# •so WASHINGTONBURG. An Uncompleted Paper by the late Chris tian P. Humrich, Esq., Read Before the Hamilton Library Association, Carlisle, Pa., February 19th, 1907, by His Daugh- ter-in-law, Mrs. Charles F. Humrich. HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION BY PROFESSOR CHARLES P. HIMES. The unusual character of the paper upon the program for this evening seems to call for a brief introductory historical state- ment, not so much to supplement or ex- plain the paper as to exhibit more clearly the character and value of the fragment with which Wd are obliged to be content this evening; and it may render still greater the regret that onr esteemed friend and fellow-member was not permitted to complete, with the same painstaking care, his treatment of the subject, for which he was in every way so peculiarly qualified. The subject, as announced, — "Wash- ingtouburg"— suggests nothing to the general public, whatever interest it may •C£'7. rFJ have for local historians. It is a name that the published records of the State or County do not contain. I am not aware that it occurs in any local history. It has even been lost to local tradition, which seems to have forgotten it so completely, that it is absolutely silent in regard to it. And yet the name, as an official designa- tion, covers a place of recognized import- ance, and of great historical interest from the very beginning of the Revolutionary struggle to its close. A peculiar local interest attaches to it, because, whatever else may be uncertain, in regard to it, it was certainly in the immediate vicinity of Carlisle, we might say was a suburb of it. But its precise location is undetermined. "Where was Washingtonburg?" was one of the questions liable to come up at any little informal colloquium of local histori- ans. And there is more in the query than the mere idle curiosity that attaches to a vexed question, for, as I have intimated, it was more than simply a little suburb, with a rather pretentious name, of a half- grown village, such as Carlisle was at that day. It was a very busy place, and it must have been of considerable extent, for there were workshops in which were manufactured military supplies of the most varied character for the Continental army; the artificers were numbered by hundreds, and had there their lodging and boarding houses. It had its magazine, its hospital, its guard-house, most likely its chaplain. The variety of its products may be inferred from a request of "Col. Flow- er Commisary General of Military Stores" there, that he might "have from Yorktown tradesmen for the works of Carlisle, Car- penters, Farriers, Gun Smiths, Tinmen, Saddlers', Shoemakers." These products were sent to the northern and southern divi- t : tt^ 3 sious of the army; for it was a National, not a State establishment. Among; the best evidences of the large force of workmen employed, perhaps there is none more conclusive than the size of a meat bill, Feb. 7, 1681, as follows:— "Sold to Col. Sam'l Lyon Commissary of Pur- chases for Cumberland County 150 head of beef cattle for the use of the public, to supply the artificers and others at the Continental works near Carlisle." It was, too, an up to-date, or rather an away -ahead -of date establishment, at least in regard to the fuel employed. Whilst the mountains on both sides of the val'ey then abounded in timber, which furnished charcoal for the iron works in operation at different points, and whilst charcoal was doubtless used at the public works, mineral coal, not qituminous coal such as modern blacksmiths use. but the hardest anthracite coal, from the Wilkes- barre region, was used, brought down the river in flat boats or arks, to a point op- posite Harris' ferry, and hauled in wagons to Carlisle. Tnis was perhaps the first use of such coal, at least on such a scale, and for industrial purposes. Whilst the name — "Washingtonburg" — clearly indicates a date subsequent to '76, and it is an unboubted fact that the works were in course of erection in 1777, under Continental officers, it is highly probable that magazines, and possibly work shops on a smaller scale were located at the same place in Colonial days, and that they contributed their full share to the equip- ment of the various expeditions to points westward from this frontier town. Such works would naturally form the nucleus of the more extensive works subsequently established here, as a place secure from capture or molestation by the forces of King George. Perhaps any military maga- zines or works here, belonging to his Majesty, may have been taken over by the patriots of '76 quietly, and without osten- tation, much as the seceding states took over the property of the Federal govern- ment, as soon as they had resolved to throw off their allegiance to it. But, whatever may have been the character of the post in preRevolutionary times, it is certain that it acquired a new and much enlarged importance upon the outbreak of hostilities. Although "public works" are mentioned frequently in documents, as at or near Carlisle, Carlisle and Washing- tonburg are not to be confounded. Wash- ingtonburg was near Carlisle, but not a part of Carlisle, and as a military post was independent of it, and Carlisle as a tuili- tary post had its own officers, especially to 'D. Q. M. Q.," Deputy Quarter Master General — upon whom the officers at Wash- ingtonburg made frequent requisitions for Continental wagons, to haul wood, boards, gun stock wood, iron, bricks, etc , to the "public works," logs to the saw mills, etc., and for "Continental" horses for artiticers