Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-02-15
\ REVOLUTIONARY LETTER.
"A Lancaster Soldier In Command of Mr
WashiDgtOn's Guard

| washiDgton's Guard.
The following letter was written by
john Steele, a captain Of the Continental
army, To his brother, Wm. Steele, Lancas
ter, Pa, from Norristown. II. j.. 14th of
June, 1850 The original manuscript is
in p Dssession Of Miss Marguerite CastilioD,
of New jersey, who is great grand
daughter Of Captain afterwards GercraD
| Steele. Gen. Steele was d native of Lam
caster county His parents intended him
Tor the ministry and he was under the tut
tion Of Rev. James Lltta, at Chestnut
Level. AT the breaking out of the Revo
| !ur,onary war, full Of a.dor and enthusiasm
he tJraJuk G, siudie, and entered Wash
ingtOn's army. lie was wOuhded in the
shoulder at thy battle Of Brandywiue. and
| almost lost his lie by urskilIful surgery
| On recovery he returned to his command,
| served through tue war, and was with
Washington at the surrender of Coz nwal!is
at Yorktown. In 1905 he was appointed
collector OF tie port OF Philadelphia, and
lie held that office until 1927, when he re
signed. This letter will he read with
| special interest by his numerous friends
aud relatives in this city:
DEAR Will: have omitted several
l'"Gtation of sccin, you. and my brother.
in law, Jacob Bailey, which | now cease
10 hope for, and as We have taken the
field tor several days i'll consequence of a
suuden and unexpected excursion of the
eueny, from Staten Island into jersey,
who have Gas usuaD committed the
niost cue! and wantcn deprcdations
by burning and destroying the houses
and property ct mary peaceahle and
deienseless inhabitants but the most
striking instance of their barbarity Was
III taking the life OF most amiable
lady, wife Of Parson Caldwell, who left
nliIe small children, the youngest eight
months Old which sat OH its mammals lap
witness to the cruel murder, though
inscnslble of its loss nor did their bar.
barity END there tDr after several skir-
missiles lin which it is thought we killed
at least 100 and ii proportional number.
together with several officers, one of
which was General Stirliug) they retired
/" Elizabeth Town Point, where they re
manned. forlifying aud possessing them
selves Of parts OF tie town ; aud tits said
that tw" nights ag. they made On iulis-
crininate sacrifice OF all the femalrs in tie
place ; a cruel slaughter Indeed. Yester-
day a Captain from the British army descr-
tel to us, but he is beyond doubt a
damned rascal but it all conspired to
make glorious the oHce dreaded (though
now iGnnminiuus) arms of Britain.
am at present enjoying myself iucom-
rarably we'll in the family uf Mrs. Wash
iui:ton, whose guard | have the honor to
command since the absence Of the gen
eral ami the rest vi the family, which is
now six or seven days. | am happy
i'll the Importance of my charge, as
well ai iii tlio presence of the most
:tmiabia woman upon earth. whose char
acter should attempt TO describe [
could got do Justice 20, but will only say
that l dunk it unexceptioUable the first
and second nights thatI came it was OK
pccted shat body Of the encny's horse
would pay us i. visit, but was we'll pre-
pared to receive them, for I had not only
II good dctaUhnicnG o. well disciplined
troops unaer my command, but four
nlc'niurs, o! COM reSs. who came as volun
tceS with their muskets, bayonets aud
amuEi'lIn. assure you they have dis.
posed Oi greater share of spirits than
yOu shave or ever will see as long as they
exist. leave ycu to judge whether there
Is hu: considerable merit due their com
mander. | Unly wish | had a company tn
conman'! tor . scampaign, and if you
would r"J see al alteration in the consti
tuition OF our army against the next, |
would suffer to lose my ears and never
command a congressman again. Tho
ratlons they have consumed considerably
overbalaDcc all their service as volunteers,
ior they have dined with us every day
almost, and drank as much wine as they
w"uld earn III six months.
Make my bcs: lovo to my dear sister
Bet, parents, brothers and sisters, us
vel! a: so all my good neighbcrs but in
{. most particular manner to somebody
cant write to for fear of miscarriage.
am your atfectionate brother,
JOHN STEELE.
Headquarters, MorristowD, June II, 1850.