History of the Western Insurrection in Western Pennsylvania, Commonly
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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 1924 081 309 472 W% Cornell University WS Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924081309472 HISTOET OF THE WESTERN INSURRECTION IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONLY CALLED THE WHISKEY INSURREOTIOK 1794. B Y H. M. BEACKEISTRIDGE, ATJTHOK OF THE " HISTOKT OP THE LATE WAK WITH ENGLAND,'' "VIEWS OF LOUISIANA," "VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA," tC. PITTSBURGH: PRINTED BY W. S. HAVEN, COKNEE OF SECOND AND MARKET AND THIRD AND WOOD STREETS 1859. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by H. M. BRACEEN&IDGE, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of the State of Pennsylvania. — CONTENTS INTRODUCTION. Letter to Alexander Brackenridge, Esq., Page 5 CHAPTER I. Western Pennsylvania — Population — Excise Law — Public Meetings — Acts of Violence, . 15 CHATPTER II. Popular Outbreak — Attack on the Marshal — Destruction of Neville's House Alarm in Pittsburgh — Escape of the Marshal and Inspector, . ^ CHAPTER III. The Mingo Creek Meeting —Violence of Bradford — Speech of Brackenridge — Causes of the Outbreak — Case of Miller, 57 CHAPTER IV. The Robbery of the Mail — The self-appointed Convention, and Circular to the Militia Officers, directing a Rendezvous at Braddock's Field — The Town Meeting at Pittsburgh, f . 79 CHAPTER V. The Assemblage at Braddock's Field — Difficulty of Saving the Town, . 99 CHAPTER VI. Acts of Violence following the Assemblage at Braddock's Field — Tom the Tinker — Delegates to Parkinson's Ferry, 127 CHAPTER VII. The Meeting of the Delegates at Parkinson's Ferry — The Resolutions adopted there — Appointment of a Committee of Conference, . 152 CHAPTER VIII. The Measures of the Government — Arrival of the Commissioners — The Confer- ence, 190 — IV CONTENTS. CHAPTER IX. Report of the Committee of Conference laid before the Standing Committee — Dif- ficulties encountered— Vote by Ballot— Majority for Peace, but not satisfactory to the Commissioners, .......•• 218""" CHAPTER X. Reluctance of the People to sign the Submission — Meeting of the Congress of Delegates, and a general Submission, ~24fi CHAPTE R XI. Calling out the Military to suppress the Insurrection — The Delegation to the Pres- ident from the West, .......... 26& - CHAPTER XII. The Army enters the West — Its ferocious temper — The Attempt to Assassi- nate Mr. Brackenridge — The Military Inquests — Examination of Mr. Brack- enridge, and Acquittal, ......... 288" CHAPTER XIII. The Military Arrests, and atrocious Treatment of the People — The Dreadful Night — Withdrawal of the Army — The End of the Insurrection, . 312— TO ALEXANDER BMCKENRIDGE, ESQ. Many years ago, we conversed together on the subject of republishing our father's work, entitled "Incidents of the Western Insurrection," which had been long out of print—although remarkable for the truthful and graphic account it gave of one of the most important occurrences of American history. But, after reflecting on the subject, we concluded, that however interesting as a piece of contemporary history, and however much it might conduce to his fame, there were considerations of delicacy and feeling which stood in the way of such republication. These were principally, the strictures on the acts of persons who had passed from the stage of life, but whose descendants might be pained by the exhibitton of their forefathers in an unfavorable light. Instead of pursuing the course which at first suggested itself, I adopted the plan of writing a biographical notice, giving a brief outline of the incidents of the Insur- rection, saying enough fo do justice- to our father, but carefully avoiding everything that could possibly wound the sensibility of any survivor, or descendant, of those with whom he came in conflict during those trying times. This was published in the "Southern Messenger," Kiohmond, Virginia, and afterward as an introduction to "Modern Chivalry." This delicacy was not met in a corresponding spirit. A work, under the title of " History of Pittsburgh," was published by Neville B. Craig, the representative of the "Neville connection," in which there is a most perverted and false representation of the conduct of the people of West- ern Pennsylvania, and of the town of Pittsburgh, and, at the same time, the grossest misrepresentation of the actions and motives of individuals who were most active in restraining the excesses of the people, who con- sidered themselves aggrieved by the excise laws. Our father, especially, who had been at variance with some of the Neville connection previous to the insurrection, in consequence of professional acts, which he thought honorable—was the object of the most indecent abuse by the scurrilous 2 VI INTRODUCTION. writer just mentioned. Charges and insinuations, which