patriotism to the fr»»nt, and succeeded in getting a deolurution
from tlie xddie^s in tliat spirit, proposing to uphold the government. The
authorship of the re narliable papers was attributed to Major John Arm-
strong.
For an account of the " Newburg Addresses" and the proceedin<»s of the
me««ting i>f sohliers, over which General dates presided, which f*.»revcr put
at re-t all doubt of the patriotism of the men who had borne the brunt of
the war, see Sjt'trka' Wriiings of Washington^ Vol. VIII., pp. 551-668.
Correspondence, AddijfsscSf Elc, 675
oounter-security established by Congress. Neither is the forming a
fund all that strikes me as necessary ; the application of it should
lihewise be pointed out — that is, an officer should know with cer-
tainty the qualifications that will be necessary to entitle him to re-
ceive it, and the times and the place to which he must resort. As
for imst j)ay, I take it for granted there is no reason to expect it
will be i>aid up. Tliat must, therefore, be put on a footing to secure
the paynvent of the interest regularly. Whether it would not be
the beet mode with respect to that to coalesce with the other public
creditors is worthy of very serious consideration. It appears to me
that it would have this consequence : that an interest in favor of the
army as general public creditors would be created in each State, and
the whole thereby have a better chance of being provided for;
whereas, were the army to insist upon a special and separate pro-
vision, the weight of th<i other creditors would be against them, as
removing a provision for themselves to a greater distance. As to
the accruing pay for .the present and every succeeding year. Con-
gress ought to be informed, in the most express and positive terms,
that it is of absolute necessity that, without an immediate payment
and a certainty of it in future, at stated periods for tlmt and every
succeeding year, the army can not be kept together, and that with-
out it there is every reason to ex|)ect a convulsi<m of the most
dreadful nature and fatal consequences. These, then, I take it,
would be the expectations of the Pennsylvania officers, viz : a Con-
tinenlal security for their half-pay and arrears of pay, and an as-
surance of their current })ay in future. As to other demands, they
are precisely in the same situation with the rest of the army. What
satisfies that, will doubtless satisfy them. Permit me to remark
that, whatever mode is adopted to produce that pur{)08e, the whole
army ought to throw themselves ujwn Congress. The services that
have been performed, from which the right to the demand arises,
have been performed for the United States ; that, separately, the
States are not bound to recognize then), and that whatever disposi-
tions some of them may discover, the sentiments of the difTercnt leg-
islatures are extremely fluciuating, and when danger is past and in-
terest has its full operation unchecked by fear, they may be very
different from what thev are now.
This n:at er may also be viewed in a political sense. The confed-
eration is a very imperfect one. The grand committees of the na-
tion are without power, and the individual membsrs may, as they
have often done, adopt the little local policy of their res})ective
States. They may be restricted by express instructions. If the
576 The St. Gair Papers.
debts due to and the provision to be made for the army can be
thrown upon the continent at large, and the army kept together,
their hands would be strengthened. They could speak with some
degree of authority to any refractory State, and it might be the
happy means of procuring justice to ourselves and others, of making
and keeping us a great and respectable people, by securing the na-
tional faith and national character. Without something of this
kind, we have * the melancholy prospect of having speni our best
years, our fortunes, and our blood to no purpose, or to a very bad
one, that of becoming the most abject and despicable people on the
face of the earth. An objection, I know, arises from the dislike
some of the States have to the name of a pension. I can not be-
lieve them serious in it, but make use of it only, to cover their dis-
like to rewarding the men who have made them free — a horrid in-
stance of ingratitude, which, though a disgrace to human nature,
is unhappily not uncommon. I have seen it somewhere laid down
as a maxim that ** kings may be ungrateful, but republics must be."
If there is, then, any thing in the nature of a republic that sub-
jects it to this vice, so much the more reason have we to guard
against its operation.
But what I have proposed al)ove by no means prevents the legis-
lature of any State from entering into a compromise with the officers
of that State for tlieir half-pay, but it would put the officers in a
situation to make the bargain upon more equal terms. Should a
State chi.ose to give them a sum of money instead of half-iiay^ and
they a^ree to receive it. wlmt is the consequence? Simply this : a
ratio of the payments to be made by that State to the public pro-
portiouate to what the half-pay list of that State bears to the whole
half-pay list, would cease, and that Congress would very easily
manage.
Permit me to observe that there is a part of the army which must
depend upon Congress solely. These are the foreign officers, our
own brevet officer?*, and Hazen's and Armand's corps. Some lines,
particularly that of Connecticut, are also very averse to a dej^end-
ence ui)on their States. Should the auriy divide, and some throw
themselves u])()n Congress and some ujwm their respective States,
nothing will be done by either. Congress will want the power, and
the States, I fear, will want the will.^
* Genoral St. Clair vory clearly outlines the views of those who, while suf-
fering in tlie 6eld for eight year.*, had found dependence upon the States a
broken reed, saw that the peace of society and permanency in government
Correspondence, Addresses, Etc. 577
General Washington to General 8t. Clair.
Headquarters, Newburgh, February Idth, 1783.
Dear Sir : — It is a considerable time since I received the letter in
-which you informed me it would be impossible for you to return to
the army at the period appointed, on account of your pecuniary and
domestic affairs. Sympathizing deeply in your private distresses, I
have delayed to recall your attention and presence to your com-
mand as long as the circumstances of service, my own personal
feelings, and the duty I owe to the public, would suffer me to do it.
Before the receipt of this letter, you will have learnt my sentiments
respecting the duties that are expected of the general officers of
this army, from a late order transmitted to you officially by the
Adjutant-General. In addition to that information,! now take the
liberty, in this private and friendly manner, to acquaint you, that,
in case you wish to retain a command in this army, it will be essen-
tial for you to come on immediately, prepared to remain with it,
as I must make it a point for every officer who will have the honor
of commanding any corps of troops in it, to take upon himself the
charge and tn)uble of maneuvering, disciplining and forming that
corps for the field.
I do not here enter fully into a detail of the reasons which now
make it particularly necessary for the general officers, who have
been long absent, to join without loss of time. It will surely be
sufficient to mention, that out of nine generals assigned to the com-
mand of the troojw in this cantonment, seven are either actually
gone, or have made applications to be absent at the same time, so
that by gratifying their wishes (besides incurring public reprehen-
sion) the whole weight of the business, the cares and the troubles of
the army, would devolve upon me, until a sunshine occasion, or a
prospect of some brilliant operation, should induce them to return
and share the pleasures and honors of service.
I request you will be so kind as to give me a line in answer to
this, by the very next post.
could only be secured through one general head. Hence, Washington and
his associates afterwards favored n strong government, while those who did
not share in the sufferings and perils, and theorized on political affairs, fa-
vored a greater reservation of power to the State.
37
578 The St. Clair Papers.
Hon. John Pottb to Genebal St. ClUs,
New Yobk, January 8<^, 1783.
Sir: — It is witli no small degree of satisfaction that I am just
now informed of your return from the unhealthy climate to the
south wanL
Will you pardon me, dear sir, when I say that I greatly rejoice at
your presence in our country at this particular period, as it appears
to me very important to the future prosperity and happiness of
America.
Whether this country shall, after all its difficulties and distieBseB,
return to the full enjoyment of the blessings of peace, liberty, and
safety, or continue to suffer the miseries and hardships of war, will
depend on the determination of Congress this winter. What in-
ducement any man who has the interest of this country at heart
can have to desire the continuance of this scene of distraction, I can
not conceive.
The difficulties of this country in regard to its trade, and in point
of resource, are notorious ; and although a very uninformed and
very retired individual, yet sufficient facts appear to justify my
conclusion that America might, at this period, put an end to the
calamities of war with the gratification of every reasonable wish.
It is not, nor I am persuaded ever will be, the desire of the gentle-
man to whom I have the honor to address this, to make this country
the instrument of the exaltation of France, to the destruction of
England, even sui)posing that to l>e the ix)gsible issue, and if that is
not the intention, I confesc^s I am totally at loss to conceive the mo-
tive which can oj>erate to the continuance of the war.
The comi>ass of a letter will not permit me to enlarge, even i£ I
was certain it would l)e agreeable, but will conclude with requesting,
a£ a very jarticular favor, that ( xeneral St. Clair would honor me
so much as hy a line or two to explain where the obstacle lies to
prevent the happy return of the ])lesgings of peace.
I am ixTsuaded your liberality of sentiment will pardon this lib-
erty, for I beg you to be assured that, whatever my circumstances
or situation are or may be, I shall always retain a sincere and warm
affection for my native coinitry and its haj>piness.
If you will have the goodneiw to indulge me in this request, and
deliver, or have it delivered, to ^Irs. Potts, it will safely be con-
veyed to me, and lay me under very jiarticular obligation.^
* ^Ir. Potts reflected the sentiments of those Americans who had ever
Correspon^^noe^ ^ddr^s^^, Etc, ^10
Oehxral St. Glaib onp Hon. ^!^o^4.Q Frr^oBq^Knf^.
Philadelphia, January, 21, 1783.
Sir : — ^The House are well acquaiuted that another reform of the
army has taken place, m consequence whereof, a number of officers^of
the line of this State retired from the service. The situation of the^e
men is truly deplorable. They find themselves^ after a length of
time that lias been entirely devoted to the public, and with very
considerable sums due tliem from it, absolutely destitute of the
means of subsistence — they can not return to their former employ-
ments, their habits are too much changed, and if they had the incli-
nation the want of money is an insuperable bar. From the deten-
tion of their pay they have all contracted debts, and tfaeir credit-
ors are pressing. As these gentlemen look up to me, for advice at
least (other assistance I can not aflbrd them, as I fiiul myself in the
same situation), I hope I may stand excused for taking the liberty to
address you on this subject, and requesting that you will bring the
matter before the House. An advance of money is of the utmost
consequence even to their existence, and, should it be denied, they
must be driven to desperation. They will gladly and thankfully re-
ceive it as the bounty of the Assembly, but they have claim to it
on the strictest principles of justice. The State has taken upoi;i
itself the payment of part of the money due to them and their half-
pay. The promise alone is of no moment, but they must and do
expect that some steps be taken to fulfill that promise. It is needless
to multiply words upon a subject that speaks for itself, and I have
so much trust in the justice and humanity of the House, that the
matter need only be brought before them to give it its fuU weigtit.
Poverty, nakedness, and a jail are not the balm they will pour into
their soldier's wounds, yet, if some relief is longer d^yed, the retired
officers must experience them all, for, to my certain knowledge,
many of them can not purchase themselves a pair of shoes or a loaf
of bread, after having for seven long years braved every danger, in
every climate, to give happiness and ease to their fellow-citizens.
griered over the unhappy difference between the colonies and the mother
country.
680 The St. aair Papers.
General St. Clair to the Officers of the Pennsylvania
Line.
Pottsgrove, March 29, 1783.
Oentlemen : — Colonel Robison and Captain Keene have done me
the honor to call upon me with the resolve of Congress of the 22d
inst. , respecting the commutation of the half-pay for a sum in gross,
and to desire my opinion as to what ought to be the conduct of the line
with regard to accepting or rejecting it. I am very free to tell you
that I think it ought, by all means, to be accepted, and my reasons
are, that it is more favorable in itself than the half-pay ; that the
army being joined with the other creditors gives both a better
chanoe of being paid, and that the public security is the proper se-
curity, and safer than that of the individual States.
Independent of these, there are other reasons, of a political nature,
which should induce every person w^ho wishes well to his country to
close with the proposal in the above resolve. A sum in gross equiv-
alent to the half-pay, on the principle of annuities, is more favorable
to the officers than the half-pay itself, because that sum becomes at
once their absolute property, and w^hether it is paid in money or
only certificates granted for it, provided there is a sufficient fund for
the roguhir payment of the interest, and that interest is actually
regularly paid, it is the same thing. The certificates will immedi-
ately bcc;)me negotiable among ourselves for their full value;
among foreigners they will bear a premium, our interest being so
much higher than in Europe, that there is not a doubt with me that
it will only want to be known to see them pressing their money into
our funds. This will be a public benefit, but the great advantage
to the officers is, that those who have families, instead of a pre-
carious provision depending upon their lives, will be able to trans-
mit them the whole, either as an annuity or a sum to be divided
among them, as they may think pro|x*r. To those who have no
families, the command of such a sum of money presents the oppor-
tunity of entering with advantage into some other way of life. I
think the army being put on the same footing with the other cred-
itors an advantage to both, as it promises more effectually to secure
payment to both. The funds for the payment of the interest of the
public debts must be jirovided by the States individually; but they
must bo irrevocable, and the management of them confined to
Congress. The public creditors, exclusive of the army, are, in most
of the States, the body of the people. Their desires to be paid,
though not quite so well-founded, are not less craving than those
Correspondence^ Addresses, Lie. 581
of the army. By joining with them, therefore, we take advan-
tage of that disposition and bring it to operate in our favor, for no
individual legislature will, or dare, refuse to comply with the requi-
sitions of Congress when those requisitions take in the interests of
themselves and their constituents; but very differently might they
act if the army were offered, as insisted upon, a separate provision.
In the one case, we are sure of a great interest with us. In the
other, it would as certainly be against us. The sum need give no
alarm. I am pretty well informed that the interest of cuv whole
debt, that to the army included, would very little, if any thing, ex-
ceed six hundred thousand jiouuds per annum. •
There is a variety of sentiment with regard to the security, some
preferring that of the individual States, and others that of the Con-
tinent. Nor is it at all surprising that the officers of Pennsylvania
should lean towards a State security, for tlie State acted nobly
towards them. Notwithstanding, I am most decidedly of opinion
that we ought to look up to the Continent only, and heartily wish
the army may be unanimously of that opinion. Much, I think, de-
pends on it. In the first place, while we have no legal claim upon
the States, it is the Continent our services have been given to, and'
it is the faith of the Continent that is pledged for a retribution.
True, the Assembly of Pennsylvania did take up the half-pay,
and have promised it shall be paid, but not a step has been taken fur-
ther in the business, nor is it clear that they could ever provide funds
for the purpose. The complexion of the House may change very
much. Danger is now at a distance, and the infamy that attends
ungenerous actions is, in public bodies, divided among so many that
none seem to feel any jmrt of it, so that little reliance is to be
placed upon their honor.
