The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-01-22
HARTFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Lafayette Photographers of
Members-HS War History
The Expeditions to COnOwingO, Hayre
de Grace and Bush River Rridre

de Grace and Bush River Bridge.
Ihe Hartford Historical Society met in the
Court House, last Saturday. In the absence of
Wee President, presided.
Mr.. q. NJ. Allen presented photographs of Bald
frlar Ferry, where Gen.. Lafayette crossed the
Susquehanna river with his army in 1881 and of
the mouse in which he lodged. The point where
Lafayette crossed is where Mr.. Henry Breunin-
gers Lafayette Tannery" now stands The
house in which the French General lodged is Sit
uated near Darlington and is now occupied nv
Mr. +. Jones. Mr.. Allen stated that ii has been
changed very little externally since ISL TIE
photographs were procured by Mr., Allen Mt the
request of the society. The Secretary was order
ed TO forward copies of them to the historical So
cetes of Maryland, Pennsylvania Massachusetts
and New York. photograph OF Darlington
Allen. i'
Messrs. c. Wharton Smith, Gilpin Smith and
w. l; L. Iallaterro, upon the payment of the an
nuai ice OF ~ were proposed as active members,
city, and MIR. Richard Is. Mccoy, of Hartford
county, us honorary members
feV. Geo y Stokes, of Baltimore county; Dr.
Richard L. Ely, Pin. ID of Johns HOPKINS ITni
versity, and Rev. John q. Morris, u. D., of Bal
timore, city, were elected honorary members.
Col' hoDert >. RodgerS and Major Robert w.
Eubank, of tavre dc Grace who were also pro.
posed as active members at the last meeting, were
elected.
Mr.. John S. Hughes proposed an amendment IN
the Constitution, providing for committee to
procure speakers and essays for the meetings of
the society.
The reading of Mr.. e. Nj. Aliens paper ON the
Crossing OF the Susquehanna river by Gen I,afsy-
GttG was, Dy request OF those present deferred
Bel Air April l7h 1886, at which time it is hoped
there VIII be large attendance.
Messrs. w. Beatty Harlan, John S. Hughes and
j. NJ. street, were appointed COMMITTEES 70 con-
sder the accessibility of Incorporating the socie-
", ana II they deem IT desirable, to prepare a
Charter, TO be submitted at the next meeting
Before vote was taken on this resolution the
President Pre- fS5 Dr: w stump F9rwood arrived and
tooK the chair' he stated that in company with
y. L. H., in,
a drift.
DR.. Forwood said that he had been endeavor
ing 10 gather the materials for Il history OF the
old Friends Meeting House, in Darlington but
the data is very meagre the records from 1850 To
lIS5 being partially lost.
MIR. Allen spoke OF the importance of altering
whie accessible ana preserving a history of the
events which occurred in Hartford county during
the civil war. For instance, he said, there was a
great deal of excitement about Conowingo
Bridge, and powder was actually placed under il
to blow 1t up. \ man is yet living who knows nil
about this and the reason why the bridge was
not blown up. history of this occurrence
which he called the 'Conowingo War;" should be
written.
Col. Herman Stump stated that being in COM
mand Of the Hartford county militia, as Leuten-
ant Colonel, orders were received by him, in
April, 1861, from the State authorities to destroy
Conowingo Bridge if it were found necessary in
order to prevent the crossing of Pennsylvania
| troops upon it. Powder was placed under the
bridge and Lawson Treadway was detailed To
apply the match when ordered. The necessity
for its destruction did not arise ami the powder
sisted of details from the Spesutia Rangers com
manded by Capt. BENZ. H. Keen; the Hartford
Light Dragoons' commanded by Capt. Archer IL.
Jarrett, ana his own company, the Hartford Rifle
m n The force was under his command
j., Another expedition was organized to capture
the steamer Mary land, which was used to ferry
the cars across the river between Hayre de Grace
and Perryville force of $50 men marched to
llavre dc Grace, but upon reaching Mr.. Green
way they learned that the steamer was aground
down the bay with large force OF Gen. Butlers
troops on board. Fifty men from Baltimore had
also come out to aid in capturing the steamboat.
The expedition returned to Bel Air.
During the riots in Baltimore in April 1861 a
number OF pennsylvania troops, being frightened
out of Baltimore, came this way and were arrest
ed by the militia.
Gunpowder bridge was destroyed by an expe-
dition from Baltimore, and Bush river bridge
was fired by force under command of Gait.
Keen, in pursuance of orders from the State
authorities.
views with Gov. Hicks and the authorities at
Washington, in reference to procuring arms for
the Hartford militia. Some of these arms were
sent South ana many of them were concealed.
Mr.. Allen stated that he had plowed up about a
hundred OF the muskets, few years ago.
Col Stump spoke of the rapid change of senti-
ment on the part of some prominent men, who
from having been in full accord with him on the
principle of States Rights" became uncom-
promising and bitter Union men and endeayored
to secure his arrest. regiment was sent by
Gen. Fitz John Porter to Bel Air for the purpose,
but oal mad been held in the armory the night
before the regiment came and after the ball he
had escorted young lady to her home on
Thomas Run and remained all night. The next
morning, John Wilkes Booth member of his
company, stole through the picket lines and gave
him notice that the soldiers were in search of
him.
Capt. Archer II. Jarrett was arrested by them
and carried to Cockeysvlle where he was held
as prisoner for about a week
Another time Col. Stump narrowly escaped
capture, at priesthood, by company of cavalry
Upon the urgent advice of the late Ohio Scott
and other friends he went to Canada where he was
wounded when about starting to the South with
an expedition. He was laid up in Canada and af-
forwards pardon was sent to him by Secretary
of War Cameron.
Mr.. Allen said it was not his intention to revive
unpleasant recollections, but no man whose
opinion was worth having would think less of q
man now Tor the part he took in the late war.
These things are matters of history. They will
soon pass out of mems minds, and il is certainly
within the province of the Historical Society to
gather and put them in accessible form.
Mr. John ). Hughes offered resolution, which
was adopted, requesting the Hartford delegation
to the General Assembly to support by their
votes and influence, the appropriation for the
Maryland Historical Society.
The members present, besides those named,
were Rev. j. B. Craighill, Messrs ]. NJ. STREET.,
N. N. Mock, Treasurer; +. w. Baker, Secretary
s. Davis, Librarian: A. p. Silver, Henry G. Hail.
a. +. Galbreath, Jefferson Dallam and James
McCurdy.
The meetings of the society are public and all
who feel an interest in Hartford county history
are invited to attend.