History of Western Maryland. J. Thomas Scharf
differ in their sentiments as to their interior arrangements and regulations, will always be found ready to unite and defend with their lives and fortunes, the honor, dignity, and independence of their country, whenever they shall be assailed by any foreign power on earth,
"Signed by desire and in behalf of said companies.
" Abraham Rutledge,
"Dennis Davis,
" Captains.
"June 15, 1798."
The following was President Adams' reply:
"To the Companies of Infantry commanded by Capts. Rutledge and Davis, of Washington County, in the State of Maryland.
"Gentlemen, — I thank you for this address, presented to me by your representative in Congress, Mr. Baer.
"The sincere affection you express for the government of your choice, and determination at every hazard to support it, are the more acceptable, because a majority of you, exercising the rights of freemen, have not only indulged, but freely expressed their opinions in regard to certain measures of government, I cannot, however, upon this occasion, forbear to lament the gross misrepresentations which have misled so many citizens in their opinions of many measures.
"John Adams.
" Philadelphia, June 25, 1798."
In the Hagerstown Herald of Feb. 14, 1799, the following advertisement appeared:
" To be rented, for one or two years, and possession to be given the 1st of April next, the house and lot where George Diffenderfer now lives, three doors above Mr. Shall's tavern.
" This stand is well calculated for a tradesman, as there is a convenient back building adjoining the house very suitable for a store. For terms apply to
"Henry Hoover.
"Hagerstown, Feb. 14, 1799."
In the same paper of July 7, 1802 appeared the following:
" All persons are hereby forewarned from taking assignments on certain bonds given by me to Capt. Peregrine Fitzhugh, late of Washington County, in consideration of a tract of land called Chew's Farm, which I purchased from him, he not having complied with his agreement concerning the same. I am, therefore, determined not to pay said bonds, or any part thereof. until he shall have complied with his contract, unless compelled by law.
" Henry Lochar.
" Washington County, July 5, 1802."
On the Fourth of July, 1799, Capt. Schnebly's troop of Washington Blues, after parading and going through various evolutions, repaired to Peck's Garden, in Hagerstown, where they had dinner and drank a number of toasts. The garden was handsomely illuminated, and was visited by a number of citizens. On the same day " a respectable number of the citizens," together with a company of the Twenty-fourth Regiment of militia, assembled " at the usual place of parade," before Maj. Ott's, " to celebrate the national anniversary." Maj. Ott presided, and Capt. Douglass acted as vice-president. After appropriate addresses, etc., they marched to " Mr. Rohrer's Spring, near town, where a handsome entertainment was prepared for them." Having refreshed themselves, " they withdrew to an adjoining eminence and drank a number of toasts, accompanied with cheers and discharges of cannon and small-arms."
Gen. Washington's death was announced by the Hagerstown Herald in the following extract from the Rights of Man, published at Frederick:
" Fredericktown, Tuesday evening,
"9 o'clock, Dec. 16, 1799.
" Disagreeable as the talk is to me, I think it is my duty to announce to the public the Dissolution of his excellency George Washington, who died at Mount Vernon (of a few hours' illness) on Sunday morning last, about 5 o'clock.
" This intelligence was received by two honest countrymen, who left Georgetown yesterday at 12 o'clock, and stopped at Maj. Miller's tavern about four this evening. A third person arrived from Alexandria near the same hour, who corroborates the melancholy circumstance, and leaves us to lament it is but too true.
" Printer of the Rights of Man."
As soon as the news reached Hagerstown a meeting was held, at which it was resolved to have a funeral procession in Washington's honor on Friday of the following week. Elie Williams occupied the chair, and Nathaniel Rochester acted as secretary. The following resolutions were adopted:
"Resolved, That Messrs. Elie Williams, Adam Ott, N. Rochester, Jacob Schnebly, George Waltz, William Fitzhugh, Samuel Ringgold, David Harry, Josiah Price, Thomas Sprigg, and Daniel Heister be appointed a committee to make the necessary arrangements for, and to superintend, the said Procession, and that they or a majority of them meet at the Court-house, on Saturday next, to make the arrangements.
" Resolved, That the Committee consult the Rev. Mr. Smucker, Rev. Mr. Rauhauser, and Rev. Mr. Bower on the oration to be delivered on the occasion.
" Resolved, That the Military and other citizens of Washington County be, and that they are hereby invited to attend and join the said Procession.
" Resolved, That the secretary have these proceedings published in the papers of this town to-morrow.
" By order.
" N. Rochester, Secretary"
In May, 1800, while the Tenth Regiment United States troops, commanded by Col. Moore, were stopping at Hagerstown on their, way from Carlisle to Harper's Ferry, a duel was fought between Capt. Gibbs and Lieut. Franklin, in which the former was wounded in the side, but not seriously.
In January, 1807, a duel was fought in Shepherdstown, Va., between Wm. L. Brent and Otho H. W. Stull, both of Washington County. Mr. Brent was wounded in the leg.
Early in July, 1801, ten prisoners broke out of the jail. They were Wm. Dunn, John Johnson, James McDeid, Michael Ward, J. McCreery, Andrew Dawd, John Johnson, Wm. Harvey, John Lynch, and William Jolly.
Five Indian chiefs of the Pottawatomie tribe passed through Hagerstown in December, 1801, on their return from Washington City, accompanied by a Capt. Wells, who acted as their interpreter. Among them were the powerful chiefs " Little Turtle" and " The Toad." In January of the following year the "kings" of the Delaware and Shawnee tribes, nine chiefs and two attendants, passed through Hagerstown. In March of the same year fifteen Indians of the Seneca tribe passed through Hagerstown. Among them was the well-known chief Cornplanter. Doubtless many similar delegations passed through Hagerstown from time to time.
John Randolph of Roanoke visited Hagerstown in July, 1803, and was tendered and accepted a dinner at John Ragan's tavern.
In 1804 the Fourth of July was celebrated with the usual artillery salute and the parade of the Washington Blues, under the command of Capt. Otho H. Williams. A public dinner was also served at Ragan's tavern. Gen. Thomas Spring was president of the day, and Capt. Otho H. Williams vice-president. The Declaration of Independence was read by Benjamin Galloway, after which a number of toasts were drunk. On this occasion Sebastian Fink was severely wounded in the thigh by the bursting of a swivel.
George Clinton, Vice-President of the United States, visited the town in June, 1809, while on his way to New York.
In 1821 it was proposed to erect a statue to Gen. Washington in the public square, but no further action appears to have been taken in the matter. The monument was to have