They may haggle at the commutation, and examples of rejecting
the half-pay are sure to be set them. They can not take in the
public creditors along with us w^ithout burdening the State far be-
yond her proportion, and, of consequence, we shall have all their
weight against us. But if none of this should happen, it will stiU
depend upon the will and pleasure of some future Assembly. The
half-pay, or the interest of the commutation, may be paid regularly
for some time. We are disbanded and dispersed, and no longer in
any way formidable. As pensioners, w^e become obnoxious, and an
act of Assembly puts an end to our existence. On the contrary,
the funds being irrevocably provided by the individual States, and
put into the hands of Congress, we have every security that can
reasonably be required, to which is superadded that care of the na-
682 The St. Clair Papers.
tiotial faitb atid national character which must ever operate strongly
Jtpon that body, while it is very little felt by individual Legis-
latures.
The reasons of a political nature that strike me most forcibly
are, that, by joining with the public creditors we should strengthen
the hands of Congress. We should give their recommendations
for the establishment of public credit almost absolute certainty of
being complied with, and a new chain of union would be formed
among the States of more consequence, and that would hold them
more firmly together than our boasted confederation.
On the whole, gentlemen, I am very clear that you should not
hesitate about the acceptance of the commutation on the footing of
the resolve of Congress. If you think with me, or if you think
otherwise, your determination should, as soon as it is obtained, be
sent to General Washington. At the same time, you should send
to Carolina an account of what you have determined upon, that
General Greene may transmit the sentiments of that part of the
line under his command in due time. Congre^ has directed the
sentiments to be taken by lines ; in our case, it is impossible, from
local situation, part being under the immediate command of Gen-
eral Washington and part under that of General Greene.*
General Irvine to General St. Clair.
Carlisle, April 17, 1783.
Dear General: — On the question of the day, viz: half-pay, com-
mutation, and, I fear, or nothing, might be added, how is the sense
of our line to be collected? I think the sooner some steps are taken
the l)etter, particularly as I am much afraid even the small powers
Congress at present jMjssesses will daily dwindle. There appears an
evident disp<^)sition in several Htates already to curtail them, and
this will become general. If this is a fact, what value will a resolu-
tion of Contjress be of, unless the States, severally, confirm them by
laws, which 1 conceive they will scarce think of with respect to the
army after their dissolution ; for it seems that all public bodies will
not think of doing or enacting any thing unless they are petitioned
for the express purpose. How will the army, then, once disbanded,
lie eve r able even to ask justice ; collectively and individually to hope
. * For further correspondence on this subject, see letters of St. Clair and
Irvine, folio winijj. The discussion refers to the veteran soldiers, and not to
the raw recruits that mutinied in tho following June.
Correspondence, Addresses^ Jiic, 583
to obtain it would be vain indeed. The eastem, or nla^l army,
gives the tone. Do you think they are really satisfied with the late
resolution, and will they retire resting the matter as it now stands ?
Whatever they do, the rest must follow their example ; but are not
.their States disposed to do them justice? I think they are con-
vinced of this or they would not give up the point so easy. Would
not a correspondence with them be necessary ? They ought at least,
I think, to be felt, and I think you could do this without coming to
any explanation ; much depends on the conducting matters at this
juncture. I do not yet know whether I must return to Fort Pitt or
not ; but it is most probable I must, as I am informed, by express
yesterday, that the savages are killing and scalping all over the
country. These wretches, I think, must be extirpated.
General St. Clair to General Irvine.
Philadelphia, May 6, 1783.
Demr Sir : — Your favor of the 16th of last month was delivered
to me about three days ago, and I am happy to have an opportunity
80 soon to answer it, as I am one letter in your debt, and have, at
other times, been very tardy in replying ; but I entreat you to be-
lieVe it has not arisen from any neglect, but solely from a bad habit
I have . contracted of never having a letter ready for a conveyance,
and very often, when the conveyance offers, it is impossible to write.
I have, however, for some time, past been so afflicted with the gout
that I really had neither ability nor inclination to write a line to any
living creature. I am now getting over it, and though I know you
would have sympathized with me in any case, it was with no small
degree of concern I learned that you have been confined almost all
winter with its cousin german.
As to the question of the half-pay commutation, I strongly recom-
mended to our line that they should accept it agreeably to tlie resolve
of Congress, but not relinquishing the promise of the State in case
the States at large did not provide the necessary funds; and that
they should unite with all the public creditors of every denomina-
tion. This, I thought, would interest a great nithil)er of iKH)ple in
each State whose weight would probably be exerted, in the different
Legislatures, against the army if they insisted on separate and dis-
tinct provision ; that they should send on their determination to
that part of the line to the southward for their concurrence, and, in
the meantime, signify what they resolved upon to General Wash-
. 584 The St. Clair Papers.
ington within the last two months ; but I have been so indisposed
that I have not had opportunity to inquire what they have done,
and they have not thought proper to inform me. You justly ob-
serve the eastern troops will give the tone, and it was certainly in
their power to have, without taking any improper or indecent
measures, induced a compliance with our reasonable demands ; but
they have, I believe, been wretchedly managed, and the opportunity
is, I fear, escaped forever ; I believe they will disband. They will
be themselves the greatest sufferers, for I am persuaded, after they
have mixed with the mass of the people, no manner of regard will
be paid to their claims, their services or tlioir merits. Indeed, it pre-
sents a very gloomy prospect to us all, but I have still some confi-
dence in the honor and generosity of this State ; but bad examples
are very catching, and, God knows, we have many, even in our
House of Assembly, who are not possessed of the most liberal senti-
ments. The mode you mention in your letter was, in a great meas-
ure, pursued ; a committ^je came here from the army, and, after
hanging on Congress for a considerable time, and having obtained
as satisfactory an account of what was to be expected as could be
got, one of them was sent to the army to acquaint themwith it; but
no good effect has been produced, and, indeed, for myself, I never
expected much, for I know the officers from that country look so
nuK'li to the civil line of life, and are so fond of either gaining
j) )|)u]arity among the citizens, or preserving what they have al-
ready, that no meiusurc that would put that to a risk had much
chance of going cordially down with them. A very little time now
will bring us to the ne plus ultra; yet still I flatter myself that, if
we can but be unanimous among ourselves, we shall get justice
done us by our own State. Our situation is, however, critical, and
requires both vigorous and prudent measures ; if we fail, we- shall
be the more wretched part of the community, with the constant
mortification before us of seeing every body else in ease and plenty
at our expense. I must bid you farewell, for the subject has made
me, as it alwnys does whenever I think of it, very eloomv. Adieu.
1*. S. — I had a letter from Fishbourn a few days ago, who says out
troops — wliat reniained of them — were to march for the northward
the first of May. *
*Tho Pennsylvania troops ir t^^oiUh Caroli^at under General Wayne.
Correspondencej Addresses^ Etc 585
General St. Clair to General Irvine.
Philadelphia, June 2, 1783.
Dear Sir: — Dr. Rogers has Ixjcd applying for leave that his
son, who is surgeon at Fort Pitt, might come to this place. His in-
tention is -to send hira from hence to Europe, in order to finish his
education in the profession previous to his settling for life. I re-
ferred him to you, as you were the proper judge whether his pres-
ence could be dispensed with, and the only person that could dispense
with it ; at the same time, I informed him I had no doubt you
would comply with his request, for such a puri>ose especially, if it
could possibly be done.
The definitive treaty is not yet arrived ; nevertheless, the army is
about to be dissolved — not indeed actually disbanded, but what is
the same thing. All those engaged for the war are to be furloughed
until that time, and then discharged. What is to become of your
post I know noJ, u^r, I believe, did Congress ever consider that
your commauil was composed entirely of men under the above
description. I presume, however, they will either be continued
until possession is taken of the posts upon the lakes or that they will
be relieved by some of those who stand engaged for three years, of
whom, I suppose, there will be near five thousand.*
I hoi)e you have recovered your health, and heartily wish you the
continuance of it.
*The history of the services, sufferings and rewards of the veteran Penn-
sylvania line will be completed by a statement that the disposition, sug-
gested in the following letter, was finally made by the State in 1784:
President John Dickinson to General St. Clair.
Philadklpuia, February 29, 1784.
Dear* Sir: — The affair we lately conversed upon is likely to suffer for
want of proper application. Gentlemen say they are not informed what
the sentiments of the officers of our line are.
There is to be a conference with a committee to-morrow. This may be of
some use; but I most earnestly wish that a short memorial on the subject
of paying the commutation and arrears, both which will amount, perhaps
to a million of dollars, according to the computations that have been com-
municated to me, in lands.
We have it now in our power to do justice to the officers and soldiers, and
to provide comfortably for them ; and, happily for us, the same measure will
render essential service to the Shito, and demonstrate the truths of the old
saying that " Honesty is the best policy." If any mistake is made at this
time, it will be impossible to compensate for it by any future acts. I, there-
fore, beg leave to call for your assistance, in order that this very important
business may be brought to a desirable conclasion.
586 The St CUiir Pctpm.
QfiirasRAL St. Clair to General Wayite.
Philadelphia, June \bih^ 1783.
Sir : — I have written to you by this conveyance, informing you
that the troops under your command are to be landed at Wilming-
ton and marched to Lancaster. I think it necessary to inform you
of the reasons that induced such directions to be given. It w&j
found to be next to Impossible to keep together the men engaged for
the war, who comj)osed much the greatest jmrt of the main army
after the proclamation of an indefinite cessation of hostilities, at the
sam^ time there was a great and striking indecorum in our disarm-
ing entirely, until the articles of the provisional treaty were carried
into execution. This induced Congress to adopt the expedient of
allowing as many of them as chose to go home upon furlough, and
to be discharged upon the ratification of the definite treaty. The
whole, I believe, accepted the furlough, those excepted of the Penn-
sylvania line in this State, so that the men engaged for a time other
than the duration of the war are all that now compose the army.
The entire derangement of our finances put it out of the power
of the public to make the provision they wished, and that ought to
have been made before a dissolution of the army took place, which
you will see this exixidient of the furloughs really amounts Uk But
the regiments at this place have refiisod to accept of furloughs, and
have shown a disiK)siti()n that has justly given some alarm to the
citizens. Their nunilx^rs are too inconsiderable, it is certain, to be
formidable, yet, nevertheless, should they break out into any ex-
cesses, they might do infinite mischief, and sh(»uld the troops from
Carolina, who can not reasonably be expected to be in very g(K)d
temper, be joined to them, the same spirit would instantly run
through the whole, and the evil l)ecome more extensive. I am piT-
suikUmI you will think it necessary they should l)e kept separrite, and
take such measures for those under your immediate cpmmand being
marched to the place assigned them, as will l)e the most proper, both
to keep them in temi)er, and tend to the safety and quiet of the
citizens.'
* The situation was thoufjlit to bo so criticHl that General St. Clair, by
order of General Lincoln, Setretary of War. dispatohed Captain Talbot to
the bay with orders to the pilot** not to pr»nM«d up the Delaware beyond
Wilmington, where the troops \v«.Te to debark, and then march to I^neaster.
General I^jncoln had expressed the opinion that yroat consideration should
be fhown t«» the soldiers on account of the ** peculiar distress in which they
are involved."
Correspondence y Addresses^ Etc. 587
HiAim jACKacfii^ to Genmal St. CLAm.
WaA OfncE, Thursday, June 19^, 1783.
2:30 o'clock p. M.
My Dear Oeneral : — ^The inclosed note ' was this moment delivered
to me by the messenger of Congress.
The pressing manner in which the President writes will not per-
mit me to give you a detail of the circumstances which require your
presence.
The troops at Lancaster have mutinied, and are now on their
march to this city.
> A. Jackson, Assistant Secretary of War.
'The note was as follows:
"Thursday, 2 o'clock p. m. — The President of Congress^ presents his
compliments to the Assistant Secretary of War, and informs him that it is
ordet ed by Congress that he do immediately send an express to Major-Qeneral
St. Clair, directing him to repair to this city without delay. The Assistant
Secretary will not communicate this measure to any person whatever.
1 Ellas Boudinot was President of Congress.
On the fourteenth of June, the Secretary of War had instructed Oeneral St. Clair
as follows : " Should any of the men now at Lancaster decline receiving their fur-
louKtis. you will please to form them in complete corps and cause them to be
marched to the barracks in Carlisle. The requisite orders were sent to Colonel
Hampton, who was in command there. The soldiers who.were recent recruits de-
manded an immediate settlement, and, upon this being refused (there was nobody
with authority to make such settlement), marched In force for Philadelphia, with
the view of compelling compliance from Congress. Arrived at Philadelphia, they
were joined by some of the soldiers stationed there, and three hundred strong
marched to the State-House, where both Congress and the Council of Pennsylvania
were sitting, which they surrounded. They then demanded, in writing, of Council,
that power be granted them to choose officers to lead them, and authority to take
such measures as they thought proper to redress their grievances, and gave Council
twenty minutes to consider of It, or abide the consequences.
Oeneral St. Clair was sent by Congress with unlimited powers to try, in conjunc-
tion with Council, to quiet them, and. If possible, to get them to return to their bar-
racks. He at last prevailed on them to choose a committee to confer with Council,
which was agreed to: but they could not agree among themselves tipon the men;
and the contention was so warm that one of the sergeants marched oflf a part of the
men, and the rest followed without doing any damage, contrary to my expectation;
for I assure you it was a serious affair, for above one-half of them was drunk. They
kept us about three hours, and we had no military force to suppress them.
Congress was so offended at the insult offered to the majpsty and sovereignty of
the United States, thnt they adjourned next day to Princeton, and have not returned
since. Whether they will return is not yet known, but they have ordered down two
or three regiments of Connecticut troops, which are now on their way here. On the
Wednesday following, the soldiers laid down their arms and surrendered to their
ofScers, and made submission to us. They have taken furloughs, aud arc almost all
gone.— JoAn Byert, Member of Cbuneil to General Irvine, July 1, 1788.
688 The St. Clair Papers.
General St. Clair to General WASHnrGTON*.
Princeton, July 2, 1783.
Sir : — ^The unfortunate and disgraceful event that haa lately hap-
pened in Philadelphia must have occasioned your Excellency much
uneasiness, and you ought to have received an account of it from
me, but I was prevented from giving it by the very ill state of my
health, and the total uselcssuess of my right hand, from a violent
relapse into the gout, which, indeed, I have not been one day free
from since the secuiid of March. It will be useless now to enter
into that detail, as you must have received it through Congress and
the War Office, but I am happy to be able to inform you that the
affair is over, and the troops returned to their obedience. From
what yet appears, a Captain Carberry, a deranged officer,
and Lieutenant Sullivan, of Moylan's dragoons, were the principal
instigators of the mutiny ; they have absconded, and I believe did
get on board a vesvsel at Chester that was ready to sail for London.