had been met and annihilated sixty years before, were revived, and where proof was wanting to sustain them, their place supplied by mere vulgar billingsgate epithets. It was not in my power to be silent ; a newspaper controversy ensued, and the detractor was treated by me with unavoidable severity, as well as others whom I would willingly have spared. But I found that in the narrow bounds of a newspaper it was impossible to do justice to the subject; I, therefore, set about a more full and complete narrative, of historical acts, with the details of a connected memoir. This was due to my countrymen of Western Pennsylvania, and to my townsmen of Pitts- burgh, so scandalously libeled by Neville B. Craig, in his pretended "History of Pittsburgh." Our father was first drawn into the vortex of the popular movement, at the earnest solicitation of Col. Neville, the son of the collector of the excise, with the avowed object of preventing the excesses of the disaf- fected. Although opposed to the oppressive excise laws, as was every man west of the mountains, with the exception of those engaged in the collection of the revenue, he never for a moment encouraged any illegal opposition. Col. Neville was a gentleman of education, and the only one of the " connection" on friendly terms with him, and it is to be regretted that "he'failed to fulfill the engagement to which he was bound in honor, and which will be more fully explained in this narrative. Our father, thus placed between the people and the government, as negotiator and peace- maker, was peculiarly exposed to the dangers of misconception. In telling the truth to the people in the hearing of the government, and to the in government the hearing of the people ; he sufi'ered a temporary loss of popularity with the one, and incurred the suspicion of the other. This was only rectified by time and events, after exposing him to imminent danger from both parties. His efforts were directed to two objects : the first, to arrest the progress of opposition to the government ; the second, to obtain an amnesty, or act of oblivion, for the imprudent acts of violence which bad been rashly committed ; in other words, to prevent riots from as- the formidable suming front of insurrection. In this he succeeded, and for instead of being which, rewarded by the civic crown, he was exposed to the danger of assassination, of government prosecution, and popular obloquy. Those who had the government ear, succeeded in producing the that he impression was behind the screen, the instigator of every illegal movement while the very same ; persons, with the usual disregard of con- attendant on falsehood, sistency insinuated to the people that he had sold to the government for a" them consideration ! The narrative now present- INTRODUCTION. vii ed to the public, will exhibit one of the most extraordinary cases on record, of great services remaining not merely unrewarded and unac- knowledged, but of the grossest injustice long continued, and not entirely corrected to this dayj for we still occasionally hear of "the insurgent Brackenridge." In appealing to the unbiassed and impartial judgment of the American people, and especially of those of Western Pennsylvania, I will boldly put in issue the assertion, that he saved the western country from the horrors of civil war, the town of Pittsburgh from destruction, and the Federal Union from the greatest danger it has ever encountered. Such was the sinister influence of these misrepresentations, by persons who had joined the army on its march to put down an insurrection which never existed, and even after mob violence had ceased, that even Alexan- der Hamilton, who was the head and front of the expedition, appears to have conceived the most unfounded prejudice against the people, and against individuals. A letter written by him from Bedford, which has been preserved, and very improperly published in his posthumous works, by those who did not know what they were about, contains the following lan- guage : " It appears that Brackenridge did not subscribe [the amnesty] until after the day, and it is proved that he is the worst of all scoundrels." Thus the author of the amnesty was to be denied its benefits, because being engaged through the day in riding through the rural districts, per- suading the people to sign, he did not reach home until after midnight. And yet, nine days after, when Hamilton was enabled to judge for him- self on the spot, and after hearing the " chief insurgent," and receiving the statements of reliable persons, he expresses himself as follows : " Mr. Brackenridge, impressions were unfavorable to my you ; you may -have observed it ; I now think it my duty to inform you that not a single one remains ; had we listened to some people, I know not what we might have done; your conduct has been horribly misrepresented, owing to miscon- ception; I will announce you in this point of you to Gen.