MILITIA

AND

COLONIAL DEFENCE.

"Where duty placed them at their country's side."

IT has been long a received opinion that the first militia of Pennsylvania was originated by the exertions of Dr. Franklin, in opposition to the pacific wishes of the Friends employed in the colonial government. This misconception most probably arose from the first act for a militia which he procured to be passed in the year 1755. But we learn from facts derived from several sources that there was such a thing as a voluntary militia, deriving commissions from the Governors, at much earlier periods.

A letter from William Penn, of 1703, says, "Colonel Hamilton (the Governor) did grant a commission to raise a militia on purpose to quell the complaints, to government, of Colonel Quarry; and then it was, that Quarry and his party fiercely opposed it!" He opposed it on the pretext of its inequality in resting the defence on those who would fight, while it would exempt those, like the Friends, who were averse to defence.

In 1704 "they raised three companies in town, three in New Castle, two in Kent, and two in Sussex." And when Colonel Markham, the former deputy, died in Philadelphia, they buried him with the honours of war.

James Logan's letter, 1702, to Penn says, "The Governor, (Andrew Hamilton) upon publishing his commission in 1701, put the people in expectation of a militia. This he always intended after he should learn that his office had been confirmed. However, it will be found shortly necessary, both in the opinion of the government at home and many here, that some defence of this place should be provided. Should we be attacked by the Iroquois, (we,) who are quite destitute of Indians, are in the worst condition. I am sure it is worth thy consideration." He further adds, "Thy dispute at home, the war without defence here, the example of the Jerseys' surrendering, (back to the crown) makes this government too precarious to be called one.'

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It is manifest from the preceding and other facts [derived from the Logan MSS.) that James Logan, although he was a Friend, held it admissible to sustain defensive war.

In 1707, Governor Evans had a kind of fort constructed at New Castle, and there required a tribute from vessels passing to pay, for "powder money." A spirited Friend went down in his vessel and resisted the claim valiantly. Evans tried some expedients, but without success, to raise a militia spirit.

It might serve to show the simplicity of the time and the defenceless state of the city and river to cite a fact from the records of the Common Council of May, 1706, to wit: "Whereas, the Governor having received an express from the Governor of Maryland of several vessels lately seen some few leagues off the Capes of Virginia, and two of them chasing and firing several shots at an English vessel bound to Virginia or Maryland, which are supposed to be French vessels, and probably may have a design upon some of the Queen's colonies, it is therefore Ordered that the watch of this city be carefully and duly kept, and that the constables at their peril take care of the same; and in case there appears any show of danger of the enemy, that they give the alarm by ringing of the market bell!-and further, that every night one of the Aldermen see the watch, and see that two constables be set thereon, till further orders."

In 1718, William Penn, jun. in writing to Governor Keith, speaks for a militia, saying-"if you can procure a militia to be settled by law." About the same time Sir William celebrates the death of the father in a martial funeral, with his city militia of volunteers!

In the year 1744, the time of the war with France, there being then no law for a militia, Benjamin Franklin proposed the scheme of voluntary associations, to be founded upon their individual subscriptions. Immediately 1200 signers were found in Philadelphia, and Franklin was nominated to the colonelcy but declined the service. It was said the paper gained 10,000 signers in the province! In the year 1748, there was great efforts made in Philadelphia to raise a defence for the city. Some of the Friends, then in government, admitted the right of defensive war-among these the most conspicuous was James Logan. I have seen several letters on this subject from Benjamin Franklin to James Logan, recorded in the Logan MS. selections. Franklin appeared to be a leading man in this measure,* having seen, he said, similar efforts at Boston, in 1743, by the volunteers there training in like manner at the Castle, &c. He expressed great satisfaction at finding James Logan "approved of their proceedings." They proposed to fortify at Red Bank, because of the difficulties there from a narrow channel. The soldiers were all to be volunteers-"much unanimity prevailed in all ranks." They called themselves "the Association"-800 persons signed at the outset. "The Dutch ( i. e. Germans) were as hearty in the measure as the English," and one

*Secretary Peters, in his letter to the Penns, in 1747, says he concerted the first measures, by a meeting held at Chanceller's sail loft.

entire company was formed of Dutchmen. They trained men to be their gunners, by forming an artillery club to go down weekly to the battery to excercise the cannon. In this, following the example of the Bostonians, who by similar exercises formed from their tradesmen and shopkeepers the best engineers against Cape Breton." The soldiers of Philadelphia were described as making fine reviews-as meeting as often as once a week in general muster, and several of them in squads three or four times a week. They purchased 39 battering cannon, of Spanish make, at Boston, for 1500£.-15 of them of 28 pounders, and 24 of them of 14 pounders. They were brought over land from New York for fear of a Spanish armed vessel off the coast. Secretary Peters says fourteen of the battery guns were borrowed from New York.

At this time they erected the "Association Battery," of 400 feet long, a little below the Swedes' church. They had before erected another battery, called "the Battery on Attwood's wharf," consisting of 13 guns of 6 and 9 pounders. Its situation was, I presume, under the bank of Society Hill in Southwark. I observe that as early as 1734, "the guns on Society Hill, probably then a redoubt on the hill, were then fired because of the arrival of the Governor, John Penn. The shot for all those cannon were cast for them by John Pass. The cartridges, &c. were prepared by a committee of citizens. The expenses of these defences were defrayed mostly by lotteries, and by individual subscriptions. The Germans (called Dutchmen then) were influenced by addresses called "Plain Truth," "The Association," &c. translated and printed in German. It was a time of great excitement in Philadelphia among all ranks—it disturbed many of the Friends-it brought out John Churchman to some public acts as a public Friend against defence, and, under his advice and leadings, some public declarations from the Society, to advise Friends to refrain from participating in war measures, &c.