There is reason to think tlnit some other officers, and most of the
sergeants, certainly, wore concerned in it. Three officers I left in
arrest, and ordered the sergeants who appeared to be ring-leaders
to be confined as poon as an examinati(;n, wliich the Chief-Justice
was directed to make in or<ler to discv)ver whether they had not
h'L'u pnjmpted ]»y some of the citizens, should be over. In these I
was happy to fiiul I had anticipated the wislies of Congress, and
every thing in my power, either directly or in aid of Genenxl Howe,
to detect and bring to condign punishment the authors and abettors,
£ am led to do so by everv motive of dutv and inclination. Your
Excellency will have seen in O.swnld's paper, of 8ati:r(lay last, a very
strange account of the matter, togetlier with a m . . illibei-al attack
uj)<)n Congress, and in which I am also placcnl in ii;) very favorable
' Party feoling was "brnuglit into tliis matter, and a wido difference between
Congress and the Conncil of Pennsylvania was di'vi.loped. The former
body a). pointed a c<>nimitt«^e, consi.-^iing of Alexander Hamilton, Colonel
Piekerln-j;, and ]Mr. Kllsworth, to confer with tbo Stato authorities as to the
b(\st ni('<lo fcr rebuking tho insult offered to tho ]eg;i>l:i'Jve brdics. The
committer advised calling out tl.e Stato militia and disarming tho mutineers
by force. This tho council refused, and resorted to a temporizing policy.
Thereupon, Congress withdrew to Princeton, wlienco they sent for General
St. Clair to confer, and orch'rs were given to General ITowo to put two regi-
ments in readiness for marching to Philadelphia. The matter was adjusted,
as indicated in St. Clair's letter to AVashington. Tho officers condemned
were afterwards pardoned by tho Stato Legislature. For a statement of
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 589
point of view. I flatter myself that your Excellency knows me well
enough to believe that no improper concessions would easily be
drawn from me on any occasion. On this, no promise of any kind
was made the soldiery, but that their accounts should l)e settled, and
they put on the same f(K)ting as the rest of the army. They re-
quested that they might be permitted to appoint a committee of
three or more officers, either now on actual service or that had
been, to confer with the executive of the State ; to this, with the
appn)l)ation of Congress and Council, I consented, and got them
sent to their quarters, and, indeed, without vanity, I believe it was
fortunate that I was able to come to town, as my presence had some
effect in restraining them from greater en:)rmities. . . .
The troops under the command of General Howe, I met yester-
day near Trenton, and this day they were to proceed on their march
for Philadelphia. I gave him every necessary information, and, as
I shall return in a day or two, will give him every assistance; in the
meantime, if the Judge- Advocate can be spared from the army, I
could wish your Excellency to order him down, both because there
may be many officers to try upon a very delicate point, and that the
State may be somehow involved in the issue of the inquiry, it there-
fore seems to me it would be best it should be conducted by the
proper officer, and with more attention to form than might happen
if it was done by an officer appointed for the occasion.
The charges I have exhibited against the officers are : suspicion
of being concerned with Captain Carberry and Lieutenant Sullivan,
who have absconded, in exciting the late mutiny among the troops,
or aiding and abetting the same ; and against Captain Chrystie, who
happened to be the eldest officer in the committee, and acted as
their chairman, behaving unlike an officer in refusing to communi-
cate, as chairman of the committee, to me what proposals the troops
had made of returning to their duty, or whether they had made
any. This charge lies equally against the whole, but, in the first
instance, can be brought forward against him only. It would be too
tedious to give your Excellency the particulars on which this last
charge is founded, but the committee has promised that they will
make no representations on the part of the soldiery until they had
made proj^er submission to Congress and to the State for their be-
havior on the 21st; and it was the refusal of tliat communication
which induced the committee of Congress to atlvise the adjournment
both parties to the controversy, the reader is referred to the Workf^ of Alex*
ander Hamilton, Vol. 1, pp, 874-898: and the Life of President Reed,
VoLII.
690 The St. Clair Papers.
of that body to this place ; indeed, all tbe ioformation I got was ex*
torted, which led both them and hkb to imagine that they, the oMn-
mittee, at least and perhaps many more, were ooneeroed.
Paul Jones to General St. Claib.
On boabd th^ Washington Pacjcet, "D^^ulwxre 3ay,
November 10, 1783.
Dear General :— After I had the honor to see you last at Ph^adel-
phi^, I had occasion to go to Princeton. Gei^eral Washington did
me the honor to read the papers I showed to him, and his Excel-
lency told me, on returning them, that he must confess ^' he could not
see upon what principle of justice Congress had acted respecting my
rank."
I have, however, said nothing to th^t great body on the subject.
The object for which I am now here on my way to France is to so-
licit justice to the officers and men I had |:he honor to xx>mmaad in
Europe. When I have obtained proper ^^isfactioo for them, J. in-
tend to return to America. The Chevalier de la Luzerne and Baroa
Steuben have proposed to obtain a vote of the Society of Qinciunatus
for my admu^sion at the fir^^t general meeting.
If I am elected a permanent member of the society, my friend
and attorney, John Ross, Esq., will pay seventy-five dollars, the
month's pay of a colonel, which I have by virtue of my election to
command the America. I shall place dependence for my admission
on your interposition.
AFTER THE WAR — PARTICIPATION IN PUBUC AF-
FAIRS DURING THE I.AST COLONIAL DAYS.
The Society of the Cincinnati.
Camp on thk Hudson River, 1 June, 1783^
Sii': — The plan for the formation aiwl institution of the Society
of the Cincinnati ^ I hope you have received, as, by a resolution of
^ After the closo of active hostilities, and wliilo iioi^otiations for peace were
pending, Sir Guy Carleton hold the city of New York for the British, while
the headquart^TS of the Ainerioan army were at Newburg, on tbe Hudson.
Xo longer engroesed with ihuugbts of duties in .the fields tbe ^$06^ tj^rncd
their atteQti'>a to souie noietbod for perpe^tuatijig the n;iemor^.of the joit^^t
years' struggle for Independence. They decided on a Society, an4 op the
Correspondencey AddreBseSj Etc. 801
the convention, Major-General Heath was desired to forward and to
request your approbation of it. I have now the honor, to indole
the proceedings of the convention since that time, by which you
- — — |- J _ _-- ' •
lOih "i^^y, 1763, they converted the name of the Roman dictator into a Latin
plural— Cincinnati — and adopted it. The Institution of the Order was
drawn up by a committee consisting of Generals Knox, Hand and llunt-
ington, and Captain Shaw, of General Knox's staflT, who acted as secretary.
On the 1 3th Hay, the representative? of the army met at the quarters of
Baron de Steuben (who presided on the occasion), and formally accepted and
appn)ved the Institutitm.
"The fundamental articles up<m which it was based are these: An in-
cessant attention to preserve inviolate those exalted rights and liberties of
human nature for which they had fought and bled, and without which the
high rank of a rational being is a curiae instead of blessing.
*' An unalterable determination to promote and cherish between the re-
spective States, that union and National honor so essentially necessary to
their happiness and the future dignity of the American Empire.
«* To render permanent the cordial affection subsisting among the offlcers."
Besides this, the Society was to be eleemosynary — each officer coutrib-
uting one month's pay towards the creation of a fund for the support of in«
digerit widows and orphans.
'•Another and most important object was to confer appropriate honors
upon their noble allies, the officers of the French army and navy, >vho had
so materially assisted them in the late struggle." ~i4/«j^a7u/tfr Johnston^a Con^
tribution to the Hist, Soc, of Pennaylcania,
To Major L'Enfa'nt, of the French ensjineers, was intrusted the task of
providing a decoration. ** Tt consists of a bald eagle of enameled gold, bear-
ing upon its breast a medallion charged as follows: On the obverse, the prin-
cipal figure is C'incinnatus; three senators present him with a sword and
other military ensigns; he is reclining upon bi» plow, and at his side are
minor implements of husbandry. On the reverse, the sun rises over a city
with open gatos, vessels are seen enti*ring the p >rt, and in the midst Fame
crowns Cincinnati with a wreath, iiiscriU»d * VirtutiM premium* Below, hands
Joined support a heart, with the motto, * Ksto perp^£uit* The whole is pendant
to a blue ribbon, edged with white, descriptive ot the union between France
and America. Around the principal charge is the legend, * Omnia rtlmquU
S§r9are rempublicam,"
Kajor-Geueral Arthur St. Olalr was elected President of the Society for
the State of Pennsylvania. In December, he received the following notice
of the first general meeting of the Society :
Mount Yernon, Dee, 28, 1783.
Sir: — After [a long delay caused by] various circumstances, and mature
consideration, it is de(>mt>d proper to appoint [the city of] Philadelphia to
bo the place for the general meeting of the Society of the (Cincinnati on the
first Monday in May next, agreeably to the original Institution.
The object of this letter is to communicate the determination <of the day
and place of meeting thereof, that proper notioe may }m giren to tlM dele-
592 The St. Clair Papers.
will see that the members of the Society, who were present at the
last meeting, have made a choice of officers to fill the different de-
partments, until the general meeting in May next.
This step, dictated by necessity, I hope will be agreeable to you,
and that you will give your assistance in perfecting this infant
institution, which is founded on principles the most meritorious and
honorable.* With the greatest respect, I have the honor to be, sir,
your most obedient humble servant,
Steuben, Major-GeneraL
To Hon. Arthur St. Clair, Major-General.
General Washington to General St. Clair.
Mount Vernon, 31 Augud, 1785.
Dear Sir: — Your favor of the 21st ultimo, inclosing a letter
written in behalf of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of
gates [chosen from the various State organizations] of the Cincinnati So-
ciety, whoso attendance will be required at the time and place mentioned.
Uaving made this communication, I have only to suggest that it may per-
haps bo preferable to give the necessary notice to your delegates by letter
rather than by [printed or other form] of notification ; [as it is the] wish
that there may be adopted means to prevent a failure of communication.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
G. Washington.
P. S. — Please to acknowledge the receipt of this letter.
To Major-General 8t. Clair, President of the State Society in Pennsylvania.
The first general meeting was held at the State House, Philadelphia, 4th
May, 17H4. Saturday, May 15, the following officers of the National So-
ciety W(irc eh'cted: President, General Washington; Vice-President, Major-
Generjtl Gates; Secretary, >Iajor-(icneral Knox.
General Washington was continued as President as long as he lived. The
statement met with in the American histories that Washington looked with
disfavor on the Society, or that the original Institution was ever changed so
as to abolish the clause providing for hereditary succession, are erroneous.
Alexander Johnston, in looking over the records and papers of the So-
ciety, fowinl autographs of the following distinguished personages:
W^ashington, St. ('lair, Kochambeau,
Lafayette, Lincoln, Luzerne,
Hamilton, Putnam, d'Estaing,
Knox, Paul Jones, de la Grasse,
Gates, Pinckney, DestoucheSf
Greene, Moultrie, Gouvion,
Steuben, Wayne. du Plessis,
Lee, Mifflin. de Noailles,
De Segur, the Prince of C'ond^, I^^uis XVL -
Correspondence^ Addresses j Etc. 593
Pennsylvania, on the 9th of July in the preceding year, came to
this place in my absence on a tour up the river Potomac.
I am perfectly convinced that, if the institution of this Society
had not been parted with, ere this we should have had the country
in an uproar, and a line of f?>'paration drawn between this Society
and their fellow-citizens. The alterations which took place at the
last general meeting have quieted the clamors which in many of
the States were rising to a great height ; but I have not heard yet
of the incorporation of any Society by the State to which it belongs,
which is an evidence, in my mind, that the jealousies of the people
are rather asleep than removed on this occasion.
I am always made happy when I hear that any of my fellow-
laborers have received appointments, that may in some measure
compensate them for their past services and losses in the late revo-
lution. I feel it in two respects ; first, as it benefits the individual ;
and next, as it is a testimony of public gratitude. Be assured, then,
my dear sir, that your appointment to the office which you now
hold gave me much pleasure, as I am told the emoluments of it are
handsome. My best wishes will ever attend you.
Suggestions for a Plan op Government.*
The Committee of the Council of Censors, to whom it was re-
ferred to report those articles of the Constitution which are de-
*The Constitution of Pennsylvania formed in 1776, provided that, ** In
order that the freedom of this commonwealth may be preserved inviolate
forever, there shall be chosen, by ballot, by the freemen in each city and
county respectively, on the second Tuesday in October, in the year 1783,
and on the second Tuesday in October in every seventh year thereafter, two
persons in each city and county of this State, to be called the Council of
Censors, who shall meet together on the second Monday of November next
ensuing their election ; the majority of whom shall be a quorum, in every
case, except as to calling a convention, in which two-thirds of the whole
number shall agree, and whose duty it shall be to inquire whether the Con-
stitution has been preserved inviolate in every part, and whether the legis-
lative and executive branches of Government have performed their duty as
guardians of the people, or assumed to themselves or exercised othor or
greater powers than they are entitled to by the Constitution; they are also
to inquire whether the public taxes have been justly laid and collected, etc.,
etc. . . . These powers they shall continue to have foi* one year from
the day of their election, and no longer. The said Council of Censors shall
also have power to call a convention, to meet within two years after their
meeting, if there appear to them an absolute necessity of amending any arti-
594 The St. Clair Papers.
fective and suggest alterations and amendments, reported January
19, 1784:
. That, by the Constitution of the State of Pennsylvania, the su-
preme legislative power is vested in one House of Representatives,
•chosen by all those who pay public taxes. Your committee humbly
conceive the said Constitution to be, in this respect, materiallj de-
fective :
1. Because, if it should happen that a prevailing faction in that
one house was desirous of enacting imjustand tyrannical laws, there
is no check upon their proceedings.
2. Because an uncontrolled power of legislation will always enar
ble the body possessing it to usurp both the judicial and the execu-
tive authority, in which case no remedy would remain to the people
but by a revolution.
That, by the said Constitution the supreme executive power is dele-
gated to a council.' Your committee conceive the said Constitution
to be in this respect materially defective:
cle of the Constitution which may be defective, explaining such as may be
thought not clearly expressed, and of adding such as are necessary for the
preservation of the rights and happiness of the people; but the articles to be
amended, and the aniondments proposed, and such articles as are proposed
to be added or abolished, shall bo promulgated nt least six months before the
day appointed for the election of such convention, for the previous consid-
eration of the people, that they may have an opportunity of instructing their
delegates on the subject. '
To this Council of Censors Arthur St. Clair was elected in October, 1783,
from the county of Philadelphia. lie was made a member of the commit-
tee appointed "to report those articles of the Constitution which are mate-
rially defective, and absolutely require alteration and amendment." The
members chosen were: Samuel Miles, Thomas Fitzsimmons, Arthur iSt.