to make trips to Lancaster and elsewhere for tools or on business connected with the operations. Continental horses were evidently in better repute than Continen- tal money. These requisitions, as far as the documents in my possession go, are invariably from "Washiagtonburg," and Higned by officers at that post, as the "!Supt. and K. of Stores," or sometimes by "Capt. of A. and A.," that is "Captain of Artificers and Artillery," or by Col. Flower as "Commissary General of Mili- tary Stores." To such an extent were these demands made upon the (Quarter Masters' department at Carlisle, that it was found necessary for that officer to ap- point a special "P. M.," — "Forrage Mas- ter"— for Wa8tiiugtonbarg. All ttie documents thus far alluded to are of a purely military and formal char- acter, such as orders, receipts, and so forth. This might suggest that possibly the name "Washingtonburg" had never been used otherwise, and consequently did not survive the abandonment of the post, and afiford a plausible explanation of its absence from local traditions. But J. D. Hemminger, Esq., in his investiga- tions for his admirable paper on the "Bridges of Cumberland County," read before the Association, came across a document in which "Washingtouburg" is mentioned, which is of unique interest, not only for the information it conveys as to the location of that place, but because it is not in any sense a military docu- ment, and in that it has appended to it the names of seventy-nine prominent citi- zens of Carlisle and vicinity. Ic is a peti- tion to the Court of General Quarter Ses- sions at Carlisle, dated January, 1779, of "inhabitants of the town of Carlisle and parts adjacent in the county," setting forth that "Whereas by very many wa- gons and teams of late travelling between Carlisle and Washingtonburg over Le Tort Spring opposite to the east end of High street, (the earth on the east side of said spring being a kiad of marie) the bank is so worn away that it is almost become impracticable (or any loaded wagon to pass through said spring with safety," that a bridge is absolutely necessary, and requesting the justices, the grand jury men, and the board of commissioners and assessors to take a walk and look at it. This clearly shows that the citizens recog- nized "Washingtonburg" as the name of a place. But whilst this document clear- ly indicates a point directly east of the town, it does not necessarily locate Wash- ingtonburg precisely, or controvert the conclusion that it might have occupied the site, or about the site, of the present Indian Industrial School to the northeast of the town, as the road alluded to would connect immediately with the lane lead- ing to that point, where the ground was better adopted to occupation. These works seem to have been in continuous operation during the whole of the Kevolu tionary war, but must have been aband- oned soon after the cessation of hostili- ties, for already in 1784, Arthur Lee, in passing through Carlisle, noted in his journal, — "There is here a very complete set of buildings for arseuals, raised at Continental expense, but not used and therefore going into ruin." Four years later, 1788, John Penn in writing in his journal of his arrival in Carlisle, from Harrisburg, says: "The first buildings seen here are three or four separate wings intended for magazines originally but said to be granted by Congress to the trustees of Dickinson College for twenty years, but on inquiry I find they are negotiating but have not concluded a bargain," but he states further, that Dr. Nisbet lived in ■^ one of the buildings. * Just as the name "Washingtonburg" has been completely lost to tradition, so have all vestiges of these extensive works disappeared from the topography of the locality. No identifiable remains of build- ings, or fragments of objects have been discovered, with perhaps one interesting exception, — the so called "guard house" at the Indian Industrial School. The gen *See also, Wing's Hlstx)ry of the Pli'st Presby- terian churcla, Carlisle, Pa , p. 123 ; Hlmes' His- tory of Dickinson CoUeg-', p. 40. eral character of this small substantial stone building leaves little doubt that it was built at an early date. Although used as the guard house of the military post of recent years, it is designated in earlier de- scriptions as the 'magazine/which it doubt- less was. It may indeed, in part at least, antedate the Revolutionary period. Tradi- tion says it was built by Hessian prison- ers captured at Trenton. Perhaps it was. There is no need to disturb that tradition. Many of the Hessian prisoners were ex- cellent workmen. Some might have been found well adapted to this work, when Col. Flower was asking for workmen from York in 1777, at the time of the erection of the works, and when the government was looking anxiously for a place of greater security for the Hessian prisoners held at that place, which was thought to be in immediate danger of an attack by way of Baltimore. But there is no evi- dence that Carlisle was a place of deten- tion of any considerable body of Hessian prisoners at that time. On the contrary the sub lieutenant of Cumberland county refused, on request of the "Commissary General of Prisoners", to receive, or fur- nish guards for the prisoners which they were anxiously desirous of removing from York to Carlisle, as a place of greater security. These few facts, many from unpublished documents, may serve to justify the inter- est manifested in this old military post, and especially in its location. Among those who had investigated the subject was one who seemed