The Christiana Riot and the Treason Trials of 1851: An Historical SketchHensel, W. U. (William Uhler)
History
The Christiana Riot and the Treason Trials of 1851: An Historical Sketch
Hensel, W. U. (William Uhler)
Christiana (Pa.) -- History; Riots -- Pennsylvania -- Christiana
Robert M. Lee
John Agen Henry H. Cline
Depatised
Marshal Kline
Lawyer Lee
and Benit
Commissioner
Ingraham
O. Riley’s Telegraph
avoid Halzel
Councelman
Cpt. Shutt
J. R. Henson.
The significance of these entries will be recognized. No weapons were
found on the body. This of course does not prove that Mr. Gorsuch was
unarmed, as he easily might have lost or have been despoiled of his
arms. Fred Douglass boasted that Gorsuch’s pistol had been presented to
him. His family believe, and from his habits of life and temperament
it may be presumed, the elder Gorsuch was unarmed. He depended mainly
on the force of the law’s warrant and, perhaps too confidently, on the
nerve of the Federal deputies marshal.
Dickinson Gorsuch was soon removed to friendly shelter and tender
ministrations under the hospitable roof of Levi Pownall’s homestead.
There he learned to know that the Quaker families of the valley, while
they were considerate of the slave, could be no less kind to the master
in distress. The daily entries of his diary attest his gratitude and
appreciation, and these he substantially manifested throughout his
lifetime. His contemporaneous portrait herein published was taken from
a daguerreotype sent to the Pownall family. Dr. Asher Pusey Patterson,
who attended him, was then practicing at Smyrna. He was of the Lower
End families whose names he bore. Dr. John L. Atlee, Sr., of Lancaster,
was called into consultation.
During Dickinson Gorsuch’s stay in the Pownall household he was
visited in his convalescence by many of his Baltimore County friends
and relatives. Among them were his brother John S.; his uncle Talbott
Gorsuch; his sister Mary (afterwards Mrs. Morrison); his cousin George
and others. It was ten days before he could eat and nearly three weeks
before he could sit up. By October 1 he could take a short drive and
was entertained next day at Ambrose Pownall’s. When he returned home in
charge of some of his family on October 4, Dr. Patterson accompanied
them as far as Columbia. During his recovery he had no more popular
visitor than his friend Alex. Morrison, who subsequently married his
sister. Morrison is described by the older inhabitants as one who
“made friends everywhere.” He kept up his acquaintance with people
about Christiana until his death and visited there as late as 1903. He
rejoiced in the establishment of good relations between those who had
been on opposite sides of the conflict of 1851. Dickinson Gorsuch was
56 years old when he died, August 2, 1882.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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