Clair, Thomas Ilartley and John Arndt. The report was drafted princi-
psiUy by General St. Clair, and the essential parts, which have been found in
his handwriting, have been included in this work for the purptise of exhib-
iimg his views <»f the pi'infiph'- nf coii'.titiitioiiMl i^overnment. Althoui:jh tli«'
report was sustained by a mjijority. it lacked tlie requisite two-thirds, and
a new convention was not called at that time.
2 An executive council is a monster. It may do great barm, and never
can do any good — it will ever want that energy and promptness that are
essential to an executive body, for it is not executive but deliberative. It
destroys all responsibility, and is a very useless expense. If the President
has abilities, the council are but the solemn witnesses of his acts; if be is
ambitious at the same time, they will be found to be his useful instruments;
if he is cruel or revengeful, at once his ready tools and a defense behind
which ho at any time can shelter himself; if rapacious, they will share with
him in the plunder of their country, I wish, for the honor of human na-
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc, 695
1. Because the constant sitting of a council is expensive and bur-
densome.
2. Because a numerous body of men, though possessed of wis-
dom necessary for deliberation, will never possess the decision nec-
essary for action on sudden emergencies.
3. Because, where a Council act either weakly or wickedly, there
is no individual so accountable to the public as every man ought to
be in such cases.
4. Because a single man would never be able of himself to do
such acts as he may persuade a majority of his Council to concur in
and support by their numbers.
6. Because, the election of the President being by joint ballot of
the Council and Assembly, if a prevailing faction should ever happen
in the assembly so as to lead a considerable majority, the President
thus chosen will have nothing to fear from the Legislature, and, by
influencing the Council, will possess exorbitant authority, without
being properly accountable^ for the exercise of it.
That by the said Constitution the judges of the Supreme Court
are to be commissioned for seven years only, and are removable (for
misbehavior) at any time, by the General Assembly. Your com-
mittee conceive the said Constitution to be, in this respect mate-
rially defective :
1. Not only because the lives and property of the citizens must,
in a great degree depend upon the judges, but the liberties of the
State are evidently connected with their independence.
2. Because, if the Assembly should pass an unconstitutional law,
and the judges have virtue enough to refuse to obey it, the same
Assembly could instantly remove them.
3. Because, at the close of seven years the seats of the judges
must depend on the will of the Council ; wherefore, the judges will
^laturally be under an undue bias, in favor of those upon whose will
their commissions are to depend.
That great care is taken by the said constitution to establish a ro-
tation in sundry offices, which your committee humbly conceive to
be improvident :
ture, no such combination could ever be found; but we know they have ex-
isted together in other countries — they may exist together in this. All the
dangers of an inconvenient aristocracy are justly to be dreaded from such
a body as our present Council. The rotation of its members is no security.
Our Assembly will soon degenenite into an oligarchy, and the wretched
people be destroyed by it. — NoU by Arthur St Clair.
696 The St. Clair Papers.
1. Because the hope of reappointment to office is amongst the
strongest incentives to the due execution of the trust it confers.
2. Because the State is thereby necessarily deprived of the serv-
ice of useful men for a time, and compelled to make experiment of
others who may not prove equally wise and virtuous.
3. Because the check intended by such principle of rotation can
be of no good effect to repress inordinate ambition, unless it were
extended so as to preclude a man from holding any office whatever.
4. Because the privilege of the people in elections is so far in-
fringed as they are thereby deprived of the right of choosing those
persons whom they would prefer.
[Having thus pointed out the defects of the Constitution, the
committee proceeded to elaborate the principles indicated by setting
up new articles more in the spirit of republican government. In
this I shall not follow the completed report, as submitted to the
Council of Censors, but such parts as I find among the St. Clair
Papers which were the originals of the report.]
To the end that the laws mav be more maturelv considered, and
the blessings of free and equal government extended and secured
to the good people of this State, the supreme legislative power shall
be vested in two separate and distinct bodies of men : The one
to be called the Legislative Council or Senate ; the other to be
called the House of Assem])ly ; who shall meet once, at least, in
every year, for the dispatch of public business, and shall be styled
The General Assembly of Pennsylvania.
The Senate shall consist of members from each county in this
State, chosen annually from anion^^st the body of the freeholders at
the time and place directed by law for the election of members of
Assembly, and shall respectively ])e possessed of an unincumbered
estate of the value of iK)unds. All bills framed in the
House of Assembly shall be sent to them for their consideration,
and, if concurred in by a majority, they shall be sent back to the
Assembly, and shall become, when signed ])y the Speaker, the laws
of the land, but they shall have a negative upon every bill of what
kind soever, for the use of which they may assign their reasons to
the Assembly, or otherwise, at their pleasure, and no bill shall pass
into a law without their consent. The Legislative Council shall
have power to appoint a President, who shall have a casting voice
in all debates in that Iwdy, but no other vote ; and, in case of the
absence, death, or resignation of the Governor, he shall administer
the Government, and have and exercise, for the time being, all the
powers and privileges of the Governor.
CorrespondencCj Addresses, Etc. 597
The House of Assembly shall consist of persons most noted for
wisdom and virtue, to be chosen by the freemen of every city and
county therein respectively.
(The people of every county ought to be constitutionally at lib-
erty to choose representatives from any part of the State. It is
confining the idea of representiition too much, and the }x?()ple have
the undoubted right to judge >vho will best serve them and the j)ul>-
lic at large, and to elect them whether they are residents of the re
spective county or not.)
Tlie meml)ers of the House of Assembly shall be chosen annu-
ally, by ballot, on the second. Tuesday of October, forever, and shall
meet on the fourth Monday of the same month.
All money bills shall originate in the House of Assembly only,
and may be altered, amended, or rejected by the Legislative Coun-
cil. All other bills and ordinances may take rise in the House of
Assembly or Legislative Council, and may be altered, amended, or
rejected by either. They shall sit on their own adjournments, but
neither body shall have power to adjourn themselves for longer time
than two days, without mutual consent. They shall judge of the
elections and qualifications of their own members ; they may ex-
pel a member, but not twice for the same cause ; they may admin-
ister oaths on examination of witnesses, and have all other powers
necessary for a free and independent branch of the Legislature.
No reasons against a law ought to appear upon the minutes. If
the bill passes by a majority of one only, it is as binding and an
equal obedience is due to it as if it had passed with unanimous
consent. A dissent with reasons on the minutes can answer no end
but to foment party disputes, and weaken the force of the law, and
impede ' its execution. But the happiness of a State is so inti-
mately combined with a vigorous execution of and prompt obedi-
ence to the laws, that, where these are wanting, anarchy *must en-
sue. If the laws are found imj>erfect or oppressive, they should be
amended or rei)ealed. The privilege of entering the yeas and nays
is all that any member should desire, and is as much as is consistent
with order and good government.
There shall he 41 Governor, to whom shall be intrusted the execu-
tion of the laws and the api)ointment of all officers, civil and mili-
tary, the officers of both Houses of the Legislature excepted, who
shall be appointed by each House respectively. The Governor
shall be chosen annually by the freemen of the State, qualified as is
required to entitle persons to vote for members of the House of
Assembly, at the same time and place or places. He shall be, in
598 The St. Clair Papers.
virtue of his office, Commander-in-Chief of the forces of the State,
but shall not have power to march the militia beyond the bounda-
ries of the State without the consent of the Legislature. He shall
have power to convene the General Assembly on extraordinary oc-
casions, and to pardon, to mitigate punishment, or reprieve persons
convicted of crimes, other than those that may be convicted on im-
peachment or of treason. It shall be his duty to lay before the
General Assembly, at every session, a statement of the condition
of public affairs, and call attention to such business as may re-
quire legislative consideration. All bills shall be presented to him
for his ai)proval ; but if he objects to the passing of such bill, he
shall return it, together with his objections, to the House in which
it originated.
The Judges of the Supreme Court, and of the Courts of Com-
mon Pleas, shall be appointed by the Governor, and hold their
offices during good behavior.* They shall be incapable of holding
any other office.
A court shall be appointed for the trial of impeachment, and shall
consist of members of the Assembly and Legislative Council, to be
chosen by ballot.
" Thoy should hold their offices during good behavior. Nothing is of more
importai co to the people than the able and impartial administration of jus-
tice; but that can not happen unless the judges are taken from the bar. To
acquire any emii»ence in the profos>ion of the law, requires a long and la-
borious preparation — after much toil and study the road to case and impi>rt-
ance opens by degrees, and an assiduous appjcation to business seldom fails
to obtain th^m. Will any man who is in that train quit it fc)r the precarious
enjoyment of an office which mu<t determine in seven years — where, though
he may be re-elected, ho has no certainty ot it? Indeed, the only certainty
ho can derive arises, not from a steady unbiased execution of the office, but
from an interested and variable attention to the fluctuations of parties and
party politics. — Nate hij Arthur St. Clair.
The following observation on juries, in connection with courts, has also
been found:
The trial by jury is an inestimable ]>rivileg'\ yet there is something very
absurd in the construction of juries as they now stand. A man niust either
bo starved or damned if ho happens not to be alile to think as Siwno others
do. Let the juries consist of twenty-five, and the verdict be given by a
majority, then no man can be convicted or actpiitted, b.t by the unanimous
voice of at least thirteen of his f«*l low-citizens. — .Arthur St. Clair.
The report of the committee led to a prolonged debate, in which St. Clair
participated. Parts of several speeches are preserved, but they j.re argu-
ment based on the above constitution al principles, and need not bo repeated
here.
Correspondence^ Addresses, Etc. 599
Arthur St. Clair to John Dickinson/
Philadelphia, July 16^, 1785.
Sir : — Having heard that the agents for forfeited estates for the
County of Westmoreland are about to sell the buildings in Fort
Pitt as the property of Alexander Ross, an attainted traitor, pei>
mit me to inform you that no part of the buildings which were left
standing in that fort at its evacuation by the British ever were Mr.
Ross's property. A part of them belongs to me by grant from Gen-
eral Gage, and part to other people, and some buildings have been
erected therein since it has been occupied by the United States.
The ruins, wliich consisted of the materials of a very good house,
that was pulled down ; the revetment of rampart and parapet — a
squarrcd log redoubt, and a number of pickets or palisades were
purchased by Mr. Ross and the late General Thompson, for, I think,
the sum of fifteen or eighteen pounds ; but, during the residence of
the one and the life of the other, no claim was set up to the build-
ings that were on foot. The disposing of the houses by the agents
may embarrass the owners as well as the purchasers, and, for my
part, I am not inclined to sell mine at all. Should Council desire it,
I will wait upon them to give fuller information, and, in the mean-
time, have to request that the sale may be ordered to be postponed.*
President St. Clair to James Monroe.
New York, A^vgust 20th, 1786.
Dear ^ir;— I have been favored with your letter of yesterday,'
and thank you for the communications it contains, upon which I
will truly give you my sentiments. A treaty with Spain I consider
^President of the State of Ponnsj-lvania.
2 Which request was complied with. The facts are more fully stated in a
letter to John Penn.
'The letter of Mr. Monroe is missing, but his opinions as to the proposed
treaty with Spain wore diametrically oppose d to those expressed by St. Clair in
the above letter, and in that respect he represented not only Virginia, but four
other Southern States. The other Virginia members, excepting Henry Lee,
held the same views. Briefly stated, the situation was this: Spain, in 1786,
appointed Don Diego Gardoqui, Enrargardo de ^>gorios,m reprojcntativeof
that Court in this country. The rank was not high, but it was at a time
when the new Republic was grateful for any kind of recognition. John
Jay, Secretary of Congress for Foreign Affairs, was commissioned to negoti-
600 The St. aair Papers.
as very important to America, at the same time it is certainly our
ate with Gardoqui a commercial treaty. The original instructions were re-
pealed by Congress, and new ones substituted, which required him to stipu-
late the right of the United States to their territorial bounds, and the free
navigation of the Mississippi from its source to the Gulf. This latter stipu-
lation proved an insurmountable barrier to the progress of the negotiation.
It was a point that Spain would not yield, and could not be enforced except
by war. After months spent in fruitless correspondence, Mr. Jay requested
that the instructions be modified, and recommended a compromise, by the
proposal of a treaty in which for an equivalent of commercial advantages t<>
the United States, they, without renouncing the right to the navigation to
the Mississippi, should agree to forbear the exercise of that right for a term
of years, to which the duration of the treaty should be limited.
Upon this proposition a debate sprung up in Congress which brought to
the front the sharp differences that had been developed during the Revolu-
tionary war between the Northern and Southern State's. Mr. Rufus King,
of Massachusetts, was especially active in supporting the proposed com-
promise, and I find that St. Clair, on behalf of Pennsylvania, joined in the
debate with great zeal. Memoranda of a speech now before me, show that
in his remarks on the floor of Congress, he went even further than he has in
the letter above to Mr. Monroe. He remarked that the fact that the United
States would be prevented, by force, from navigating the Mississippi, and
that it was not then necessary to them, were reasons why they should con-
sent to forbour the navigation. It was certainly better policy to waive the
exercise of a right which they could not maintain and obtain something for
the waiver, than by pertinaciously insisting u])(>n it, lose the advantage and
endanger the right of it. Whereat if Spain should accept the waiver, the
right of the United States would l)e established for the future, when they
should be better able to maintain it.
What was proposed to Spain was a commercial treaty, not an alliance.
The importance to the United States, in the present urgency, for extending
business relations and restoring a sound financial basis, would be better un-
derstood when it was known that she would take the American products, and
pay in the precious metals. He attributed the anxiety of Spain to form this
relation to America, to her desire to strike a blow at Britain by helping to
create a new maritime power. If the opportunity of!*ered should be rejected,
then the United States would again be placed at the mercy of Great Britain.