to have run out every clue, many of them furnished by docu- ments in his own possession, our late highly esteemed member. Christian P. Humrich, Esq. He seemed to have reach- ed positive eouelusions on many obscure 8 points, and to have cleared them up to his satisfaction. It would hardly state the fact to say that he was requested to pre- pare a paper upon the subject, but rather that he was appointed to do so. With his loyalty to the Association and historic elucidation he accepted the duty imposed. He was able only to complete the intro- ductory portion, but that has been done so thoroughly and so broadly, and has so much of general interest in it, that the Association requested the privilege of having it read, even though only a histori- cal fragment, at one of its regular meet- ings, and placed on its annual program. I am sure that after it has been heard, the regret of everyone will be the greater that he was not permitted to finish it with the same thoroughness. It was regarded as eminently appropriate that some one intimately connected with nim should read his paper before the As- sociation, and it was peculiarly gratifying to find one so competent, wiliingto accede to the request of the Association, herself a valued contributor to our local history. It gives me great pleasure, therefore, to pre- sent Mrs. Charles F. Humrich, a daughter- in-law of the writer, who will read the paper, and 1 may add, she is the first woman who will have honored the Asso- ciation in that way. PAPER BY LATE CHRISTIAN P. HUMRICH (UNCOMPLTED.) The County of Cumberland in the Piov- inee of Pennsylvania, was organized under the Act of January 27, 1750. In point of time it was the sixth, having been preceded by Philadelphia, Chester, Bucks, Lancaster and York Counties. In extent it was greater than all of these combined as its title, viz: "An act for erecting part of the Province of Pennsylvania, westward of the Sttsquehannah River and northward and westward of tue County of York into a County", indicates. This Act directed "that all and singular the lands lying within the Province of Pennsylvania, aforesaid, to the Westward of Susquehan- uah and Northward and Westward of the County of York, (now York and Adams), be and hereby are erected into a County named and hereafter to be called Cumber- land, bounded Northward and Westward with the line of the Province, Eastward partly with the River Susquehannah and partly with the said County of York, and Southward in part by said County of York, and partly by the line dividing said Prov- ince from that of Maryland. Chapter CCCLXXX Statutes at Large of Pennsyl- vania, Vol. 5, Page 87: Bioren's Laws of Penna. Edition 1810, Vol. 1, Page 201. From these recitals it is readily seen that the purpose of this Act of Assembly was not to cut off a part of Lancaster Co. and erect the part detached with addition- 10 al territory iuto a new County. To tay mind it is clear, that Lancaster Co., never legally extended beyond the Sasquebaonab River, and that Cumberland Co., wben organized in 1750 was the frontier County throughout its entire extent, and so con- tinued until 1771, when Bedford Co. was erected, and it then became the frontier. The town of Carlisle— the county town of Cumberland — was laid out in the year 1751, the exact date cannot be given, but it IS believed that it was as early as April of that year. Some of the "tickets" that were issued by Tnomas Cooksou, the first deputy surveyor in our county, to the grantees autnorizing them to take poseb- sion of and make improvements on the lots granted, which were always designat- ed by particular numbers, are dated in May of that year, showing that the plot of the town was completed, and that build- ing improvements could be begun. A mortgage given by John McCallister, tav ern keeper, as the owner of lot No. 237 (now on the corner of High and Bedford Sts., just east of the county jail, now known as the Cumberland Hotel property), is dated the 29th of November, 1751, and recites that a log house has been erected thereon recently, so that the improvement of the town may safely be said to com- mence with that year. Indeed the evi- dence is abundant, that in the year 1751 the location of the town was fully deter- mined; the public square of plots of ground in the centre of the town (as they now exist) were set apart for particular pur- poses, giving the county a site for its pub- lic buildings, the town a Market Place with the right to hold a Public Market and Fair, both of which have continued to this day, having been recognized and allowed under the Charter of Incorporation by Act 11 of the 13th of April 1782, and its supple- ments, and also providing the Church of England and the Presbyterian Church with ground on which to erect their church buildings. The lines of the streets — two of them 80 feet, and the others 60 feet wide between the building line, and the alleyways 20 feet wide, were run and definitely fixed on the ground, the lots were laid out and numbered ready to be awarded to those who were willing to accept them on the terms proposed. Toese were, that within two or at most three years from the date of the "ticket", the holder thereof should erect a dwelling house on the lot designat- ed by the number of his ticket, at 'east 20 feet square of stone, brick or squared tiaiber, with a stone or brick chimney therein, and thereafter pay an annual quit rent not exceeding 12 shillings to the pro- prietaries or their agents lu case default was made in complying with the terms above named and within the time pro- scribed, the license to