Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-10-29
The Battle Of Golden Hill.

The "Battle Of Golden Hill,, In
New York City was one OF the Grst
steps towards the revolutionary war.
A flagstaff had been for years bone
of contention between the Soma Of
Liberty and the soldiers, and had been
four times destroyed by the latter
On the 18th Of January, ITO, q par
ty of soldiers again attacked it, and
cutting off the wooden braces, made
fruitless attempts to blow it open
with gunpowder. Failing in this,
they assaulted a number of citizens
standing by a public house, which was
the headquarters of the Sons OF Lib
erty, and forced them into the house
at the point Of the bayonet Doors
were barricaded, but tho soldiers broke
in and demolished windows and furni-
ture, and were only prevented from
further Obstruction by the timely ar
rival of their officers, who ordered
them TO their barracks. They subse
quently succeeded in their attempt,
and leveled the pole to the ground,
sawed it in pieces, and derisively piled
1t up before the Sons of Liberty's
door. Three hundred citizens assem-
bled that night at public meeting
upon the common. Resolutions were
passed declaring unemployed soldiers
10 be dangerous to the peace of the
city, while their employment by the
citizens when off duty was detrimen-
tai to the laboring classes, and should
therefore be discontinued. They fur
ther resolved that all soldiers under
the rank of orderly, except sentincls,
who should appear unarmed in the
streets, and all, armed or unarmed,
who were out Of their barracks after
roll-call, should be regarded as ene-
mics of the city and dealt with accor-
dinghy.
The next day three soldiers were
detected by two citizens, Isaac Sears
and Walter Quackenbos. in the act of
posting a scurilous placard abusive of
the Sons of Liberty. Sears grasped
one and Quackenbos the other, while
the third soldier rushed upon Sears
with his bayonet TO free his comrade.
but Quackenbos, seizing an old rams
horn which happened TO be near by,
hurled it into bis face and placed him
hors du combat. Twenty soldiers came
to the rescue with drawn bayonets,
while the unarmed citizens seized up.
on the cartstakes and defended their
comrades. The riot was increasing,
every moment great numbers being
added upon both sides, when Mayor
Hicks came upon the scene and or
dered the soldiers to their barracks. -
They sullenly yielded obedience, re-
tiring us far as Golden Hill, in John
street, between William and Cliff
streets, closely followed by tho citi.
zens. Here they were met by o rein
forcement, headed by presumed Of
ficer in disguise, who gave the CON-
mand to halt and charge upon the
people. A few who had been able to
obtain weapons placed themselves in
front of their defenoeess friends, and
a battle eusued, in which numbers on
both sides were injured. A peaeeablc
Quaker standing in his own door was
wounded in the cheek, a sailor at
distance was cut down, a boy wounded
in the head, fed to q neighboring
house for shelter, and as the door was
kindly opened by woman, a brutal
soldier thrust his bayonct at her, for
without injury. The citizens
the bill and blockaded
their enemies, but acted on the defen-
sive, repelling attacks, when they
might easily, if disposed, have massa-
cred their enemies. The officers at
asst arrived, when the people at once
opened their ranks and raised the
siege, ending the first days battle.
The next morning the soldiers COM
the conflict by insulting wo-
nan returning from market. The
people gathered in groups and discus.
'ed this and the events of the preced.
ng day. About noon a group of sail
'rs and party of soldiers came into
sailor being wounded by a
oayonet run through his body. The
Mayor ordered the soldiers to disperse,
out they refused. A messenger was
'ent to the barracks for their officers,
,ut the soldiers intercepted him. Just
hen a party of 'Liberty Boys" re-
urning from game of ball, came to
be rescue and the soldiers wero dis
'ersed, hostiliIies oeasing for few
iours.
In the afternoon they were renewed.
group of citizens having assembled
n front Of the new Jail, a party of ,
oldiers approached them in body ,
md insultingly endeavored to force
heir way through, when tho citizens !
Iuietly opened their ranks and gave ,
hem free passage. Not satisfied with i
his, the soldiers then assaulted the
,eople, who had only stones to defend !
themselves. The "Liberty Boys" soon :
ame 10 tho rescue, when q sharp con. /,
Iict cnsuod, the soldiers being driven !;
o their barracks, their arms taken !
rom them, some badly wounded and /,
theirs arrested and committed TO the =
all for trial, thus ending the two days :
attic Of Golden Hill, one of the step :
ing stone 10 the battles OF the Reyo- !,
ltion.
RELEAsED-Major Graham, former. h
7 of the United States Army, who a