Two months alter the date of St. Clair's letter to Mr. Monroe, Henry Lee
wrote to (ieneral Washington on the same subject. He stood alone in the
Virginia delegation in support of Mr. Jay, and he believed that his old com-
mander held to the same opinions. In that letter he said: ''The Eastern
States consider a commercial connection with Spain as the only remedy for
the distresses which oppress their citizens, most of which, they say, flow» from
the decay of their commerce. Their dele«^ates hav(» consequently, zealously
pressed the formation of this connection, as the only eflectual mode to revive
the trade of their country. In this opinion they have been joined by two
of the Middle States. On the other hand, Virginia has, with equal zeal, op-
posed the connection, because the project involves expressly the disuse of the
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 601
duty to endeavor to obtain it upon the best terms possible, indeed,
if it was possible to give up nothing to procure it ; but I believe that
can not be done, for, it seems, as I have been informed, that Spain,
notwithstanding she is desirous of being in amity with us, has
directed her Minister to stipulate as the price of her friendship an
acknowledgment on our part of her right to navigate, exclusively,
the Mississippi River. The Minister of the United States is directed
to insist in their behalf on the right of navigating that river freely
with Spain. It is obvious that without one or the other party reced-
ing in part, the business is at an end. The question then is; Is the
friendship of Spain worth any concessions in respect to that river ?
I think it is. Mr. Jay suggests that forbearing to use for a limited
time the right we pretend to have to that navigation, which would
be a concession on our part, might enable him to proceed on the
business in which he can not advance one step under present cir-
cumstances. In this view, I am clearly of opinion that the restric-
tive clause of his instructions ought to be repealed, but as Mr.
Grayson's proposition is more favorable to the Union than the abso-
lute forbearing to navigate for a given time, how short soever, I
think it ought to have a trial, and, therefore, I wish to make it an
instruction to Mr. Jay, but by no means an ultimatum.
As to taking the negotiations out of the hands of Mr. Jay and
committing it to our Minister in Europe, I can not think it advisable.
navigation of the Mississippi for a given time, and eventually, they think,
will sacrifice our right to it. The delegation is under instructions from the
State on this subject. They have acted in obedience to their instructions,
and, myself excepted, in conformity to their private sentiments, 1 confess
that I am by no means convinced of the justice or policy of our instructions,
and very much apprehend, unless they are repealed by the present Assembly,
the fatal effects of discord in council will be experienced by the United
States in a very high degree."
In his reply. General Washington said: ** My sentiments with respect tu
the navigation of the Mississippi are known to you. They are controverted
by only one consideration of weight, and that is, the operation which the
occlusion of it may have on the minds of the Western settlers, who will not
conisider the subject in a relative point of view or on a comprehensive scale,
and may be influenced by the demagogues of the country to acts of extrav-
agance and desperation, under the popular declamation that their interests
are sacrificed."
Washington's prediction was verified some years later, when he was Presi-
dent and St. Clair was Governor of the North-western Territory, in the
commotion in the West on account of the exclusive jurisdiction of Spain
over the Mississippi. At this session, as only seven States voted for the com-
promise proposed by Mr. Jay, when nine were requisite, the treaty failed.
602 The St. Clair Papers.
So fiir from being acceptable to the court of Madrid, it strikes me
that it would be offensive, and if it would be at all necessary that
Mr. Gardoqui should be attended to, it would be impossible ; for the
investing of Mr. Jefferson, or any other person, with the character
of an Envoy Extraordinary, and sending him to Madrid, would
virtually supersede Gardoqui. It appears to me we could not
possibly tak.i a more effectual step to defeat the measure, which, in
the light in which it presents itself to my mind, I think would be a
real misfortune to our country. Indeed, I do not think there is an-
other commercial nation in the world but would feel gratified in hav-
ing Spain come forward in the manner she has done to us ; nor one
that would not be pleased at seeing the opportunity slip through our
fingers. Consider, my dear sir, that Spain has, in some measure,
committed herself, without waiting until we should desire her friend-
ship. She has offered it without requesting us to send to Madrid to
negotiate the terms ; and all nations consider it important to have
negotiations carried on under their own eyes, as it gives them a
larger influence in them, and the opportunity of improving every
circumstance that offers. She has sent her Minister to negotiate a
treaty here. It is evident the friendship of the United States is
valued higlily, or a step so uncommon from so haughty a Court
would uot have been taken. And what reason can we suggest for
desiring to put the negotiations in a train that other nations would
studiously avoid? I can sec no good ones, but I can see two that
will very readily preseut themselves to the Spanish Minister: One,
that ^Ir. Gardoqui is not acceptal)le, and we will not do business
with him ; anotlier, that delav is all we have in view until we can
feel the pulses of other (Courts, and put ourselves in a situation to
assert by force that which we claim and they dispute.
The first certainly makes an enemy of Gardoqui, and all his in-
terest with the Spanisli Ministry, be it much or little, will be ex-
erted unfavoral)ly for America. The second, as certainly, determ-
ined tlie Ministry and the nation against us.
That ^fr. Jay may have been endeavoring to get his instruct it ms
repealed I neither doubt nor wonder at, because I think they were
in tlie highest degree improper. It seems to me that if it had been
the design to give Mr. Gardoqui the ascendant in the negotiation,
to put it in his power to know the utmost latitude of Mr. Jay's
power whiles lie could conceal his own, nothing could have been con-
trived better to answer the purpose. But if Mr. Jay is deemed an
unfit person, or if he has not hitherto managed the business in a
manner satisfactory to Congress, take it out of his hands, and com-
CoiTesponde7icey Addresses, Etc. 603
mit it to some other' person ; but let the negotiations go on here.
Yonr communications with your Minister may be as frequent and
easy as you please, and if it should, at any time, be found necessary
to throw obstacles in the way of its progress, it can be done with
more ease than at Madrid.
I am an entire stranger to the circumstance you allude to relating
to Mr. Jay.
I shall always be happy to receive any communication you may
please to make. I have replied with the same freedom and with
the utmost candor, which, as I intended, I trust you will accept as a
testimony of the esteem and regard with which I am yours, etc.
Presidekt St. Clair to Governor Huntington.*
New York (without date), 1787.'
Sir ; — The want of a due representation in Congress, so frequently
as it has happened, and for so great a length of time together, has
very greatly embarrassed the affairs of the Union, and given much
dissatisfaction to the States which generally keep their representations
up, as well as disgust to the members who attend from those States.
It has very often been complained of, and the States not represented
pressed to send their delegates forward ; too often, I am sorry to be
obliged to say, sir, with very little effect, although it must be obvi-
ous that, independent of the great national concerns which thereby
often suffer an inconvenience, at least, if not a disgraceful delay, their
own particular interests run some risk from public measures being
adopted without the aid of their counsels.
What must the nations of the world think of us when they shall
be informed that we have appointed an assembly, and invested it
with the sole and exclusive power of peace and war and the man-
agement of all national concerns, and, during the course of almost
a whole year, it has not been capable, except for a few days, for
want of a sufficient number of members, to attend to those mat-
ters ? Since the first Monday in November last to this time there
has been a representation of nine States only thirty days, and ten
* Samuel Huntington, Governor of Connecticut.
* Either in the early part of June, or in August, 1787, as reference is made
to the Constitutional Convention, sitting in Philadelphia. St. Clair had
been chosen President of Congress at the beginning of the session, in Feb-
ruary.
•r-
604 1 he St. Clair Papers.
States only three days, and as the representation of most of the
States has consisted of only two persons, no great business could be
done without the unanimous consent of every individual member.
We are now, sir, reduced to six, although matters of the highei?t
importance are pressing for a decision, and can not be long delayed,
without compromising the dignity of the Government and exposing
the peace and safety of several of the States. Besides, sir, the
National Convention, which the people look up to for much good,
will soon rise, and it api)ears to be of great consequence that, when
their report comes under the consideration of Congress, it should be
a full Congress, and the important business which will be laid be-
fore them meet with no unnecessary delay.
The secretary wrote, not long ago, to the unrepresented States,
but no effect has yet appeared to follow from it. I must, therefore,
again repeat the request, and in the most pressing terms, that your
Excellency would use every means in your power to hasten forward
the delegates of your State. ^
General William Irvine to General Richard Butler.
New York, July 19, 1787.
Dear Sir : — The President * and myself arrived here last Tuesday
morning, in time to take our seats the same day, and make up, at
the same time, nine States. The inclosed Ordinance ^ had passed
two days l)efore. Who the officers of that government will be I
have not lieard nor inquired.
I fear nine States will not be held up long, as some talk of going
away soon ; whether they will be replaced soon is uncertain.^
The bargain or sale, as you will see by the inclosed sketch, is
^Thirt letter affi)i*ds a pertinent illustration of the weakness and iDefficiencj
of the old Confederation, when the States possessed the chief power, and
wore either indifferent to or neglected the appeals made by the Continental
authority for means to carry on the affairs of government. Similar letters
were addressed to the Governors of Georgia, Maryland, Rhode Island,
and New Hampshire, which were unrepresented.
» President St. Clair.
'The Ordinance for government of North-west Territory.
♦ It was difficult to keep a representation from the States under the Con-
federation. See the urgent appeal of St. Clair to Governor Huntington,
ante.
Correspondence^ Addresses y Etc, 605
nearly completed for that fine tract of country.' For my own part,
I have no objection to that mode of sale, because I think it most
advantageous for the United States, as it will sink the national debt
without any additional expense for surveying, etc. , provided they
pay for all that is secured to them — and that they are confined b^
once to certain bounds — Congress at liberty to do what they please
with all the rest at any time. I confess to you I am opposed to a
pre-emption to any company or set of men, I think, on sound prin-
ciples ; and I hope to prevent this passing with that tail, however
beneficial the body might be without. I have no idea, in making a
sale, to bribe a person to get him to take my commodity with another
article of equal or more value.
Your dispatches have been read and committed, and I suppose
will soon be taken up ; but in the meantime the Dominion^ accord-
ing to custom, are pressing partial measures for the purpose of de-
fending " Caue-tucke," as they say. I wish for general arrange-
ments at once. At present I can not properly say more. You
will soon hear what is doing.
General Gates to President St. Clair.
Traveler's Rest, Berkeley County, Virginia,
Augvst 31, 1787.
Sir : — I had the honor to receive your Excellency's letter of the
9th inst., with the elegant medal in gold, which the most honor-
able the Congress, in their names, and in behalf of the inhabitants
of the thirteen United States, were pleased to direct the Board of
War to have struck and presented to me. Nothing could add to this
distinguished mark of the favor and approbation of Congress but
my receiving it in so polite a manner from the hands of your Excel-
lency; from you, sir, whom, in the course of thirty years, I have so
often had the honor to accompany on a vast variety of military service.
Permit me, likewise, to declare the satisfaction I feel in seeing your
Excellenc/s merits crowned by the high station you now fill with
such acknowledged ability.
That the prosperity, honor, and happiness of the United Statci^
may last to the end of time, and that your Excellency may continue
to enjoy the best blessings fortune can bestow, is my constant, ardent
wish.
^ This refers to the negotiations between Dr. Cutler and Congress for a sale
of public lands in the Territory.
606 The St. Clair Papers.
The United States in Conoress Assebcbled to Abthub St.
Claib, Esq.
We, reposing special trust and confidence in your integrity,
prudence, and ability, have constituted and appointed, and by
these presents do constitute and appoint you, the said Arthur St.
Clair, Governor in and over the territory of the United States of
America North-west of the river Ohio ; and Commander-in-Chief of
the militia therein ; to order, rule, and govern the same, conform-
ably to the Ordinance of the 13th July, 1787, entitled ** An Ordi-
nance for the Government of the Territory of the United States
North-west of the river Ohio," which is hereto affixed ; and we do
hereby give and grant to you, the said Arthur St. Clair, all the
powers, authorities, and prerogatives assigned to the governor of the
said territory in and by the said Ordinance. And we do strictly en-
join all persons to pay due obedience to this our commission. This
commission to take effect from the 1st day of February, 1788, and
to continue in force for the term of three years thereafter, unless
sooner revoked by Congress.
President Benjamin Franklin to Arthur St. Clair and
other Djo^egates in Congress.*
In Council, Philadeli»iiia. September 22 , 1787.
Gentlemen: — Inclosed* is a letter to General Clinton, which we
^This correspondence refers to conflicts growing out of the claims of citi-
zens of Connecticut to lunds in the Wyoming country, in what is Luzerne
county. Grants of lands were originally obtained by citizens of Connecti-
cut of the Indians, lying on the rivers Susquehanna and Delaware, within
the boundaries of Pennsylvania, and land companies formed bearing the
names of tliose rivers. Settlements and improvements were made, and theState
of C<Jiinecticut exercised jurisdiction over them for some years, and during
the Revolutionary War. A dispute arose between the two States as to juris-
diction, and the matter finally came before Congress. The decision was in
favor of Pennsylvania. A large number of the citizens of Wyoming, the
chief of which were two men named John Franklin and John Jenkins, re-
fused to recognize what was styled the Trenton decree, and during the years
1786 and 1787, a condition of affairs bordering on anarchy prevailed in that
section. The Susquehanna Land Company prevailed on Colonel Ethan Allen,
of Verniont, to visit that country, and that eccentric oflScer, with John Frank-
lin, attempted to organize the citizens in opposition to the government
of Pennsylvania, and declare that section an independent State. The
^ See note 1 next page.
Correspondence^ Addresses^ Etc. 607
send unsealed for your perusal, with the several papers of intelli-
gence that accompany it. The Council have thought of sending a
few resolute men, authorized to apprehend and bring off Franklin
scheme failed and Allen returned home. Franklin, however, continued his
violent opposition, and, at the head of a mob, seized Colonel Timothy Pick-
ering, chairman of the board of commissioners appointed to hear and report
on the claims of the Connecticut settlers, carried him away, and subjected
him to insult. An armed force was finally sent by Doctor Benjamin Frank-
lin. President of Pennsylvania, to seize Franklin and other disturbers of the
peace, as set forth in the correspondence above. The mob caught the spirit
of the Shay's rebellion of Massachusetts. John Franklin was apprehended
and imprisoned for a long time, which led to correspondence between the
executives of the States of Connecticut and Pennsylvania. All the difficul-
ties were happily arranged with the aid of Congress — the latter setting
apart a body of land on Lake Erie, west 6i New York, for the use of such
Connecticut settlers as chose to move thither and avail themselves of free
lands.
^The letter to Governor Clinton, which was inclosed, was as follows*
"In Council, September 22, 1787.
'^'Sir: — Your Excellency will see by the papers and letters of intelligence,
which I have the honor of communicating to you, that there are a number
of disorderly people collecting near the line that divides our two States, who
are impatient of regular government, and seize upon and presume to dispose
of lands contrary to and in defiance of the laws. It has appeared to me by
other evidence, that their numbers are daily increasing by vagabonds from
all quarters, and that they expect reinforcements from Shay's latf partisans,
and purpose defending their pioceedings by force of arms. Vour Excel-
lency will be sensible with us of the mischief such a body of banditti may
be capable of occasioning to both our States, if suffered to increase and es-
tablish themselves in that country; the vicinity of the boundary line afford-
ing them at present an imaginary security, since, if pursue<l by the authority
of one of the States, they can easily step over into the others. Your Excel-
lency's readiness manifested on other occasions to aid the operations of gen-
eral justice, even in neighboring governments, leaves no room to doubt of
your concurring with us in the measures that may be necessary to defeat the
projects of those people, some of whose leaders are said to be inhabitants of
your State; for the concerting such measures, the council of this govern-
ment unanimously and earnestly request your Excellency would be pleased
to permit our delegates in Congress to have a conference with you.