the grantee was forfeited, and the lot which was assigned to him was awarded to another who would agree to comply with these terms. Tne town as thus laid out was confined within the bounds and limits as follows: on the North by what is now known as North St , although its eastern end was called at that day HtU St ; on the East by what was first called Water St , then Howe, and nowE'ist St ; on the South by South St.; and on the West by West or Allen St., as it was first called. Within these limits 312 town lots were laid out and consecutively numbered, be- ginning at the N. E corner of South and West Sts., as No. 1, thence in successive order along the line of West St. northward to the corner of North and West Sts , 12 which was No. 8, and theuce on from Sooth St., ruDQiDg northward up to and including both the West and the East sides of Hanover St., and in the sacae manner over the eastern section of the town, until the last lot was located at the S. W. cor- ner of East and North Sts., which was numbered 312. Edch of these lots con- tained 60 feet in front on one of the streets of the town, and 240 feet in depth to a 20- feet wide alley, except those that fronted on Hanover St., and those that fronted on the East side of East St. Of the latter there were 32, having the same front (60 feet) as the others, and extending to the Letort Spring, and therefore of varying depth on account of the course of that stream, all of which were known as Water Lots, and were used as locations for tan- neries, distilleries and breweries, and were among the very fiist to be improved for thfcse particular purposes. As indicating thn manner in which these lots were taken (with the understanding that they were to be built upon, and were not sold outright) the return of Gen. John Armstrong, deputy surveyor, made the 9th of November, 1763, showed that there were 44 Proprietary Lots — meaning according to my understanding that they were re- served by the proprietaries, and had not been disposed of in any way — 9 vacant lots that were marked with a capital letter V, and that 190 persons or corporations "possessed" 254 lots making 312 in all. The Water Lots are not included in this return. I know of no town lots within the limits above described, whose lines or boundaries extended across the spring, and as thus laid out, the town was rectangular in shape and all of the lots were within two blocks of the present intersection of High and Hanover S's, except the Water 13 Lots just desoribed. 4L The early settlers of the town and coun- ty were mainly of Scotch Irish extraction, and such as are usually found on the frontier: men and women, physically strong, hardy, courageous, self-reliant and self sustaining; accustomed to severe trials, exposure and unusual hardships. They were not adventurers— squatters for the time being, or speculators, awaiting the advance iu value of the lands they held, and when it came selling out to a newcomer, folding their tents and return- ing to civilization. They were bonafide settlers, in the main industrious and frucal in their habits, engaged in making a home for themselves and their posterity, which they held with a strong hand, and defend- ed with their lives when attacked by a savage or foreign foe. A like service was rendered by them for their friends and neighbors, extending northward and west- ward to the limits of the province. Among the men whose homes were in this new county, were those who were en- gaged in the learned professions as preach- ers, lawyers, doctors and surveyors of eminent ability; merchants whose ven- tures were to the West ludes including the Spanish Province of Louisiana, and the City of Orleans on the Mississippi River, with return j jurneys and freights by way of that river and the Ohio, or overland through the Southwest territories of the United States; Indian Traders whose operations extended through and beyond the Ohio River as far as Detroit, and who were licensed by the Province to engage in that business; mechanics and artisans in the various trades and occupations of life, such as carpenters and builders, the old Court House which was burned in March, 1845, a two-story brick building, 14 68 feet in frout on S. Hanover St., by 66 feet in depth on W. High St., iueluding the rotunda in which the Judge's bench and other structures were placed, as well as the material — brick of which it was built, are fair samples of the work done and the material furnished by the men engaged in these avocations as early as 1765 and 1766; coopers, blacksmiths, gun- smiths, forge and furnace men, the iron plate attached to the walls of the vestibule of this building oast in 1764 at the Cdrlisle Furnace located at Boiling Springs, pre- senting an example of the work done iu that line at that early day; masons, in- cluding those who worked in brick and stone, and of the latter — stone — there are still some examples to be found in the town, tanners, wheelwrights, cabinet- makers, wagon makers, and those engaged in other avocations. There was also a large contingent of military men who ren- dered efficient services in Provincial and Indian wars, including their colaborers, namely, express riders, pack horse and bullock drivers, teamsters and wagoners. The mere mention of such names as Bueher, Wilson, Smith, Armstrong, Blaine, Buchanan, Croghan, Callender, Duffield, Davis, Denny, Henderson, Irvin, McCall- ister, McDowell, Trent, BoUoch, Postle- thwaite, and a host of others, suggest at once their calling or occupation and the services rendered by them as detailed in the Provincial records and State