WATSON'S ANNALS OF PHILADELPHIA vol. 2 Published in 1857 John Miller, Esq., a respectable gentleman and a magistrate, dwelling in Germantown, in the house now belonging to the Chanceller family, kept a diary of passing events, during the time the British occupied that place and the city of Philadelphia. He was a strong whig, and eventually lost a great deal by the continental money. From his MS. book of twenty pages, quarto, I select the following notices, to wit: Sept. 18th, 1777, he speaks of much alarm among the people from the expected approach of the British, and the apprehended capture of Philadelphia. He and his wife go to the city to consult with their children there, to settle to what places they should remove for refuge. They determine to wait a little. Sept. 19th. On a second visit to the city, found his son-in-law, Mease, and family, had, in the interval of a day, fled from their house at four o'clock in the morning, and had gone towards Trenton. He finds there, that great numbers had fled the last night and this morning. The roads were full of persons going away. Sept. 20th. He states that the roads are still full of poor people flying off from their good homes, to fall perhaps into greater danger. To-day, his wife went to the city to endeavor to save some of the furniture, left behind by her daughter. Sept. 22d. The news and reports, of to-day and yesterday, are all uncertain. They heard a cannonading up the Schuylkill; cause unknown. Sept. 23d. The alarm this morning is great. The militia are returning in great haste; tell us the British passed the Swedeford last night, and are since in full march for Germantown. From this news many fled this night. Among them was Doctor Bensall and family, which went to Horsham. He left a well furnished house and a large shop of medicines, which the enemy, as he was a known whig, destroyed or carried off. Sept. 25th. The British army entered Germantown at eleven o'clock, and encamped around them, and occasions much fear, especially from the foreign mercenaries. They burnt and destroyed all his fences, grain, potatoes, turnips, &c., and endeavoured to inveigle away some of his negroes. To his person they were complaisant, and readily gave him a safeguard to keep his effects in doors, from harm. A heavy rain fell at night. Sept. 26th. The morning was cool from the rain. General Lord Cornwallis marches into Philadelphia in great state, --- the incidents of which were inscribed in pompous language, and at much length, on the Coffee House books. Sept. 28th. He hears that his daughter's family, which had gone to Summer Seat for refuge, had to change their place, and were going to Lancaster for greater security. Her husband, Mr. Mease, was with the camp. This day, for the first time, General Howe made HIS entrance into Philadelphia, and made his call upon Lord Cornwallis, then at Richard Penn's mansion, in High street, near Sixth street. [The same afterwards Washington's residence.] Sept. 29th. The army seem all quiet --- have a fine season --- are hourly destroying the property of all within their reach. Sept. 30th. This day, and at other times, he speaks of visiting Galloway in the city for a pass, to visit his daughter, but is refused or put off. Oct. 2d. He hears the attack begun on the Fort at Mud Island. He mentions hearing, from day to day, for near TWO MONTHS, after this, the heavy cannonading continued on that fortress --- (so gallantly and long defended). It sensibly shook the ground, he says, at Germantown ! Oct. 4th. He returned to Germantown this morning from the city, and finds that a hot engagement had occured between the two armies at Germantown. His poor wife was ALONE, up two pair of stairs, when a cannon ball passed through a window very near her. Oct, 6th. Great numbers came out from the city to satisfy their curiosity respecting the battle of yesterday. After the battle, the Hessian camp is placed just by him, and makes him much dislike their presence. Oct. 7th. Several were executed for desertion and others were flogged for offences. An aid of General Knyphausen, (one Copenhouse), robbed him of a Map of Pennsylvania, and otherwise behaved unlike a gentleman. In the evening, a great number of the Highlanders were encamped up town, --- and the following morning were again moved off. Oct. 10th. He notices the army to be in great motion this morning; and it is the opinion of some, that Washington is approaching: --- others say, (so uncertain is the news ! ) that he has crossed the Delaware. Oct. 11th. He notices the first white frost. Before day light the soldiers went off to try to surprise the Americans, and by eight o'clock, A.M., returned without falling in with any of them. Oct, 17th. Orders came for all horses in Germantown and the environs to be sent to Philadelphia by eight o'clock, with their harnesses. About five hundred were so sent and appraised, but only tories received their pay ! His horse was exempted by the kindness of Sir William Erskine. At this time, his house being marked for the quarters of General Sterne, it is occupied below stairs by his aids; and next day, there came a great suite of his officers, and fixed their sentinels around the house --- filling the stables with their horses; --- but in an hour, much to his joy and comfort, came an order for their return, and to say, he would not come. Oct. 18th. Three regiments marched as high as Barren hill in quest of rebels, as they said. In the evening he heard thirteen cannons and volleys of small arms, --- which proved afterwards to be a FEU-DE-JOIE from the Americans, for the capture of Burgoyne's army. Oct. 19th. The army is in motion at day light, to march from here and not to return. By ten o'clock, they were all gone for the city. In about an hour, the American light horse appeared, and soon had some skirmishing down the road. They took three or four prisoners and some wagons. Oct. 20th. A part of General Wayne's division marched down through Germantown, and returned in the evening. He speaks of several American officers as being entertained at his house as friends, such as General Reed, Colonel Bradford, &c., and then, as returning to their camp in the afternoon. Oct 22d. A part of General Washington's army began to march by ten o'clock at night through Germantown, and continued till day-break. They formed on the heights near the city and drove in the pickets. The enemy not venturing out, the troops withdrew, as they did not wish to attack THE CITY. They hear the cannonading at the fort, and two violent shocks of explosion, shaking the earth, --- which afterwards proved to be the Augusta man-of-war blown