Maryland Historical Magazine, 1914, Volume 9, Issue No. 3

MSA scS88H^6 MARYLAND HISTORICAL MAGAZINE VOL. IX. SEPTEMBER, 1914. No. 3. GENERAL JOHN STRICKEE. JOHN STEICKEE, JE.1 General John Strieker, descended from Swiss ancestors, was the son of Colonel George Strieker of the Revolutionary Army, and was born at Frederick Town in the State of Maryland, on the 15th day of February, 1759. At the commencement, or perhaps in anticipation, of the war of independence, his father, earnest in the cause of the country, raised a company comprising many of the . youth of his neighborhood which went soon into active service. From an orderly book now in the possession of one of his descendants,2 he appears to have commanded under Smallwood, and to have been for some time stationed at Annapolis in 1776. The fate of his company was disastrous; at the battle of Long Island so great was the havoc in its ranks, in the conflict and during the retreat, that scarcely one of its members escaped death or a wound. Meanwhile the Captain had been promoted to the Lieut. Colonelcy of the German Battalion; and continued in 1 Written by John Strieker, Jr. (son of Genl. Strieker), Nov. 23d, 1837; the manuscript in possession of General Strieker's great-granddaughter, Mrs. Robert P. Brent. 1 Endorsed " Orderly Book of Smallwood's Regiment in 1776; found among the papers of Col. George Strieker, Captain in that Corps " (Small- wood's Battalion). 209 210 itASTLAlO) HISTOEICAL MAGAZIIfE. that corps until the death of the Colonel; 3 when, conceiving himself injured by the appointment of a German (Baron Arendt) it is believed he left the Army.4 His son, the subject of this notice, had been for some time with him, and served as a cadet5 until commissioned as an officer of Proctor's Artillery—17 years of age; in which service, before the termination of the war, he rose to the rank of Captain. Portions of his regiment were frequently detached to the Armies in different quarters, and partook largely of the dangers of the Eevolution. In the important battles of Tren- ton, Princeton, Brandywine, German Town, Monmouth, Spring- field and others not now recollected, he was personally engaged and also accompanied General Sullivan on the expedition against [the Iroquois] Indians. Reluctant at all times to speak of himself, nothing more than is here stated, is known of his ser- vices,6 during the trying contest which led to his country's emancipation, and which, beneficently affecting the destinies of millions, as well in the old as in the new world, should ensure to the humblest individual sharing its perils, not merely the lasting gratitude of his countrymen but the homage of the patriot everywhere. At the close of the war Capt. Strieker remained some months 3 Weltner. 'The writer of this sketch distinctly remembers to have heard from Col. Bentalou, a friend of his father, and a distinguished officer of Pulaski'a Legion, that the denial of the command to Col. Strieker was by many deemed unjust as well as irregular; but that the influence of Washington's name was such as to stifle all complaint. Before joining the horse Col. Bentalou served as Lieutenant in the German Battalion. The Colonel further said that the foreign commander was not long in shewing himself unworthy of the trust to which he had been raised as stated. The Congress, about this time, had clothed the commander-in-chief with a power at pleasure to displace or appoint officers below the rank of brigadier see Jour'l 1776. 5 He was a cadet I think in Capt. Keeport's Comp'y in the German Battalion of which his father, Col. Geo. Strieker was Lieutenant-Colonel. Genl. John Strieker served during the ivhole Revolutionary War. 6 He was sent from the Jerseys, with the Hessians taken prisoners at Trenton, under his care and charge to Fredericktown, Md. He was present, within a few paces of the spot at the execution of Major Andre. GENEEAL JOHN STEICKEK. 211 in Philadelphia, and there married a daughter of Gunning Bedford, Esquire; 7 with whose family the late gallant Com- modore Barney had about the same time in a like manner con- nected himself. Proceeding to Baltimore soon after their mar- riage the two officers were associated in Commerce. This town, though even then in a flourishing state, had as yet given no promise of the splendid fortunes which have since awaited it. The Captain was however pleased with his reception and pros- pects and determined to make it the place of his permanent abode. In a long commercial career, not without painful vicis- situdes, he was ultimately successful, and realised a competent if not affluent estate. The military spirit of Baltimore, whose infant patriotism in the Revolution was worthy of all praise, had not