One thing deserving your Notice I had omitted to remark on the head of the Lower Counties weh is that the Gov having while I was absent granted a Charter of Incorporation to the City of Newcastle (as tis now called) of woh you were then informed by R. Hill and I. Norris, the notion propagated among the People was that these Counties belong'd solely to the King, for there was not the least notice taken or mention made of y Propriet in that Charter, and all ffriends were excluded by it. Soon after a Dispute arose about the Boundaries of Newcastle and Chester Counties. Those of the Province insisted on the Circular Line of 12 miles from Newcastle run in 1701 by the Proprietors Ord' but others urged that Newcastle now (by their Charter) extended to 5 miles distance from ye Town and therefore that these 12 miles should be measured from that Extent which would take in a Ring of 5 miles more out of the Province and throw even the Town of Chester into Newcastle County, of weh Endeavours are now used to deprive you. That this was a form'd Design at that time and that it was resolved to quarrel with you and therefore with me in course I think is not to be doubted. 15th 12mo. The foregoing having been wrote above Six weeks since, has by ye Shutting up of our River (now opening again) lain till this time for a Conveyance and I must here add from y experience of this Winter, that I find the severe effects of that cruel Distemper (wch so violently seized my head soon after my last arrival) to a degree that nothing but a retirem from business will preserve me capable of being much longer useful to my family of wch my wife is so sensible that nothing short of it will make her easie. If any Lines however are to be run on the Settlem* with Maryla you may I hope depend on my assistance. That you may finish that and all your affairs to Satisfaction & once come to know ye comforts of Peace and a quiet Establishm' is the most earnest Desire of Recd. 3a May 1726. Thy faithful friend & Servant CORRESPONDENCE OF GENERAL EDWARD HAND, OF THE CONTINENTAL LINE, 1779-1781. [Originals in the Manuscript Department, Historical Society of Pennsylvania.] SIR : MINISINK 5TH APRIL 1779. Agreable to the Orders you Yesterday rec'd you will proceed to Wyoming on the Susquehannah River with the Regiment under your Immediate Command, Colonel Armands, & Capt" Schotts Corps, the former is commanded at present by a Major Lomaign and the latter by Capt Selin, these Corps will join you at or before you retch Col. Strouds at Fort Penn, as you will see by their Orders left open for your perrusal. & which you will have deliveredyou must take with you from here all the flour now left in store and Beef sufficient to carry the Detachment thro' to Wyoming, you will receive additional supply of Flour at Col. Strouds, take care that each Corps takes with them the Provisions they have respectively drawn, you will receive a few Camp Kettles for the Detachment at Colonel Stroud's and may draw 20 Axes for your Regiment, 6 for Armands, & 3 for Schott here. It will take you four days from Col. Strouds to Wyoming, you will therefore regulate your Provision accordingly. Capt. Alex' Patterson A.D.QMG will Provide you with a guide from Fort Penn, and an Express to send to Col. Zebulon Butler commanding at Wyoming with notice of your approach from Fort Penn you will march to Lardners thence to an Incamping Place in what is Commonly cal'd the great Swamp, the third day to Bullocks which is within five miles of Wyoming Garrison where for the present you will put yourself under Col. Butlers directions. I am thus Particular as It will be necessary to make easie Marches in order to reconnoitre the Country well, & VOL. XXXIII.-23 examine every thicket & hhollow way or Swamp before you enter it, which I desire you may be very Particular in doing, to prevent being Surprised, led into an Ambuscade, or attack'd without previous knowledge of the Enemys being near, you will be particularly Attentive to keep the Body of the Troops Compact, Suffer no stragler on Any account, keep a proper advance & Rear Guard, tho' not at too great a distance, and also small parties on your Flanks observing the same Caution. Should any Enemy appear. you must take care not to advance on them precipitately before you know their numbers, or untill you have sufficiently extended your front to prevent being out Flanked, by a Steddy adherence to the Above directions you will have little danger to apprehend, double your attention as you approach the Fort, as the badness of the Roads at present & the Scarcity of horses will prevent your carrying your heavy Baggage, you must leave it at Fort Penn with a Guard untill you have a more favourable opportunity. Relying much on your Steddyness, Industry Zeal & Activity. I wish you a good March, Major DANL. BUREHARDT & am sir Your Obed' Servt. : Dr SIR: MINISINK 5TH APRIL 1779 By the time this reaches you, there will be a Detachment from this place consisting of about 550 men including Officers, under the command of Major Burehardt of the German Regt on their March to join you be pleased to make the best preperation in your power to cover them on their Arrival, and send a person to meet and conduct Major Burehardt, and give him any Intilligence that may respect his March, he goes by the way of Strouds, least he should be stoped by Walenpapack, as there is not a Boat there. I have recd your favours of the 28th Ultimo of first Inst. I am sorry for the devistation committed by the Enemy. Lt. Jenkens is gone to head Qrs. where I shall goe as soon as Major Burehardts Detach is fairly on the March, and expect to be soon with you, untill then, you will please to give the Necessary Orders. Col: ZEBULON BUTLER. I am D' Sir Yr Obt Hhble Serv DEAR GENERAL, Just this moment a party of Indians on the opposite side of the River from us kill'd a family of people who lived about one mile from this, but unknown to me, & burnd the House I immediately sent a party after them, they found tho' dead lying scalp'd two men, one woman & 2 Children, from their tracts it is thot there is Better than 30 of them & we are not able to send a sufficient party after them, if some men where to come from Wyoming on that side the River with a good guide they might be met with, the way the tracts went, makes me believe the intend making a Stroke on Cattawissey. I have sent a Runner to give them intelligence as a number of Inhabitants live there, they have taken some Horses from this family. I believe the saw the Guard that left us this morning with the Boats, as it was soon after that they done the Mischief. I wish we were strong enough to send out a strong party, I would fain think I could intercept them in their marches. I am sir With due Respect Your Very Humb' Servt. FORT JENKENS May 17-1779 11 o'clock A.M. To Brigadeer Gen' EDwd HAND examine every thicket & hhollow way or Swamp before you enter it, which I desire you may be very Particular in doing, to prevent being Surprised, led into an Ambuscade, or attack'd without previous knowledge of the Enemys being near, you will be particularly Attentive to keep the Body of the Troops Compact, Suffer no stragler on Any account, keep a proper advance & Rear Guard, tho' not at too great a distance, and also small parties on your Flanks observing the same Caution. Should any Enemy appear. you must take care not to advance on them precipitately before you know their numbers, or untill you have sufficiently extended your front to prevent being out Flanked, by a Steddy adherence to the Above directions you will have little danger to apprehend, double your attention as you approach the Fort, as the badness of the Roads at present & the Scarcity of horses will prevent your carrying your heavy Baggage, you must leave it at Fort Penn with a Guard untill you have a more favourable opportunity. Relying much on your Steddyness, Industry Zeal & Activity. I wish you a good March, By the time this reaches you, there will be a Detachment from this place consisting of about 550 men including Officers, under the command of Major Burehardt of the German Regt on their March to join you be pleased to make the best preperation in your power to cover them on their Arrival, and send a person to meet and conduct Major Burehardt, and give him any Intilligence that may respect his March, he goes by the way of Strouds, least he should be stoped by Walenpapack, as there is not a Boat there. I have recd your favours of the 28th Ultimo of first Inst. |