" I have the honor to be, etc.,
»*B. Franklin, Prcswfeni.*
"In Council, September 26, 1787.
"iSr; — You are to take what number of militia you think necessary and
proceed with the greatest dispatch to Wilksbarre, in the county of Luzerne.
When there, if you think it necessary, consult Colonel Pickering on the best
method you can take to apprehend John Franklin, John Jenkins, Zerah
608 The St. Clair Papers.
and Jenkins ; but if they should be on the York side of the line,
it might be impracticable without the concurrence of that govern-
ment. You will see that we have requested the Governor to have
a conference with you on the subject, in which, if it take place, we
desire you would not only discuss what may be proper for the se-
curing the ringleaders of the sedition, but concert some general
measures for the two States to take, that it may be effectually and ,
totally suppressed, and that you would report to us the result of '
your conference as soon as may be.
P. S. — You will see the propriety and necessity of keeping the
proceedings secret, as well as the names of the informers, and you
will return the inclosed papers.
Arthur St. Clair to Benjamin Franklin.
New York, September 28, 1787.
Sir: — ^In pursuance of your Excellency's letter in Council of the
22d instant, the delegates of the State had, yesterday, a conference
with Governor Clinton upon the subject of the intelligence con-
tained in the papers inclosed to him.
Governor Clinton seems perfiectly well disposed to concur in any
general mea.sure that may tend to preserve the peace of the two
States; but he apprehends no danger from most of the persons
mentioned in those papers; on the contrary, he seems to think they
are disposed to become peaceable and orderly citizens of the State
of New York, particularly Ar. ^loodrey (?), in whom he appeared
Uy have a confidence. As General Irvine and Mr. Bingham are
both going to Philadelphia, I beg leave to refer your Excellency to
them for more particular information.
As to Franklin and Jenkins, the delegates are of opinion that no
more proj)er method can be pursued than that suggested in your
Excellency's letter — of sending a few resolute men to take them off;
and should they be on the York side of the line, or take refuge
within that State, the apprehending them will give no offense to the
Government. On the contrary, the Governor is ready to concur
Beach, and John McKinstry. Should you take all or any of these men
prisoners, you arc to bring tliom to Philadelphia. If you take Franklin at
Wilkesbarre, do not proceed any further, or run the risk of losing him by
endeavoring to apprehend the others. Council have the utmost reliance on
your secresy and your prudence in conducting this affair. If opposed by
force, you are to use force and execute the warrant at all events.
B. Franklin, President.
" To Colonel John Craig.
Correspondence y Addresses^ Etc. 609
with the measure, and to that end has proposed that the warrant
that may be thought proper to issue against those men be sent here,
when he will get it backed by the Chief Justice, and accompany it,
so Imcked with his own warrant, under the privy seal, commanding
the inhabitants (for they have no magistrate) of that district to be
aiding and assisting in apprehending them. Should Council then
adopt the measure, if you will please to inclose the warrant to me,
no time shall l)e lost in presenting it to Governor Clinton, and re-
turning in to your Excellency.
Paul Jones to President St. Clair.
New York, November 6, 1787.
Dear General: — Having in view the attainment of a contract in
France for supplying the marine with masts, building timber and
naval stores from this country, and having reason to hope that my
friends, Mr. Robert Morris and Colonel Wadsworth, will connect
themselves with me in the contract if I can obtain it, I accept, with
great pleasure and thankfulness, your kind offer to write to General
Washington and endeavor to obtain from him a letter to the Marquis
de L4ifayette in favor of my project. Such a letter would insure
the exertions of the Marquis, and might be particularly useful to
me if any opening should offer within the military line, or otherwise,
while I remain in Europe. It may be forwarded (under cover to
me) to the Secretary for Foreign Afl&irs here, who will send it to its
destination. Permit me to offer you my thanks for the many marks
I have received of your kind regard, and for the flattering honor
you do me by accepting my bust, which will be sent to you as soon
as I arrive in Paris. I should be happy to hear from you ; and I
pray you to be assured that no man has more respect for your
character, talents and greatness of mind than, dear General, your
most obedient and most humble servant.
End of Vol. I.
PUBLICATIONS
ROBERT CLARKE & CO
CINCINNATI, O.
HISTORICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS.
Alzog (John D. D.) A Manual of Uni-
versal Church History. Translated bv
Rev. T. J. Pabisch and Rev. T. S. Bvrne.
3 vols. 8vo. io 00
AxnERsoN (E. L.) Six Weeks in Norway
18mo. 1 no
Andre (Major). The Cow Chase; an He-
roick Poem. 8vo. Paper. 75
Antrim (J.) The History of Champaign
and Logan Counties. Ohio, from their
First Settlement. 12mo. 1 r)0
Ballard (Julia P.) Insect Lives; or, Born
in Prison. Illustrated. Scj. 12mo. I 00
Bell (Thomas J.) History of the Cincin-
nati Water Works. Plates. 8vo. 75
Ben'N'rr (S.) Prophecies of Future Ups and
Downs in Prices: What Years to Make
Money in Pig Iron. Hogs. Corn, and Pro-
visions. 3d ed. 24nio. 1884. I 00
Bible ix the Public Schools. Records. Ar-
guments, etc., in the Case of Minor vs.
Board of Education or Cincinnati. 8vo.
2 00
Arguments in Favor of the Use of the
Bible. Separate. Paper. 50
Arguments Against the Use of the Bible.
Separate. Paper, 50
Bibliotheca Americana. 1883. Being a
priced Catalogue of a large Collection
(nearly 7 0<'0 items) of Books and Pam-
phlets relating to America. 8vo. 312
pages. Paper, 50c.; (^loth, 1 00
BiDDLE (Horace P.) Elements of Knowl-
edge. 12mo. 1 00
BiDDLE (Horace P.) Prose Miscellanies.
I2mo. 1 00
BouQCKT (H.) The Expedition of, against
the Ohio Indians in 1764, etc. With
Preface by Francis Parkman, Jr. Svo.
$3.00. Large paper, 6 00
BoYLAND (G. H., M.D.) Six Months Under
the Red Cross with the French Army in
the Franco- Prussian War. I2nio. 1 50
Brunxkr (A. A.) Elementary and Pro-
nouncing French Reader. 18mo. 60
Bruxxer (A. A.) The Gender of French
Verbs Simplified. 18mo. 25
Burt (Rev. N. C , D.D.) The Far East; or
Letters from Egypt, Palestine, etc. 12mo
1 75
BcTTERFiELD (C. W.J The Wa.<hington-
Crawford Letters; being the Correspond-
once between George Washington and
William Crawford, concerning Western
Lands. 8vo. 1 Oo
BuTTERFiELD (C. W.) The Discovery of the
Northwest in 1634, by John Nicolet, with
a Sketch of his Life. 12mo. 1 UO
Clark (Col. George Rogers). Sketches of
his Campaign in the Illinois in J 778-9.
With an Introduction by Hon. Henry
Pirtle, and an Appendix. 8vo. $2 00
Large paper, 4 00
CoFFix (Levi.) The Reminiscences of Levi
Coffin, the Reputed President of the Un-
derground Railroad. A Brief History of
the Labors of a Lifetime in behalf of the
Slave. With Stories of Fugitive Slaves,
etc., etc. 12mo. 2 00
Collier (Peter). Sorghum : its Culture and
Manufacture Economically Considered,
and as a Source of Sugar, Syrup and Fod-
der. Illustrated. 8vo. 3 00
COXSTITDTIOX OF THE UxiTED STATES, EtC.
The' Declaration of Independence, July
4, 1776; the Articles of Confederation,
July 9, 1778; the Constitution of the
United States, September 17, 1787; the
Fifteen Amendment to the (Constitution,
and Index; Washington's Farewell Ad-
dress, September 7, 1 796. 8vo. Paper. 25
Corxwell (H. G.) Consultation Chart of
the Eye-Symptoms and Eye^mplica-
tions of General Disease. 14 x 20 inches.
Mounted on IMUer. 50
Cr.vio(N. B.) The Olden Time. A Monthly
Publication, devoted to the Preservation
of Documents of Early History, etc.
Originally Published at Pittsburg, in
1846-47. 2 vols. Svo. 10 00
Drake (D.) Pioneer Life in Kentucky.
Edited, with Notes and a Biographical
Sketch bv his Son, Hon. Chas. D. Drake.
Svo. $3 00. Large paper. 0 00
DpBrecil ( A.) Vineyard Culture Improved
and Cheapened. Edited by Dr. J. A.War-
der. 12mo. 2 00
Ellard (Virginia G.) Grandma's Christ-
mas Day. Hlus. Sq. 12mo. 1 00
PUBUCATIONS OF ROBERT CLARKE & CO.
Everts (Orpheus). What Shall We Do
With the Drunkard ? A Rational View
of the Use of Brain Stimulants. 8vo.
Paper. 50
Family Expense Book. A Printed Account
Book, with Appropriate Columns and
Ueadings, for keeping a Complete Record
of Family Expenses. J 2mo. 50
FixLEY (I. J.) and Putnam (R.) Pioneer
Record and Reminiscences of the Early
Settlers and Settlement of Ross County,
Ohio. 8vo. 2 50
Fletcher (Wm. B., M.D.) Cholera: its
Characteristics, History, Treatment, etc.
8vo. Paper. 1 00
Force (M. F.) E.ssays: Pre-Hiatoric Man —
Darwinism and Deity — The Mound Build-
ers, 8vo. Paper.
Force (M. F.) Some Early Notices of the
Indians of Ohio. To What Hace did the
Mound Builders Belong? 8vo. Paper. 50
Freeman (Ellen). Manual of the French
Verb, to accompany every French Course.
16mo. Paper. 25
Gallagher (Wm. D.) Miami Woods, A
Golden Wedding, and other Poems.
12mo. 2 00
Guimke (F.) Considerations on the Nature
and Tendency of Free Institutions.
8vo. 2 50
Gri8Wold(W.) Kansas: Hor Resources and
Developments; or, the Kansas Pilot. I
8vo. Paper. 50 1
Hall (James). Legends of the West.
Sketches illustrative of the Hal>its, Oc-
cupations. Privations, Adventures, and
Sports of the Pioneers of the West.
12mo. 2 00
Hall (.lamos). Romance of Western Hi.s-
tory; or. Sketches of History. Life, and
Manners in the West. 12mo. 2 00
Hanoter (M. D. ) A Practical Treatise on
the Law of Horses, embracing the Law
of Bargain, Sale, and Warranty of Horses
and other Live Stock; the Rule as to
Unsoundness and Vic/», and the Respon-
sibility oi the Proprietors of Livery, Auc-
tion, and Sale Stables, Inn-keepers, Vet-
erinary Surgeons, and Farriers, Carriers,
etc. 8vo. 4 00
Hart (J. M.) A Syllabus of Anglo-Saxon
Literature. 8vo. Paper. 50
Hassaurek (F.) The Secret of the Andes
A Romance. 12mo. 1 50
The Same, in German. 8vo. Paper, 50c.:
cloth. 1 00
Has.saurek (F.) Four Years Among Spanish
Americans. Third Edition. 12mo. 1 50
Hatch (Col. W. S.) A Chapter in the His-
tory of tiie War of J8i2, in the North-
west, embracing the Surrender of the
Northwestern Army and Fort, at Detroit,
August 16, 1813, etc. 18mo. 1 25
Hayes (Rutherford B.) The Life, Public
Services, and Select Speeches of. Edited
bv J. Q. Howard. 12mo. Paper. 75c.;
Cloth. 1 25
Hazk.v (Gen. W. B.) Our Barren Lands.
The Interior of the United States, West
of the One- Hundredth Meridian, and
East of the Sierra Nevada. 8vo. Pa-
per. 50
Hensuall (Dr. James A.) Book of the
Black Bass; comprising its complete Sci-
entific and Life History, together with a
Practical Treatise on Angling and Fly
Fishing, and a full description of Tool>»,
Tackle, and Implements. Hlustrated.
12mo. 3 00
IIoRToN (S. Dana). Silver and Gold, and
their Relation to the Problem of Resump-
tion. 8vo. 1 50
Horton (S. Dana). The Monetary Situa-
tion. 8vo. Paper. 50
IIouoH ( Franklin B.) Elements of Forestry.
Designed to afford Information concern-
ing the Planting and Care of Forest TreM
for Ornament and Profit; and giving
Suggestions upon the Creation and Care
of Woodlands, with the view of securing
the greatest benefit for the longest time.
Particularly adapted to the wants and
conditions of the United States, lllu^
trated. 12mo. 2 00
HoLSKKKKPINO IX THE RlUE GrA8S. A NcW
and Practical Cook Book. Bv Ladies of
the Presbyterian Church, Paris, Ky.
I'Jmo. i3th thousand. 1 50
HovKY (Horace C.) Celebrated American
Caverns, especially Mammoth, Wyandot,
and Luray; together with Historical, Sci-
entific, and Descriptive Notices of Caves
and Grottoes in ()ther Lands. Maps and
Illustrations. 8vo. 2 00
IIowK (H.) Historical Collections of Ohio.
Containing a Collection of the most In-
teresting Facts, Traditions, Biographical
Sketches, Anecdotes, etc., relating to its
Local and General History. 8vo. 6 0<)
Hunt (W. E.) Historical Collections of
Coshocton County, Ohio. 8vo. 3 00
Huston (R. G.) Journey in Honduras, and
Jottings by the Way. Inter-Ocetinic
Railway. 8vo. Paper. 50
Jack.-jox (John D., M.D.) The Black Arts
in Metlicine, with an Anniversary Ad-
dress. Edited by Dr. L. S. McMurtrv.
12mo. I 00
Jasper (T.) The Birds of North America.