Archives. The Treaty of 1736 extinguished the In- dian title to the lands in this valley, the line of demarkation being on the top of the Kittochtiny or the North or Blue Moun- tain. That the lands in the vicinity of where Carlisle was located appeared de- sirable to the early settlers, readily ap pears from the correspondence of Thomas 15 Cookson, Esq., with the authorities in Philadelphia of April 1 and June 8, 1752, iu fixing the location of the county seat on the bank of the Letort Spring;. Frona this correspondence it clearly appears that in order to secure the present location it became necessary to purchase the land from those who owned it at that day, viz, purpart A from Wm. Qillingham, 231 acres and 134 perches as shown on the draft of the borough of Carlisle accompanying an edition of the town ordinances published about 1841 This tract of land extended westward at least as far as where K. E. Shearer now resides; purpart B from Wm. and Patrick Davidson, containing 352% acres, which covered the main portion of the present town site from Louther St, southward; purpart C, 380j^ acres from John McClure, which included the land northward from Louther St. as far as B St., and eastward to the Spiing; purpart D, from Joseph Clark, containing 274 acres, covering the lands on the north side of the town, and extending at least to Blaine's Lane; purpart E, 249)^ acres, from Peter Wilkies' Estate which embrac- ed the land on the east side of the Letort Spring and South of the Koad to Harris' Ferry, now known as the TrindleRoad; purpart F, containing 255 Acres, from James Kilgore, which embraced the land north ot the Trindle Road, and east of the Letort Spring. It is with this lust tract, to wit, purpart F, that we have more immediately to do in this paper, for upon it was located, (in part at least), the Carlisle Barracks, now known as the Indian Industrial School, and which I hope to show was originally known and designated by the military authorities occupying the same, as Wash- ington or Washingtonburgh. 16 I also trust that it will be made to ap- pear, that during such cccupaacy, a mili- tary hospital was erected and mainfained during the Revolutionary War, in addition to the Magazine or Guard House still standing; that cannon and c.innon car- riages and equipoaents, muskets and small arms for military use, the ammnnition re- quired by these in warfare, with other military supplies were all manufactured or prepared at this Post, by the Artillery- men and ArtiBcers employed there, and then forwarded to the Continental Army in the field. It will also be shown that in the preparation of the ammunition, and possibly some of the other supplies, the Court House above referred to was used as a Laboratory and Score House during the year 1778 and thereafter, but for how long a period, 1 am not now able to say. Before conceding to the details here- after to be given 1 propose now to recite the boundaries of the borough of Carlisle, as given by tne Act of the 14th of March (which I presume are the same as those fixed by the original Act of Incorporation of the 13ch of April, 1782) as determined by the survey as made by Gen John Arm- strong in the year 1762 or 1763 Thu date is found in a volume of the Borough Ordinances published I presume in the year 1841, as it contains the municipal organization for that year, and attached to it is the most complute plan or draft of the borough lines that I have seen. Tnis draft IS more complete than the one to be found attached to a copy of the ordinances of a more recent date, in this, that it gives the course and distance of every line sur- rounding the borough. No. 1, beginning at a walnut corner tree of land now of Thomas Wilson's heirs, being a post at the corner of Widow McDonald's outlots; 17 tbenee by said lands of Thomas Wilson's heirs adjoining the outlots, south 24>^ deg. east, 233 perches to a post on the Letort Spring; (2) thence down said Spring, the diflferent courses thereof, 59 perches to a white oali at the corner of Jonathan Holmes' land; (3) thence by the same and adjoining outlots, south 26 deg. east, 120 perches to a post; (4) thence by the same south 61 deg. east, 121 perches to a hickory; (5) thence by the same south 41 deg. east, 100 perches to a white oak stump; (6) thence by No. I of the small tracts of land sold by the late pro- prietaries to the inhabitants of the town of Carlisle, now in the possession or occu- pancy of James Davis, south 49 deg v/nat, 90 perches to a black oak; (7) theuce by Chas, McClure's lauds south 49 deg. west, 129 perches to a black oak; (8) thence by the same north 75 deg west, 21 perches to a post; (9) south 40 deg. west, 50 perches to a black oak; (10) north 75>^ deg. west, 154 perches, to a post on Letort Spring; (11) thence down said spring, the differ ent courses thereof, 44 perchts, to a post on the west side of the spring; (12) thence by said Chas. McClure's land, in right (as is said) of Baynton and Wharton, south 89 deg. west, 159 perches, and adjoining outlots; (13) thence by the same adjoin- ing outlots, and commons belonging to the town, north 81 deg. west, 135 perches, to a post, where a hickory tree formerly stood; (14) thence by Ephriam Blaine's land in right of Hugh Parker and the late proprietaries (as is said), and by John Smith & Co. lands, north, 181 perches to a post; (15) thence by said John Smith & Co.'s land, south 80 deg. west 134 perches to 8 post; (16) thence by the same course extending by Ephraim Blaine's land, south 80 deg. west 26 perches; (17) thenee 18 north 8 deg east, 142 4 10 perches to a post