up, &c. Nov. 10th. Several parties from our camp pass through town to forage. Several deserters from day to day from the city confirm the scarcity of bead, &c., there. The cannonade at the fort is still very heavy, and still shaking the very earth. Nov. 11th. A hard frost, and next day seems to begin the first of the winter --- snow having fallen all the preceding night. Nov. 15. The weather clear and cold. They can see from a house in Germantown, by the aid of a spy glass, two men-of-war, closely bombarding the poor little fort, which has held out nobly since the 2d October, and only yielded at the end of seven weeks. Nov. 17th. Several women of the British camp were caught last night plundering the gardens, and were carried to head-quarters, to look and feel very awkwardly. Nov 20th. Several WOMEN came from the city to look up a little provision for their families. Desolation and famine seem to threaten us. Nov. 22d. In the afternoon the British burnt the house of John Dickerson, Esq., (the same now known as J.P.Norris' house), also the tavern of the whig lady, Mrs. Nice, at the Rising Sun, and several others in that neighborhood, on the Germantown road. They also burnt the house of Jonathan Mifflin; Peale Hall, Francis' place, &c. This to their great shame ! Nov. 25th and 26th. There was much alarm in Germantown, from reports that it was the purpose of the enemy to burn this place. It was even said, that the party for this purpose was resting at the Rising Sun. In consequence of this fear, he conveyed away a trunk of valuables as far as Chestnut hill. Nov. 27th. There appeared a great and surprising northern light --- as red as blood. Dec. 4th. The enemy were much in motion --- had pressed yesterday numerous horses, wagons, &c. Dec. 5th. The whole of the enemy's force, last night and this morning, passed through Germantown on their way to surprise General Washinton at Whitemarsh. They did much damage as they went --- wantonly burning and destroying houses and property in the night time. At ten o'clock, A.M., was heard a heavy firing begun on Chestnut hill, and lasting for two or three hours. They returned on the 8th instant. Dec. 6th. The enemy and our light horse place us in much danger, as they patrol our streets alternately. Dec. 10th. He finds many of the inhabitants of the town deploring their losses. Several had sent their goods for safety to Chestnut hill --- where the enemy took some and burnt the rest. He, however, found that his trunk, which had been left at Mr. Hush's house, had escaped the pillage, although the house itself had lost much, while occupied as the temporary quarters of General Howe and his attendants. [This house was, since, Lentz's house, at the fork of the road]. When they returned, the night of the 7th, down the Old York road, they spared neither friends nor foes, but burnt and robbed all along the road. They carried with them about forty loads of wounded. Mrs. Bush was so frightened by the violence of some towards her son, Dr. Bush, then a wounded officer in bed, in threatening to stab him, &c., that she miscarried with HER TWENTIETH child, and was interred at Philadelphia, on the 21st of December. Dec. 20th. The navigation at Philadelphia was stopped for ten or twelve days by the ice. In January, 1778, the weather being severely cold, the British army goes into winter quarters --- often sending out foraging parties to rob the country around, and on market days to protect the country people bringing them produce. The 19th of May, a large detachment of British marched up the Old York road; and next day a second party came through Germantown, and had a skirmish. They returned about five o'clock, P.M. in some haste, with several wagons of dead and wounded.. The Indians killed seven British horsemen on the banks of the Schuylkill. May 28th. A large detachment of the enemy came up and returned, without permission to do any harm. June 3d. The British army came up and went through the town by break of day, and returned by nine o'clock, A.M. They rob gardens and steal fowls, as they pass along. June 6th. They came up again in force and returned by nine o'clock, A.M. --- having with them a few wounded in a skirmish. June 10th. The enemy came up again by different routes, and joined forces at Allen's lane, (now Mount Airy), and returned before nine o'clock in the morning --- effecting nothing but the plundering of gardens, &c. The English commissioners came up strongly guarded as far as Chew's house, and returned just after the above force. June 13th. The army marched up for THE LAST TIME, and got as far as Mount Airy. They returned in two hours. June 16th and 17th. They are embarking and making all preparations for a departure from Philadelphia; and on the 18th, the AMERICANS again took possession of the city. LAUS DEO ! NOTICE --- The foregoing, it will be observed, speaks more of the predatory aggressions of the enemy, than was generally complained of, by others. We give the facts as they have been told us. Such are the leading facts of the ancient town of Germantown --- first, of its antiquities, as old as Philadelphia itself; and next of its stirring incidents as a captured country, and a battle field. We conclude with a single additional recital and confirmation, to wit: Mrs. Hall, of Philadelphia, gave a short notice of the retreat of her family to Jersey --- which, like many others, was by market wagons, carts, and other rough vehicles. She went away with others in a wood flat, fully crowded, sitting in smoky cabins, or wrapped in blankets and laying on the decks. Many were thankful to get into barns and out-houses in the country on their first arrival. Those who met abroad felt an instinctive brotherhood, and all did what they could to help and accommodate each other. Some went down to Delaware and along the Chesapeake, and were again driven from their asylums in the following summer, by new alarms. When they afterwards met at their desolate homes, marvellous and amusing were the adventures recounted at the firesides. "Sir, (said a gentleman, whose name was eminent among the patriots), THESE STORIES WILL BE TOLD BY OUR CHILDREN WHEN WE ARE DEAD AND GONE !" And so they shall, --- ECCE RES FACTA ! *********************************************************************** Note...All words in capitals are italics in the book. Note...This concludes the Germantown chapter. There may be additional references, on later pages, to Germantown. The next posting will be #8 --- Historical Notices of Lancaster . ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== Haven't found a post of interest? Why not generate one of your own?