The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-02-23
OHIO IN THE FIRST WAR.
w. P. Cutters Address Before His
torical Society on Revolutionary
Soldiers in Settlement of Ohio.

My object is to present for your kind
ly consideration the memories Of an or
ganized body of men known in their day
as "the army" Not the Army Of the
Potomac or Cumberland, or that army
of oficeseekers and holders who are 50
numerous, bat that old army with the
rough prefix of revolutionary, or Army
of the Revolution. For our purpose this
evening it might be called the archseo-
logical army, as it contributed essen
the foundations of civil government and
society in the territory northwest Of the
Ohio river.
On September 13, 1859, the dying COM
mander of the British forces on the
Heights of Abraham heard the cheering
words: "They runW "They run !"
"Who runs?'' "The enemyl" That
running was the evacuation Of the Great
valley by his most Catholic majesty OF
France and the transfer of its title to his
most Protestant majesty Of Great Britain.
Was it glimpse Of the grand results of
that victory that inspired the words,
"Then die:hsppy"?
In that memorable struggle the
mother country was efficiently sup
ported by her dutiful and loyal colonies.
Their young men learned war in those
campaigns and by their aid France was
driven from the American continent.
Then came the struggle for independ-
ence. With the aid OF France the title
to all the crown lands east of the Mis-
sissippi river was transferred to
the United States of America.
So far as military force was
concerned that service was per-
formed by "the army" At the begin
ming of the war for independence the
Continental Congress offered as induce
ments for enlisting, 100 acres of land to
privates and larger amounts to officers,
according to grade, who should enlist to
serve "for the war;" At ths.t time Con-
gress did not own an acre. 1t was virtu-
ally saying to the army, conquer that
Western territory from the British crown
and you shall have your share. Alter
Yorktown, and while the army, or its
northern division, was in camp at New
burg and New Window, the question of
:'What next?" pressed itself on the men
who had redeemed their pledges of "life,
fortune and sacred honor" by liberal
sacrifice of the first two conditions, but
with a triumphant vindication of the
other. But sacred honor did not clothe
their bodies or feed their families. 1t il
matter of record by the quartermaster
general, Timothy Pickering, who of all
best knew their condition, that "Those
brave and deserving soldiers, many of
whom have for six years exposed their
lives to save their country, who are un-
happy enough to have fallen sick, have
for month past been destitute OF every
comfort of life. The only diet provided
for them has been beef and bread, the
latter generally sour, while the citizens
in general of the United States indulge
a luxury to which, before the war, they
were strangers. But, with all our boast
ed patriotism, virtue and humanity,
would a stranger think this possible?
Would to God it were not true! Would
to God that, in land blessed with the
best food in abundance, the army were
not served with the worst; that the sick
we're not left to perish for want of whole
some diet, or with the cold for want of
proper clothing! But few see those
distresses, and fewer feel them; hence
the wretched are left to endure
an increase Of misery" Again he
writes. "The greater part of the army
is, however, discharged, though not in
q manner that was acceptable. For
want of pay their distresses were unex-
ampled. They had neither the means
OF paying their little debts in camp, nor
their necessary expenses in going home.
Their suferings and services seem al
ready to be forgotten by multitudes."
Under these trying circumstances
what did these men do to remedy their
situation? Did they organize cabals
and rings, crowd to headquarters and
clamor around the portals OF govern
ment of their own creation for the spoils
of office? Did they mutiny or under
take to set aside authorities which held
power as fruit of their services? With
few exceptions nothing of this can be
laid to their charge.
They knew that Congress was power
less to give them efficient relief. They
knew that the United States were held
together by rope of sand. While the
outside pressure of a powerful enemy
was active and successful, the requisi-
tions of Congress upon the states were
needed. But Congress had no power to
levy q dollar of tax, owned no land, and
could not enforce its demands upon
state. 1t was more like carrying around
the hat for voluntary contributions, q
constant ser,es of Recommendation" to
the states TO furnish quotas which the
states themselves were too much i'm
poverished to respond to with prompt.
ness. make this allusion to that old
continental Congress as body, for
whom such an apology is due. In my
judgment they were body OF men that
have never been surpassed in history in
their ability to maintain such an enter
prise as was committed to their hands
without adequate means. They were
man that "made bricks without straw"
and good bricks, too, bricks that rs-
main the foundation Of the "righs Of
men" and the best conditions OF socie.
ty. They accomplished that most ditS.
cult problem Of substituting influence"
for government. None but great men
could succeed under such circumstances
The army had evidently considered
the reasons why they were sent from
camp without enough money to pay
their way to their desolate homes. They
recalled the promises Of Congress re-
spectlna bounty lands. They shrank
from the humiliation of life oil poverty
among former associations and looked
earnestly for retreat where energy and
toll might receive the reward of compe-
tence and rest. Through their COM
mander-in-cbief they had heard of the