Colored Plates, drawn from Nature, with
Descriptive and Scientific Letterpress.
cnccnwATi, ohio.
m 40 parts, $1.00 each ; or, 2 vols. Koyal |
4to. Half morocco, $-">0 00; full mo-
rocco, 60 00
• The Same. Popular portion only with
the Colored Plates. 1 vol. Half mo-
rocco, $36.50; full morocco, 40 00
Jordan (D. M.) Rosemary Leaves. A Col-
lection of Poems. 18mo. 1 60
Keller (M. J.) Elementary Perspective,
explained and applied to Familiar Ob-
jects. Illustrated. 12mo. 1 00
King (John). A Commentary on the Law
and True Construction of the Federal
Constitution. 8vo. 2 60
Kltppart (J. H.) The Principles and
Practice of Land Drainage. Illustrated.
12mo. 1 75
Law (J.) Colonial History of Vincennes,
Indiana, under the French, British, and
American Governments. ]2mo. 100
Lt.oyd (J. U.) The Chemistrv of Medicines.
lUus. 12mo. Cloth,$2 75; Sheep, 3 2o
Lloyd (J. U.) Pharmaceutical Prepara-
tions; Elixirs, their History, Formulrp,
and Methods of Preparation. 12nio. 1 25
LowoLEY (Elias). Eclectic Manual of
Phonography. A Complete Guide to the
Acquisition of Pitman's Phonetic Short-
hand, with or without a Master. A new
and carefully revised edition. 12mo.
StiflF paper binding, 65c.; Cloth, 75
LoNOLEY (Elias). The Reporter's Guide.
Designed for Students in any Style of
Phonography ; in which are formulated
for the first time in any work of the kind
Rules for the Contraction of Words,
Principles of Phrasing, and Methods of
Abbreviation. Abundantly illustrated.
12mo. 2 00
LoKGLEY (Elias). American Phonographic
Dictionary, exhibiting the correct and
actual Shorthand Forms for all the use-
ful Words in the English Lani?uage,
about 50,000 in number, and, in addition,
many Foreign Terms; also, for 2,000
Geographical Names, and as many Fam-
ily, Personal, and Noted Fictitious
Names. 12mo. 2 50
LoNOLEY (Elias). Every Reporter's Own
Shorthand Dictionary. The Fame as the
above, but printed on writing paper,
leaving out the Shorthand Forms and
giving blank lines opi»osite each word,
for the purpose of enabling w^riters of
any System of Shorthand to put upon rec-
ord, for convenient reference, the peculiar
word-forms they employ. 12mo 2 50
LoxoLET (Elias). Compend of Phonogra-
phy, presenting a Table of all Alphabeti-
cal Combinations, Hooks, Circles, Loops,
etc., at one view ; also. Complete Lists of
Word-signs and Contracted Word-forms,
with Rules for Contracting Words for the
Use of Writers of all Styles of Phonog-
raphy. 12mo. Paper. ^
Loxr.LEY (Elias). The Phonetic Reader
and Writer, containing Reading Exer-
cises, with Translations on opposite pages,
which form Writing Exercises. 12mo. 25
Loxoi.EY (Elias). Phonographic Chart. 28
X 42 inches. 60
McBripeCJ.) Pioneer Biography; Sketches
of the Lives of some of the Early Settlers
of Kutler Countv, Ohio. 2 vols. 8vo.
$6 50. Large paper. Imp. 8vo. 13 00
McLaxtotilin- (M. I-K>uise). China Painting.
A Practical Manual for the Use of Ama-
teurs in the Decoration of Hard Porce-
lain. Sq. 12mo. Boards. 75
McLatohltv (M. Louise). Pottery Decora-
tion : being a Practical Manual of Undf*r-
glaize Paiiitinjr. Sq. I'inio. Boards. 1 (0
McLauohlin' (M. Louise). Suggestions for
China Painters. Sq. 12mo. Boards. 1 00
MacLran (J. P.) The Mound Builders, and
an investigation into the ArchcBology of
Butler County, Ohio, lllus. 12mo. 150
MacLea!^ (J. P.) A Manual of the Anti-
quity of Man. Illustrated. 12mo. 1 00
MacLeak (J P.) Mastodon, Mammoth, and
Man. Illustrated. ]2nio. 60
MacLean (J. P.) The Worship of the Re-
ciprocal Principles of Nature among the
Ancient Hebrews. 18mo. Paper. 25
MAxanELD (E. D.) Personal Memories, So-
cial, Political, and Literary. 1803-4i.
12mo. " 2 00
Maxypekxy (G. W.) (>ur Indian Wards.
A History and Discussion of the Indian
Question. 8vo. 3 00
May (Col. J.) Journal and Letters of, rela-
tive to Two Journevs to the Ohio Countrv,
1788 and 177y. 8vo. 2 00
Mettexhftmer (H. J.) Safety Book-keep-
ing. Being a Complete Exposition of
Book-keeper's Frauds — how Committed,
how discovered, how prevented; with
other Suggestions of Value to Merchants
and Book-keepers in the Management of
Accounts. 18mo. Cloth. 1 00
Minor (T. C, M.D.) Qiild-bed Fever. Ery-
sipelas and Puerperal Fever, with a Short
Account of both Diseases. 8vo. 2 00
Minor (T. C, M.D.) Scarlatina Statistioa
of tho United States. 8vo. Paper. M
PUBLICATIOXS OF ROBERT CLARKE & CO.
MoROAK (Appleton). Tho Shakspearean
Myth ; or, William Shakespeare and Cir-
cumstantial Evidence. ll2mo. 2 00
Morgan (Appleton). Some Shakespearean
Commentators. 12mo. Paper. 75
Name and Address Book. A Blank Book,
with Printed Headings and Alphabetical
Marginal Index, for Kecording the Names
and Addresses of Professional, Commer-
cial.and Family Correspondents. 8vo. 1 00
Nash (Simeon). Crime and the Family.
12mo. J 25
Nerinckx (Rev. Charles). Life of, with
Early Catholic Missions in Kentucky;
the Society of Jesus ; the Sisterhood of Lo-
retto, etc. By Rev. C. P. Maes. 8vo. 2 60
Nichols (G. W.) The Cincinnati Organ;
with a Brief Description of the Cincin-
nati Music Hall. PJmo. Paper. 25
Ohio Valley Historical Miscfllantes. I.
Memorandums of a Tour made by Josiah
Espy, in the States of Ohio, and Ken-'
tucky, and Indian Territory, in 1805. IL
Two Western Campaigns in the War of
1812-13: 1. Expedition of Capt. H. Brush,
with Supplies for General Hull. 2. Ex-
pedition of Gov. Meigs, for the relief of
Fort Meigs. By Samuel Williams. ITL
The Leatherwood God : an account of the
Appearance and Pretensions of J. C.
Dylks in Eastern Ohio, in 1S28. By R. TI.
Tanevhill. 1 vol. 8vo. $2 50. Largo
paper, 5 00
Okce a Year ; or, The Doctor's Puzzle. Bv
E. B. S. J6mo. 1 ob
OsBORN (H. S.) Ancient Egypt in the
Light of Modern Discoveries. Ilhis-
trated. 12mo. I 25
Phisterer (Captain Frodt^rick). Tho Na-
tional Guardsman : on Guard and Kin-
dred Duties. 24ino. Leather. 75
Physician's Pocket Case Record Prescrip-
Tiox Book. 35
Physician's General Ledc.eil Half Ru.**-
sia. 4 00
Piatt (John J.) Penciled Fly-Leaves. A
Book of Essays in Town and (vountrv.
Sq. 16mo. 1 00
PooLE (W. F.) Anti-Slavery 0))inions be-
fore 1800. An Essav. Svo. Paper, 75c.;
Cloth, ' 1 25
Prentice (Geo. D.) Poems of, collected
and edited, with Biographical Sketch, hv
John J. IMatt. 12nio. 2 00
QriCK (R. II.) Essays on Educational Re-
formers. Schools of the Jesuits; Ascham.
Montaigne, Ratich, Milton; Comenius;
Locke ; Rousseau's Emile ; Basidow and
the Philanthropin, etc. l2mo. 1 50
Ranck (G. W.) History of LexiDgton, Ken-
tucky. Its Early Annals and Recent
Progress, etc. 8vo. 4 00
Reemelin (C.) The Wine-Maker's Manual.
A Plain, Practical Guide to all the Oper-
ations for the Manufacture of Still and
Sparkling Wines. 12mo. 1 25
Reemelix (C.) A Treatise on Politics as a
Science. 8vo. 1 50
Reemelin (C.) A Critical Review of Amer-
ican Politics. 8vo. 3 50
Reemelix (C.) Historical Sketch of Green
Township, Hamilton County, Ohio. 8vo.
Paper. 1 25
RivKS (E. M. I).) A Chart of the Physio-
logical Arrangement of Cranial Nerves.
Printed in large type, on a sheet 28x15
inches. Folded, in cloth case. 50
Robert (Karl), Charcoal Drawing with-
out a Master. A Complete Treatise in
Landscape Drawing in Charcoal, with Les-
sons and Studies after Allonge. Trans-
lated by E. H. Appleton. Illustrated.
8vo. J 00
Roy (George). Generalship; or, How I
Managed my Husband. A tale. 18mo.
Paper, 50c. ; Cloth. 1 00
Roy (George). The Art of Pleasing. A
Lecture. 12mo. Paper. U5
Roy (George). The Old, Old Story. A Lec-
ture. 12 mo. Paper. 25
Ru.ssell (A. P.) Thomas Corwin. A
Sketch. IGmo. 1 00
RussKLL (Wni.) Scientific Ilorsc^^hoeing
for the Diflerent Diseases of the Feel. Il-
lustrated. 8vo. 1 0()
Sattler (Eric E.) The History of Tuber-
culosis from the time of Sylvius to the
Present Day. Translated, in part, with ad-
ditions, from the German of Dr. Arnold
Spina, First Assistant in the Laboratory
of Professor Strieker, of Vienna: includ-
ing also Dr. Robert Koch's E.xperiments,
and the more recent Investigations of
Dr. Spina on the Subject. 12mo. 1 2.J
Saylkr (J. A.) American Form Book. A
Collection of Legal and Business Forms,
embracing Deeds, Mortgages, Leases,
Bonds, Wills, Contracts, Bills, of Ex-
change, Promissory Notes, Checks, Bills,
of Sale, Receipts, and other Legal Instru-
ments, prepared in accordance with the
^aws of tho several States; with Instruc-
tions for drawing and executing the
same. For Professional and Business
Men. Svo. 2 (X)
Sheets (Mary R.) My Three Angels: Faith,
Hope, and Love. With full-page illustra-
tion, by E. D. Grafton. 4to. Cloth
GilU 5 00
ClNClNNATt, OHIO.
5
Skinner (J. R.) The Source of Measures.
A Key to Ihe Hebrew-Egyptian Mystery
in the Source of Measures, etc. 8vo. 5 00
Smith (Col. James). A Peprint of an Ac-
count of the Remarkable Occurrences in
his Life and Travels, during his Captivity
with the Indians in the years 1755, '56,
'57,'c8, and'59, etc. 8vo. $2 50. Large
paper. 5 00
Stanton (H.) Jacob Brown and other
Poems. 12mo. 1 60
St. Clair Papers. A Collection of the Cor-
respondence and other papers of General
Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the North-
west Territory. Edited, with a Sketch of
his Life and Public Services, by William
Henry Smith. 2 vols. 8vo. 6 00
Strauch (A.) Spring Grove Cemetery, Cin-
cinnati: its History and Improvements,
with Observations on Ancient and Mod-
ern Places of Sepulture. Tlie text beau-
tifully printed with ornamental, colored
borders, and photographic illusttations.
4to. Cloth. Gilt. 15 00
An 8vo edition, without border and illus-
trations. 2 00
Studer(J. H.) Columbus, Ohio: its History,
Resources, and Progress, from its Settle-
ment to the Present Time. 12mo. • 2 00
Taxeyhill (R. H.) The Leatherwood God :
an account of the Appearance and Pre-
tensions of Joseph C. Dvlk.s in Eastern
Ohio, in 1826. 12mo. Paper. 30
Ten Brook (A.) American State Universi-
ties. Their Origin and Progress. A His-
tory of the Congressional University Land
Gran ts. A particular accoun t of tlie Rise
and Development of the University of
Michigan, and Hints toward the future
of the American University Svstem.
8vo. " 2 00
TiLDEN (Louise W.) Karl and Gretchen's
Christmas. Hlusirated. Square 12mo. 75
TiLDEN (Louise W.) Poem, Hymn, and
Mission Rand Exercises. Written and ar-
ranged for the use of Foreign Missionary
Societies and Mission Bands. Square
12mo. Paper. 25
Trent (Capt. Wm.) Journal of, from Logs-
town to Pickawillany, in 1752. Edited
by A. T. Goodman. 8vo. 2 50
Tripler (C. S., M. D ) and Blackman (G. C.,
M. D.) Handbook for the Military Sur-
geon. ]2mo. 1 00
Tyler Davidson Fountain. History and
Description of the Tyler Davidson Fount-
ain, Donated to the City of Cincinnati,
by Henry Probasco. 18mo. Paper. 25
Yac.o (A. L.) Instructions in the Art of
Modeling inClav. W' ith an Appendix on
Modeling in Foliage, etc., for Pottery and
Architectural Decorations, by Benn Pit^
man, of Cincinnati School of Design. Il-
lustrated. Square 12mo. 1 00
Van Horne (T. B.) The History of the Ar-
my ot the Cumberland; its Organization,
Campaigns, and Battles. Library Edition.
2 vols. With Atlas of 22 maps, compiled
by Edward Ruger. 8vo. Cloth, $8 0);
Sheep, $10 00; Half Morocco, $12 00.
Popular Edition. Containing the same
Text as the Library Edition, but only one
map. 2 vols. 8vo. Cloth. 5 CO
Venabi.e (W. H.) June on the Miami, and
other Poems, Second edition, 18mo. 1 50
V<)ORHKKs(D. W.) Speeches of, embracing
his most prominent P^orenvic, Political,
Occasional, and Literary Addresses. Com-
piled by his son, C. S. Voorhees, with a
Biographical Sketch and Portrait. Svo.
. 5 00
Walker (C. M.) History of Athens Coun-
ty, Ohio, and incidentally of the Ohio
Land Company, and the First Settlement
of the State at Marietta, etc. 8vo. $) 00
Large Paper. 2 vols. $12 00. Popular
Edition. 4 00
Walton (G. E.) Hygiene and Education
of Infants; or, How to take care of Ba-
bies. 24nio. Paper. 25
Ward (Durbin). American Coinage and
Currency. An E.ssay read before the So-
cial Science Congress, at Cincinnati, May
22, KS78. 8vo. Paper. 10
WKBn(F.) and Johnston (M. C.) An Im-
proved Tally-Book for the use of Lum-
ber Dealers. 18mo. 50
WniTTAKER(J. T., M. D.) Physiology; Pre-
liminary Lectures. Illustrated. 12mo.
