Daily stories of Pennsylvania : $b prepared for publication in the leading daily newspapers of the state... — John Shaqi
Daily stories of Pennsylvania : $b prepared for publication in the leading daily newspapers of the state...Godcharles, Frederic Antes
History
Daily stories of Pennsylvania : $b prepared for publication in the leading daily newspapers of the state...
Godcharles, Frederic Antes
Pennsylvania -- Biography; Pennsylvania -- History
General Wayne determined to accompany them to Philadelphia. When they
reached Princeton the soldiers presented the general with a written list
of their demands. These demands appeared so reasonable that he had them
laid before Congress. They consisted of six general items of complaint
and were signed by William Bearnell and the other sergeants of the
committee, William Bouzar, acting as secretary.
Joseph Reed, President of Pennsylvania, who had been authorized by
Congress to make propositions to the mutineers, advanced near Princeton
on January 6, when he wrote to General Wayne in which he expressed some
doubts as to going into the camp of the insurgents. The general showed
this letter to the sergeants and they immediately wrote the President:
“Your Excellency need not be in the least afraid or apprehensive of any
irregularities or ill treatment.”
President Reed went into Princeton. His entry was greeted with the whole
line drawn up for his reception, and every mark of military honor and
respect was shown him.
Articles of agreement were finally assented to and confirmed on both
sides, January 7, 1781. These articles consisted of five sections and
related to the time of their enlistment, terms of payment, arrearages
and clothes. It was also agreed that the State of Pennsylvania should
carry out its part of their contract.
The agreement was signed by Joseph Reed and General James Potter.
General Arthur St. Clair, the distinguished Pennsylvanian, and General
Lafayette went voluntarily to Princeton and offered their services in
the settlement of the difficulty, especially as they had learned of the
attempt of the British to win the malcontents to their cause.
When Sir Henry Clinton heard of the revolt of the Pennsylvania Line he
misunderstood the spirit of the mutineers and dispatched two
emissaries—a British sergeant named John Mason and a New Jersey Tory
named James Ogden—to the insurgents, with a written offer that, on
laying down their arms and marching to New York, they should receive
their arrearages; be furnished with good clothes, have a free pardon for
all past offenses and be taken under the protection of the British
Government and that no military service should be required of them
unless voluntarily offered.
Sir Henry entirely misapprehended the temper of the Pennsylvanians. They
felt justified in using their power to obtain a redress of grievances,
but they looked with horror upon the armed oppressors of their country;
and they regarded the act and stain of treason under the circumstances
as worse than the infliction of death.
Clinton’s proposals were rejected with disdain. “See, comrades,” said
one of them, “he takes us for traitors. Let us show him that the
American army can furnish but one Arnold, and that America has no truer
friends than we.”
They seized the two emissaries, and delivered them, with Clinton’s
papers, into the hands of General Wayne.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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