to James Young's line, including the outlots; (18) thence by said James Young's line south 43 dee. east, 74 perches to a hickory, and adjoining outlots; (19) thence by the same, north 833^ deg. east, 100 2 perches to a stone corner; (20) thence by the same, north 241^ deg. west, 59 perch- es to a post; (21) thence by the same, north 87 deg east, 40)^ perches to a post ; thence by the same and Ross Mitchell's line ; (22) north 2% deg wtst, 177 perches to a post; (23) thence along the road laid out through Ephraim Blaine's land, fioin said Mitchell's hue to said Blaine's mill, south 8lj^ deg east, 232 perch«-8, to the road leading from Carlisle tovvn to said mill; (24) tnence along said Carlisle road south 4 deg. west, 22 perches to the place of beginning, ineludiog the town of Car- lisle, commons, and all the outlots (See Ordinance booii of 1841, p-»ges 26 and 27). In order now to determine what portion of the original lands were embraced within the limits of the borough of Carlisle, a search of our rtcords discloses but one con- veyance by the Penu pioprittaries to the United States of America. This is a deed from John Penn and Kichard Penn by Edmund Physic, Esq., their atrorney-in- fuet, to the U. S. of America. It is dated on the 13th of January, A D 1801, and re- corded on the 20th of January of the same year, iu Uecord Book O, Vol. 1, page 79, etc., in which is recited and detailed as follows: whereas by virtue and in pursu- ance of a warrant from the late proprieta lies of the Province of Penna , nuder thj hand of the Hon. James Hamilton, Esq , then Governor of the said Province, and the Seal of the Land Office, bearing date at Philadelphia, the 5th day of May iu the year A.D. 1762, unto John Lukens, Sur- 19 veyor Gene-ral, there was surveyed, and laid out or resurveyed and laid out in the said month of May in the year last afore- said, unto and to the use of the said late Proprietaries of Penna., among divers oth- ers lands and tenements therein mention- ed and described, a certain tract of land near the town of Carlisle aforesaid, and now included within the limits of the bor- ough of Cailisle in said county of Cumber- land, containiug by metes and bounds of the survey thereof 255 acres and allow- ance of 6% for roads, bounded by Letort Spring, and in return of survey marked by the letter "F" as iu and by said survey or resurvey duly returned and recorded in the Surveyor General's office at Lancaster, will fully appear. And whereas the tract or piece of laud hereinafter described and hereby inteudtd to be granted with the appurtenances, beii^g a part of said tract marked iu resurvey aforesaid with the let- ter "F". Now this indenture witnesses, that for and in consideration of $664 20 100 lawful money of the U. S. of A. paid to the said Edamiid Physic, there is granted unto the said U S of A , their successors and assigns, 'all that certain tract or piece of land being part of the tract marked in the resurvey aforesntid with the letter 'F', situate lying aud being in the borough of Carlisle, in the county of Cumb , State of Penna , numbered in the general plan of Outlots, of said Borough, No. 92, which by a survey thereof made by William Alex- ander, Surveyor on the 30th day of June, now laet past, is bounded and described as follows, viz: beginning at a post on the hank of the Letort Spring, thence by lands belonging to the heirs of Thomas Wilson, deed , the four next following courses and distances, to wit, south 80 deg. east, 14 perches to a post, thence north 19 deg. 20 fast, 11 7 perches to a post, thence north, one deg. west, 38 perches to a post, north. GO^ deg. east, 52 perches to a post, four perches from the old channel at thp breast of the old mill dam, thence south 30 deg, east, 35 7 perches to a blacR walnut, cor- ner to laud sold by Jonathan Holmes to the U. !S., and corner of land of Thomas DuDcan, Esq , tQence oy the laud of said Thomas Duncan, E^q., south 3l}4 dt-g. west, 58}4 perches to a heap of stones, corner of Thomas Duncan, E^q , and John Hughes' lot, feet, east of the Maga- zine, thence by said Hughes' lot, south 223^ deg. west, 22 perches to a post, thence north 84 deg. west, crossing the lane here iuafter mentioned and by another lane of two perches wide between this land and lot of John Montgomery, E^-q , (No. 91), 46 perches to a post on the bank of tna Letort Spring, thence down the said Spring to the place of beginning. Containing 27 Acres and 108 perches, exclusive of the said first mentioned lane, which is com preheuded within the limits of this survey, and contains 82 square perches lying soutu and north of the Mui^aziue, and bounding on the eastern lane of this survey, which lane is intended as well for the common use and benefit of the U. S as of the other owners of land bounding thereon." This conveyance is the special warranty, and from the description herein was Outlot No. 92 as surveyed or resurveyed by Gen. John Armstrong as early as 1762. This conveyance covers the southwestern por- tion of what was the Barracks Ground and includes the ground on which the Guard House, the Private Soldiers' Quarters on the South side of the ground, the large stable that stood between these quarters and the bank of the Spring, the Officers' Quarters on the South, and 1 think those 21 on the North side of the Parade Ground, and possibly other buildings in the direc- tion of the Spring. It is to be regretted that the conveyance by Jonathan Holmes to the U. S. herein referred to of land along the line from the old mill dam to the black walnut corner is not on record. If this could