For the same reasons that the new battery was called “the Association Battery," the regiments of volunteers, formed in the winter of 1747-8, were also called the "Association Regiments"-to form 13 companies in Philadelphia, and as many in the counties as 100 companies in all; all being understood as done by the voluntary contrivance of the people, without the legislative sanction, which was still too much under the spirit and influence of the Friends' Meetings to come into such a measure by any public sanction of the Legislature. Thus showing the majorities of Friends

*This is said to be the place, afterwards Cuthbert's wharf, between Pine and South streets so remembered by Colonel Morris, who, 75 years ago, recollects that he used to go with boys to swim thereabouts, at a place they then called "the Battery," though no signs of defence then existed. It had probably been erected as a water battery-below the supposed redoubt, above it, on the hill, where "the flag staff" is often mentioned as a preaching place for Whitfield, &c. The petition of the Common Council, of 1744, to the King, says, however," the city is without batteries or any kind of fortifications."

The same who re-cast the state house bell.

The City Corporation subscribed for 2000 tickets in the lottery.

that still ruled there, and their firmer dependence on the arm of the Lord," and the "Great Watcher of Israel."

The regiments of association of the winter of 1748, had the colours given to them by the ladies, who procured their material by their subscription. Some of their mottos or devices were striking. I name such as these, (told in the Gazette of the day) to wit: "A Deo Victoria,”—" Deus adjuvat Fortes,"" In God we trust,"*"Pro Aris et focis," &c. The drums were also given by them.

An old gentleman, B. L. tells me he remembers to have seen several of the stockades still standing in his youth. They were of heavy pieces of timber 20 feet long. Every county also raised volunteers in companies, and it was concerted with them that in case the city was menaced by a foe, they should all march to Philadelphia and be there quartered gratis among the people.

The exciting cause of these military measures arose from frequent threats given out in the West Indies and at Havanna, that their privateers should come and sack Philadelphia; also from the fact of a French privateer coming into the bay in December, 1747, and there committing some depredations nearly as high up as New Castle. The citizens thereupon met at the new Meeting house," now at the north west corner of Third and Arch streets, and concerted their resolves of defence-they projected a lottery to raise 3000£. The Rev. Gilbert Tennent, the minister there, soon afterwards preached them a sermon on the lawfulness of war, and in favour of the association for defence. To this the Friends published a rejoinder. On the whole it was a moving and busy time of deep excitement.

Several publications appeared at the same time, says Kalm, pro and con, and when the danger appeared imminent, many withdrew their opposition. They feared that French and Spanish privateers had combined an expedition in the West Indies.-So was the town talk and alarm!

Familiar as the public became with military parade, and embued, as the rising youth felt, with the pomp and circumstance of war" from seeing its operations for a few years, with much to allure the eye, and no experience of disaster, the mind grew better prepared in time to approbate any legal enactments which might be suggested for a permanent defence at the public expense. This period arrived in the year 1755, by the occasion of Braddock's defeat. The panic then became extreme in the country from the fear of savage inroads. Alarms were frequent at Tulpehocken-at the present Harrisburg-at Lancaster, &c. They had fearful rumours of French and Indian invaders! On this exciting occasion Franklin dexterously introduced a militia law and procured it to be passed, he became at the same time the colonel of a regiment of 1200 men

*The very mottos the Friends would have used without the arms!

in Philadelphia. How very few of the admirers of his character and renown have ever named him as Colonel Franklin !

This memorable first militia act was passed on the 25th of November, 1755, and was of peculiar construction. It was so formed as to pass the sanction of the Legislature, even while a majority of the Assembly were Friends, and for whom therefore the act itself provided a salvo for conscience. It declares that to compel men to defence against the will, would be a violation of their constitutional rights; and that as men formerly chose officers without law, the present is to sanction them with law. The militia, therefore, were to be volunteers and to choose their own officers, &c. At the same time they vote 50,000£. to raise additional troops by voluntary enlistment, and offer 200 acres of land severally to such as bounty. These were all strange things for the pacific and reluctant Friends-but the world around them was fast growing beyond their control and management. Yet it was a part of the original grant to the pacific Penn himself-that he and his heirs. should muster and train-make war and vanquish, or put to death all enemies by sea and land!" Vide his patent.

We are not, however, to presume that the preceding notices of military citizens formed the only array of war which our forefathers had witnessed. There had been occasional enlistments for the crown for foreign countries, and often very active exertions and armaments in the way of privateering, as will be briefly stated, to wit:

In 1740, eight companies of infantry go from Philadelphia county under captains appointed over them by the Governor. They go out to the West Indies to join Admiral Vernon in his expedition against the Spaniards. Similar companies, under voluntary enlistments, go also at the same time from Virginia and Carolinaall of them to rendezvous at Jamaica. It was probably on this occasion that our General Washington once purposed to join Admiral Vernon as a midshipman.

In the French war of 1744, the Governor of Jamaica sends his lieutenants to Philadelphia to enlist for his regiments there. The men were to have six shillings sterling per week extra, and after the term of their service to receive land there. Families were to go passage free. The recruiting officer gave his attendance for enlistments at the widow Roberts' coffee house in Front street.* At the same time recruits are solicited by the Gazette-for recruits to join Dalzel's regiment in Antigua.

In June, 1744, proclamation is made at Philadelphia of war with France, and vessels are promptly fitted out as cruisers. Several advertisements forthwith appear for "gentlemen sailors." They soon compute 113 privateers sent out by the colonies! Soon after this, prizes appear named in almost every Gazette. During the years 1747-8, almost every column under the Philadelphia and

Then a little below Blackhorse alley.