subsided with the war. Townsmen organised companies of Volunteer Militia, and availing themselves of the skill and experience of such native and other officers as had served in the regular army and were then living among them, the citizen forces were soon brought to a state of subordination and discipline, which at- tracted general admiration, and which afterwards made their daring courage effectual when resisting for more than an hour in an open field the choicest veterans of Wellington. Soon after his arrival in Baltimore Captain Strieker formed and disciplined one of the earliest Corps; and advanced in due course of promotion to the command of a Brigade. It is cer- tain that, with others, he was greatly instrumental in bringing the Militia to the efficient condition which distinguished it. Accustomed to the life of a soldier he may be supposed to have 7 The father of the gentleman of the same name, who signed the Con- stitution of the United States, as one of the representatives in the Con- vention from Delaware, and who afterwards shone as a lawyer, and sat with credit as a Federal Judge. Another of this name and family appears, from the journals of Congress 1776, to have been Muster Master General of the forces, and was since Governor of Delaware. Jos. Bedford accompanied his brother in law Barney in the gallant exploit, the capture of the General Monk, was like the rest brave and useful, and is said to have been something of a wit, dying (as the bulk of that tribe) with little or no property. The family was originally from England, where Barney iound his wife's relations high in rank and of large fortune. 212 MAKTLA1TD HISTOEICAL MAGAZINE. gone into this service with zeal and pleasure, and could cer- tainly have desired no richer reward for his devotion to it, than that which he derived from the determined conduct of the troops generally when at a subsequent period it was his good fortunes to claim and secure for them the honor of being first in danger.8 The opposition to internal taxes having led in 1794 to acts of violence in the neighborhood of Pittsburg, President Wash- ington issued a proclamation calling large portions of the Militia to arms. A considerable force was draughted from Baltimore, and Col. Strieker, then at the head of the 5th Eegt. accompanied Genl. Samuel Smith as second in command. Their march, however was soon arrested by intelligence that the in- surgents had submitted. In 1801 Col. Strieker received an appointment to the Xaval Agency for the Port of Baltimore, and continued in that office nearly ten years; fulfilling its duties to the entire satisfaction of the government, and securing the lasting esteem and friend- ship of many of the Commanders. In the political divisions of the Country, he had generally thought with the Democratic Party; and in 1812, when par- tizanship was at its height and Baltimore was the scene of disgraceful violence he became, from the course he pursued as Commander of the Militia, an object of particular resentment and embittered censure, from many of those whose principles in politics were opposed to his own. An inquiry into the jus- tice of this reproach would demand more space than,we can spare, and indeed it is probable that now, when the party pas- sions of the period, have in great measure yielded to time and reason, vindication is unnecessary. The British army having in August 1814 successfully at- tacked Washington, and destroyed the National buildings and other property re-embarked on board the Fleet in Patuxent, and Admiral Cochrane, passing up the Chesapeake, appeared 8 See the Genl. order of Genl. S. Smith, and his letter to the Secretary of War in Sept. 1814. Published in newspapers of the day, and in Niles' Register. GENEEAL JOHN STEICKEE. 213 at the mouth of Patapsco. Anticipating a deharkation of troops at ISTorth Point, General Smith commanding at Balti- more, detached General Strieker, with the greater part of his Brigade to meet and check them.9 The loss of the American army at North Point was in killed, wounded and prisoners 212.10 That of the enemy as acknowl- edged was much greater.11 In the dispatch of the commanding General to the War Dept. the conduct of Genl. Strieker is most cordially, and in terms of high praise approved. He is there said to have gallantly maintained his ground against a greater superiority of numbers, during the space of an hour and twenty minutes, and to have entirely confirmed the confidence which had been reposed in him as a brave and skillful leader. In the language of Division orders, " every praise was due to him; the city being threatened, it became the duty of the citizens to be foremost in its defence.

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