be obtained, I have no doubt that the grounds as they existed in 1801 or earlier could be determined with accuracy. It also appears from the deed above recit- ed that the lane running southward from the Guard House was for the use of the U. tj. in common with the owners of other lands abutted on the same. What has be- come of the lane two perches wide that existed hetween this land and the lot of John Montgomery, Esq , (No. 91) 46 perches to a post on the bank of tha Letort Spring, I can not say. This lane seems to have bounded the Barracks Ground on the south, from the lane fir.st above de- scribed, and said to contain 82 f^quare perches, and which was formerly used as the only access to the Barracks Grounds. It is quite probable that the site of Carlisle, (located as it was »t the crossing of the great Indian Trails or patds, leading North and South and East and West through this valley,) was occupied as a military post before the town was laid out in 1751. John O'Neil in a letter from Carlisle, of the 27th of May, 1753, says, "The garrison here consists only of twelve men. Tue Stockade originally occupied two acres of ground square, with a Block House in each corner. These buildings are now in ruins." It would hardly be possible for buildings that had only been erected two years before as a tort or stock- ade, should be in ruins when he wrote. These structures from what we know of ihem were certainly of a more permanent 22 ^ V and substantial character. Fort Louther, occupying a position west of the centre of the town, whose boundar- ies have been approximately determined, is said to have been built in 1753, and whether a military post or a stockade fort, was garrisoned by soldiers at that early day. Fort Letort is said to have been erected the same year, but its location is obscured in doubt and uncertainty. It is probable, however, that it was built on or near the stream of that name, and I sub mit that it is quite likely that it was with- in the boundaries of Stanwick's iutrench- meuts thrown up in 1757, and if located on the east side of the Spring I have but little doubt that it stood within the bound- aries of the Carlisle Barracks enclosure. These intrenchments were located on tbe north side of North Street, adjoining the town limits, and if they did not extend across the Spring eastward, then they were within the space bounded ou the east by the Spring, on the south by North St., and on the west, northwest, and north, by Bedford street extended. This was the place assigned them in my boyhood days — say 1840 to '48, and I have no know- ledge, traditional or otherwise, that they extended beyond that stream. Still I am inclined to think, that although the in- trenchments or breastworks as they were sometimes called, were on the west side of the Spring, yet that the military forces here at that time and subsequently, occu- pied the higher ground on the east side of that stream for camp, barrack, and other building purposes. It must be remem- bered iu this connection that the grounds on the east side of the Spring as described in detail iu the deed from tbe Peun Pro- prietaries to the U. S , still belonged to the Penu Qrautores. Tbis view will ex- 23 .. plain the language used by Thomas Penn (Proprietary) in his letter of Oct. 4, 1755, (See Col. Rec , page 730) in which writ- ing from London he says, "I am well pleased to hear you have laid out the ground for a Wooden Fort at Carlisle, and ordered one at Shippensburg and hope inhabitants will keep watch there as you have formed four Companies of Militia, if Col. Dunbar does not order some men into quarters in those places which I hope he will do by Mr. Shirley's orders, if he does not before resolve upon it." This letter was read in Council 1755. Robert H. Morris was the Lieutenant Governor. He was in Carlisle Jan. 15, 16 and 17, 1756, at a council with the ladians. Ou Jan. 15, 1756, he wrote from Carlisle to Capl. Jocelyn what disposition to make of his troops. It also appears in the same vol- ume page 715 that Col Stanwick's writing from Carlisle speaks of digging the in- trenchments and the delay in their com- pletion as well as his purpose to extend these works. lu the same volume page 737, Col. Haldyman commanding the 2d Bat. of Royal Americans stopped in Phila. Sept. 1757, on his march to Carlisle, exam- ined certain cannon— 12 pounders— and would consult Col. Scanwix and if deemed i^ecessary would order them to be taken to camp at Carlisle. The Governor also reported to Council on the Barracks. Commissioners chose the ground, dug foundations, contracted with workmen, agreed upon, then changed their minds, chose another place, changed the plan, bought the ground, and were at work with many hands without consulting him (the Governor) about anything. The Governor got the plan and submitted it to Col. Haldyman. It was objectionable to both. Wrote to stop work until the plan was ap 24^ proved and spot found healthy and that he would ask Lord Loudon for an engineer. Three physicians viewed the spot and re- ported favorably upon it, but the Commis- sioners went on with the work and would not reply to him. la Vol. 8, page 71, under date of Apr 5, 1758, Sir John S^. Clair for the General commanding His Majesty's forces writes, "P. 8 I hope that the post through Carlisle to Winchest- er will be continued." Both Sir John St. Clair and Col. Haldyman made grievous complaints about the ill accommodatious of the forces in the Barracks. Ou page 224. Oct. 22, 1758, Gen. John Forbes wrote the Governor from Kaystowu camp (now Bedford) what forts should be held "the