1 75
W^iLLiAMs (A. D., M. D.) Diseases of the
Ear, including Necessary Anatomy of the
Organ. 8vo. 3 50
YorNG (A.) History of Wayne County, In-
diana, from its First Settlement to the
Present Time. «vo. 2 00
6
PtJBLICATIONS OP ROBERT CLARKE * CO.
LAW TREATISES AND REPORTS.
Adkinron (F.) Township and Town Officer's
Guide for the State of Indiana. 12m().
Net. Cloth, $2 0;); Slieep. 2 60
Barton (C.) History of a Suit in Equity.
Revised and enlarged. 8vo. 2 50
Bates (C.) Ohio Pleadings, Parties, and
Forms under the Code. 2 vols. Svo
Net. 12 00
Bible ix the Pobuc Schools. Arguments
in favor and against, with Decision of
the Cincinnati Superior Court. 8vo.
Cloth. 2 00
The arguments in faver of, and
against. Separate. Paper. Each, 50
Bloom (S. S.) Popular Edition of the Laws
ofOhio, in Force June, 1882. Net. Hoth,
$3 00; Sheep, 4 00
Bond (L. H.) Reports of Cases Decided in
the Circuit and District Courts of the
United States for the Southern District
of Ohio. 2 vols. 8vo. 14 00
Burns (H.) An Index or Abbreviated Di-
gest of the Supreme Court Reports of the
State of Indiana, from Ist Blackford to
77th Indiana, inclusive. 8vo. Net. 5 00
Carlton (A. B.) The Law of Homicide;
together with the Celebrated Trial of
Judge E. C. Wilkinson, Dr. B. H. Wilkin-
son, and J. Murdaugh,for the Murder of
John Rothwell and A. II. Meeks, inclu<l-
ing the Indictments, the Evidence, and
Speeches of Hon. S. S. Prentiss, Hon.
Ben. Hardin. E. J. Bullock, Judge John
Rowan, Col. Geo. Robertson, and John
B. Thompson, of Counsel, in full. 8vo.
Net. 2 50
Cincinnati Superior Court Reporter. 2
vols. 8vo. Net. 10 00
See also Handv, Disnev.
Constitution of the Unite r) States, with
the Fifteen Amendments, Declaration of
Independence, etc. 8vo. Paper. 2o
Cox (R.) American Trademark Cases. A
Compilation of all reported Trade Mark
cases decided in the United States Courts
prior to 1871. 8vo. 8 00
CuRWEN (M. E ) Manual of .Abstracts of
Title to Real Property. 12ino. Cloth,
$1 60; Sheep, 1 75
Davis (E. A.) New Digest of the Decisions
of the Supreme Court of Indiana, to 1875.
2 vols. 8vo. Net. 12 00
Disney's Reports. Cincinnati Superior
Court. 2 vols. 8vo. Net. 10 00
Fisher (S. S ) Reports of Patent Cases de-
cided in the Circuit Courts of the United
States, 1843-187.3. 6 vols. 8vo. Vols.
3 to 6, each. Net. 25 00
Fi.^er(W. H.) Reports of Patent Cases
decided in the Courts of the United
States, 1827-1851. 10 (0
Fisher (R. A.) Digest of English Patent,
Trade Mark, and Copyright Ceases. Ed-
. ited by Henry Hooper. 8vo. 4 00
FoRTEScuE (Sir John). De LaudiVius Legum
Anglifp. A Treatise in Commendation
of the Laws of England. 8vo. Cloth.
3 00
GiAuguE (F.) The Election Laws of the
United States. Being a Compilation of all
the Constitutional .Provisions and Laws
of the United State.s relating to Elections,
the Elective Franchise, t-o ('itizen.ship.
and to the Naturalization of Aliens. With
Notes of Decisions affecting the same.
8vo. Paper. 75c. ; Cloth. 1 (K)
GiArQUE(F.) Ohio Election Laws. Svo.
Paper, $1.00; Cloth, 1 50
GiAuguE (F.) Manual for Road Supervisors
in Ohio. 16mo. Boards. 25
GiAUQUE (F.) Manual for Assignees and
Insolvent Debtors in Ohio. Net. Cloth.
$2 00; Sheep, 2 fO
d.^UQiE (F.) Mannul for Guardians in
Ohio. Net. Cloth, $2 00; Sheep, 2 5>
GiAUQUE (F.) A complete Manual of the
Koad Laws of Ohio in force 18S3, with
Forms and Notes of Decision.**. Jn press.
GiAUQUE (F.) and ^Irf^'u re (H. R ) Dower
and Curtesy Tables, for ascertaining, on
• the basis of the Carlisle Tables of Mor-
tality, the present value of vested and
contingent rights of Dower anrl Curt^^sy,
and of other Life Estates. 8vo. Net. 5 00
Haxdy's Rkports. Cincinnati Superior
Court. 2vols.ini. Svo. Net. 5 (tO
Haxovkr(M. D.) a Practical Treatise on
the Law relating to Horses. Second edi-
tion. 8vo. 4 00
Harris (S. F.) Principles of the Criminal
Law. Edited by lion. M. F. Force. Svo.
Net. 4 00
Indiana Laws. Being Acts and Joint Reso-
lutions of the General Assembly of the
State of Indiana, passed at the Kegular
Session, which ^vas begun and held at
Indianapolis, on Thur-^-day, the fourth
day of January. 1S83, and adjourne<l
without day on Monday, the fifth day of
March, 1883. Edited, printed, published,
and circulated under authority of law.
and with the Secretary of State's authen-
tication. S. R. Downey, Editor. 8vo.
1 00
CINCINNATI, OHIO.
Kknti'cky Reports. Reports of caj»es de-
cided in tho Court of Aj)peal8 of Ken-
tucky. 1785-1878. 76 vols, in 01.
King (J.) A Tommentary on Iho Law and
True Construction of the Federal Const i-
tion. 8vo. li 50
McDonald (D.) Treatise on the Law relating
to the Powers and Duties of Justices and
Constables in Indiana. Edited by L. O.
Schroeder. 8vo. Net 6 00
Matthews (Stanley). A Summary of the
Law of Partnership. For use of Busi-
ness Men. 12mo. Cloth, $1 23; Sheep,
1 50
McLean (J.) Reports of Cases decided in
the Circuit Court of the United States
for the Seventh District. 1829-1555. 0
vols. 8vo. Vols. 2, 4, 5, G. Each, 6 5U
MoxTKsguiEU (Baron De). The Spirit of
Laws. Translated from the French by
Thomas Nugent. New edition, with Me-
moir. 2 vol's. 8vo. Cloth. G UO
Morgan (J. A.) An English Version of
Legal Maxims, with the Original Forms.
Alphabetically arranged, and an Index
of Subjects. Second edition. 12mo
Cloth. Net. 2 00
Nash (S.) Pleading an<l Practice under
the Codes of Ohio, New York, Knusas,
and Nebraska. Fourth edition, 2 vols.
Svo. Net. 10 00
Onto AND Ohio State Reports. Reports of
Cases decided in the Supreme Court of
Ohio. 1821-1880. 55 vols. Net. 137 50
Ohio Statutes. Embracing:
Curwen's Statutes at Large, 1S33-18G0. 4
vols. 8vo. Net. 20 0«)
Swan & Critchfield's Revised Statutes,
18G0. 2 vols. 8vo. Net. 5 00
Savler's Statutes at Large, 1800-1875. 4
vols. 8vo. 20 00
Peck (II. D.) The Law of Municipal ('or-
porations in the State of ( )hio. Second
edition. 8vo. 5 00
PKCK(n. D.) The Township-Officer's Gui<le
of Ohio. Second edition. Net. Cloth.
$2 00; Sheep, 2 50
Pollock (F.) Principles of Contract at Law
and in Equity. Edited bv O. 11. Walil.
8vo. ' Net. G CO
Rakp (O. W.) Guide to Executors and .Ad-
ministrators in the State of Ohio. Sixth
edition. Edited and enlarged by F.
Giauque. 12mo. Cloth, $2 00; Sheep.
2 50
Rapf (G. W.) Manual of Pensions, Bounty.
and Pay. J789-1SG3. 12mo. 2 00
Raff(G. W.) War aaimant's Guide. Laws
relating to Pensions, Bounty, etc. War
ofl8Gl-Ls65. 8vo. 4 00
Reixiiard (G. L ) The Criminal Law of the
State of Indiana, with Precedent**, Forms
for Writs, Docket Entries, etc. 8vo. 2 50
Saixt Ger.mai\ (C.) The Doctor and Stu-
dent; or. Dialogues between a Doctor of
Divinity and a Student in the Laws of
England, containing the grounds of
those Laws. Revised and corrected. 8vo.
Cloth. 3 00
Saunders (T. W.) A Treatise upon the
Law of Negligence. With notes of Amer-
ican Cases. 8vo. 2 50
Sayler (J. R.) American Form Book; a
Collection of Legal and Business Forms
for Professional and Business Men. 8vo.
Cloth. Net. 2 00
Staxtox (R. IT.) A New Digest of the Ken-
tucky Decisions; embracing all Cases'
d(H*ided by the Appellate Courts, from
I7S5 to 1877. Second edition. 2 vols.
8vo. Net. 6 00
Stantox (R. IT.) A Practical Treatise on the
Law relating to Justices of the Peace, etc.,
in Kentucky. Third edition. Svo. 7 50
Staxtox (R. II.) Manual for the Use of
Executors, Administrators, Guardians,
etc., in Kentucky. Second edition.
12mo. 1 75
SvvAX (.1. R.) Pleadings and Precedents,
under the Code of Ohio. 8vo. 6 00
SwAX (J. R.) Treatise on the I.aw relating
to the Powers and Duties of Justices of
the Peace, etc., in the State of Ohio.
Eleventh edition. 8vo. Net. 6 (X)
SwAX (J. R.) and Plumb (P. B.) Treatise
on the Law relating to the Powers and
Duties of Justices, etc., in Kansas. 8vo.
5 00
Walker (J. B.) and B.iTES (C.) A new Di-
gest of Ohio Decisions. Second edition.
2 vols. 8vo. Net. 12 00
Vol. 3, 1874-1882. By . Bates.
Net. 5 00
Warren (M.) Criminal Law and Form.**.
Third edition. Svo. 5 00
Wells (J. C.) Treatise* on the Separate
Property of Married Women, under the
recent Enabling Acts. Second edition.
8vo. 6 00
Well.s (J. C.) .'\ Manual of the Laws re-
lating to C'ounty Commissioners in
the State of Ohio, with carefully pre-
pared Forms, and References to the De-
cisions of the Supreme Court. Net 3 50
8
PUBLICATIONS OF ROBERT CLARKE & CO.
Wild (E. N.) Journal Entries under tho Wilhox (M. F.) The New Criminal Code
Codes of Civil and Criminal Procedure. of Ohio, with Forms and Precedents, Di-
With Notes of Decisions. Second edi- j gest of Decisions, etc. Second edition,
tion. 8vo. 4 00 ! .8vo. Net. 5 00
Wilcox (J. A.) The Coneral Knilroa<l i Works (John D.) Indiana Practice, Plead-
Laws of the State of Ohio, in force Jan- ings, and Forms. 2 vols. 8vo. Not ll! 00
uary, ls74. 8vo. o 00
Nash (Simeon). La^^yer's Ca.se Docket,
containing printed Headings, and blank
spaces for names of Parties, Memoranda
of all tlie Proceedings, with full printed
Irfptructions, and an Index. Crown size.
Half roan, $.175; Full Sheep. 4 50
Lawyer' .«5 Coi.lkc tion Dockkt. With conve-
nient Ruling, printed Headings, ln<lex,
etc. 4to. Half Russia. 3 50
Attornky's Pockkt Docket. RuUmI and
Printed for number of Case, Parties, and
kind of Action, Witnesses, etc., with
room for l'>0 cases. Pocket size. Mo-
rocco. 1 00
Changeablk Pcmkkt Docket. The Docket
paper is furnished separately, and so ar-
ranged that it may be subsequently
bound in one volume. Paper, 50c. per
quire. Morocco case, with i)Ocket and
band. 2 00
Notary's Official Register. Being a Rec-
ord of Protests and other Official Trans-
actions. 4to. 2 quires. Half sheep.
$2 00; 3 quires, half russia. 3 00
Collection Receipt Book. The Book of
Collection Receipts, which is bound in
the form of a check book, contains the
stub in which is preserved a recortl of
the transaction, and a printed receipt,
giving parties, date, interest, indorsers,
credits, etc., which is torn off and sent
to yout correspondent. Book of 50 re-
ceipts, 40c.; 100 receipts, 75c.; 200 (two
to a page). 1 25
A Catalogue of Legal Blanks will be sent on
ajrplication.
LAWYER'S OFFICE DOCKET.
The Lawyer s Office Docket. Einhracini; the History of each Case, and the Pro-
ceedings thereon, together with a Digest of the Principles of Law involved, and Refer-
ences to Authorities. With Iiule.K and ^lomoranda. Quarto. 212 pages. Half russia.
Cloth sides. Net. 3 5o
THE UNITED STATES COMMISSIONER'S DOCKET.
Docket for ^'()mmi.ssioners of the L^nited States Circuit Court.««, embracing a Full
Record of the Proceeding in (mcIi ('as<», with Schedule of Costs, an<l an Index of Cases.
Quarto. Half nissia. Net. 3 75
ROBERT CLARKE & CO.
JOBBERS OF
BOOKS AND STATIONERY.
The attention of ?>(K)ksei.li:rs. Dartun.sTs, Country Merchant.'^, and other AV hole-
sale Buyer:?, is invited to our facilities lor supplying, in any quantity, and at the
lowest rates,
STAPLE AND FANCY STATIONERY OF ALL KINDS.
BOOKS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT OF LITERATURE,
our Stock being one of the largest in the country, and selected with particular refer-
ence to the wants of the Western and Southern trade. Purchasers onlering from
us, either in person or by letter, can rely upon having their orders fully and carefully
executed at low prices.
Buyers visiting the city are invited to call and examine our stock and prices.
Orders by mail will receive prompt attention, and be supplied at the lowest figure*^.
Our stock embraces full and complete links of all articles in the Book or Stationery
Trade, enabling dealers to make their entire bills at oxe house, at the lowest rates.
\
28D AUGOrjJ^
291!
rai}
Uthi
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11