forts of * * * Shippensburg and Carlisle ought to be garrisoned beside those on the other side of the Susquehanna." OupHge 225 it appears that at that date at Ship- peusburg ana Carlisle there were 100 men out of a force of 1200. These references all point to a very considerable military establishment either at Carlisle or some- where in its vicinity. It was certainly not within the boundary of North, South, Eist and West Streets, nor was it immediately opposite these limits on the east side of the Spring. If located anywhere it mu'st have been north of the line of North St., and in proximity with these iutrenchments. In my judgement no other location meets the several requirements than the groumls above referred to, formerly known as the Carlisle Barracks and now the Indian In- dustrial School. It will be seen from the original docu- ments to be presented, that an Artillery Company as well as a company of Artillery and Artificers were stationed at Carlisle from 1777 to 1781 and probably later. These men had charge of a Laboratory, and 25 • also what is known as The Public Works, in which they were engaged in the manu- facture of arms, ammunition and other military supplies. Quarters had to be provided for them, as well as work shops, factories and appliances by which they carried on the several occupations. These buildings were located ou the ground above referred to, and the Guard House still standing is an example of their work. In order that there may be no doubt or uncertainty as to the character of the ser- vices rendered and who rendered them, I propose now to quote from the Penna, Archives, Second Series, Vol. II, as to the organization of the Penna. State Regiment of Artillery, and the Artillery Artificers, with the officers who commanded the Companies stationed at Carlisle. The for- mer, generally known as Proctor's Artillery Regiment, was organized under a resolu- tion of The Council of Safety of Feb. 6,1777, for the defence of the State of Penna., and by a subsequent resolution of Feb. 28, 1777, it was to serve in any part of the U. S. during the war. After detailing their ser- vices (P. 191) at Bound Brook, (N. J.), Brandywine and Germantown, all rendered in 1777, we find (P. 192) a letter from Gen. Gates to the Artillery Officers, viz: Capts. Craig and Proctor, Capt. Lieut. Parker, Lieuts. Campbell and Parker, all stationed at Carlisle and written from the War Office Apr. 28, 1778, in which the following occurs, "Gentlemen: The Board have been favored with your Certificate of yesterday, in favor of Capt. Coren's Con- duct, with Regard to you. **** We deem your testimony fully satisfactory as to Capt. Coren, but are sorry any officers under his command are in a situation to be under the necessity, by any appeai- anee 'of concealing their ignorance'." 26 (After some further strictures on the eou- duct of these officers, the letter proceeds ) : The knowledge you have gained, it is ex- pected of the Laboratory Art, as well as your experience in life, must convince you of the truth of these general positions. And as you are sent to obtain a perfect knowledge of the business, not only on your own account, but to promulgate it thro' the States, the Board make no doubt of your diligently and manually applying yourself to the task you have undertaken. **' The time you have been at Carlisle was one argument with the Board, added to their anxiety to have the Laboratory Art more generally known, which induced them to write to Capt. Coren on the sub- ject, and we shall be happy to hear, on your return to camp, as we no doubt shall, that the knowledge you have gained by your residence at Carlisle, is equal to the expectations formed when the measure of sending you there is adopted. If tnere is any inequality in your acquirements, it will be found that those know most who have done most work. The greatest mili- tary characters have thought nothing too minute or too laborious. The great Tur- enne carried a musket for a twelve month, and the Czar Peter was not satisfied with seeing a ship built, but employed himself as a common laborer in the lowest and most laborious part of the business. * * * (Signed) Horatio Gates, President. Prom a general return of this regiment of March 29, 1780, there were 189 officers and men, and this is followed by a list of those who served fiom Feb. 1777, to Apr. 9, 1781. On page 231 it appears that Capt. Isaac Coren's Co., was enlisted as an independ- ent Co. of Artillery, but seems to have been employed mainly in the Laboratory 27 in preparing ammnnitioa for the Continen- tal Arnay. TtiouKh employed as Artillery Artifiicers, Capt. Coren refused to ac- knowledge himself under the direction of Col. Flowers who had command of that branch of the service, and by an order of Jan. 1, 1781, his Co. was incorporated with Capt. Porter's Co. (p 231 Penna. Arch. O. S. V. 7, p 294, and idem Vol. 8, p 469 & 695 for other details as to Capt. Coren's service and discharge.) The Artillery Artiffieers Corps (p 241) was raised by direction of Gen. Washing- ton in the summer of 1777. Benjamin Flower was made Col. and Commissioner of Military Stores. Companies were sta- tioned at Carlisle and Pnila. and their duties were to cast cannon, bore guns and prepare ammunition for the use of the army. The officers with which we shall have mainly to do were Col. Berj. Flower, Maj. Chas. Lukens, Surgeon Sal. McCosk- ry, Capts. Nathaniel Irish, Thos. Wylif, John Jordon and others. LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 014 313 217 1 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 00143132171