Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-10-30
After Much Searching Amongst Many
Records an Historical Fact has
Been Settled.
Gen. WashingtOn's Halt Before the
Brandywine March, and Recross-
ing the Schuylkill.
His Camp Near Germantown was on
Land Belonging to Henry
Hill.

/
ment OF the the Continental army near
Germantown" in l777, but the exact loca-
| ton Of this camp has never been known to
| historians. Within The past few days,
! however, William S. Baker, after months
of research amongst the many records of
the past, has positively determined this
important historical fact, besides securing
much other interesting information re-
garding Washington and his men at the
Fails of the SchuyIkill."
Mr.. Baker is highly pleased at his dis
covery, and in speaking about the matter
recently, he said: I'm the itinerary of
General Washington for the year 1777
published in the Pennsylvania Magazine
of History and Biography, | stated on the
authority Of Colonel Pickering, adjutant
| general, that the main Continental army
encamped the first week in August and two
days Of September, of that year. between
Germantown and the Schuylkil! river, near
the Falls of SchuylkilI, but was not able to
designate with any certainty the ground
occupied.
"A letter from the commander-in-chief
10 Edward Rutledge, dated Fthklll, 5 h
October, IT'S. which escaped my notice at
| the time, III which he says: In the
month of August, last year l777), from
tie house of Mr.. Hill, near armantown,
where | was then encamped, wrote You
| long letter, enables me, after having made
a careful examination, to fix the location
of this enCampment, an historical fact
which, SO far as ! know, has never been
noted
THE HOUSE OF MIR. hill
Henry Hill, at whose house or country
seat his letter was written, was the owner
in l777 of large tract of land, partly in
Roxborough and partly in Penn to anship,
situated upon and forming part of an ele-
waited plateau of several hundred acres east
| Of the SchuylkllI river, bounded on the
| north by School lane, on the east 10y a road
dividing RoxDorough township frOa. Ger
mal town township, known as township
| line road, and sloping sharply on the west
to the river, or to what may be more prop
erly termed its boundary line on that
side, the Manatawny or Ridge road; on
| the south the plateau gradually slopes with
the SchuyIklIl Falls.
"Mr. Hills land extending southwark
from School lane, lay on bo,h sides Cf In
dian Queen lane termed in early deeds
road lead ng from Germantown to Schuyl-
! kill Falls, alias Roberts Ferry the house
and farm buildings being in Roxborough
township, en- the upper side of that lane or
road, short distance west of the town
ship ne road, now known as Wissahick-
on avenue, about one mile from the falls
| and the same distance from Germantown,
which at chat time consisted of but
single long street or road.
WASHINGTON s ARMY.
at was therefore about this house and
on this and adjacent land of the plateau
that the army, according to the hlrer of
October 5, IT'S, was encamped i'll l777 at
the periods mentioned, an army when has
been described by the Marquis de Llfdy-
cite, who was present at review on
August 8, in the following words, written
in the third person: 4 bout eleven thou
sand men lily armed and still worse
clothed, presented strange spectacle to
the eye of the young Frenchman. Their
clothes were pmti-coIored and many of
them were almost naked; the best clad
wore hunting shifts, large grey linen coats,
which were much used in Carolina As
TO their military tactics it will be sufficient
to say that for n reg ment ranged in order
| of battle to move forward on the right of
its line j. was necessary for the left to
make continued countermarch. They
were always arranged in two lines, the
| smallest men IN the first line. No other
| dis inction as to height was ever oh
served. In spite of these disadvantages
| the soldiers were fine and the officers zeal
/ Gus; virtue BOD in place of science, and
each day added both to experience and
discipline,
subsequently, in 1880, Mr. Hill erected
more imposing structure on the site of
| the old farm house. This is still standing,
owned and occupied by the heirs of Corne-
| Illus 5. Smith, who purchased in 1910,
eighty-6ve acres of the land, including the
mansion. Situated on slight elevation,
we'll back from the lane, with graceful por
! ton, primeval trees and ample lawn, it
presents picture of peace and rest not in
the least suggestive of the tented field or
| hideous war
THE MIL FAMILY.
Henry Hill, son Of Or. Richard Hill, wa
born in 1882 on his fathers Maryland
! plautation He was educated AS a mpr
chant and settled in Philadelphia, engag.
ing extensively in the Madeira wine trade,
| his hther having removed to that island
IN 1879 HIS Madeira was widely
known as one Of the choicest brands in the
Philadelphia market. He was justice of
the peace in l772; member of the Carpen-
tpr's' HILL conference OF the committee of
safety. 1918. and of the constitutional con-
venti n Of l776 He commanded bit.
tlIicn Of Ass,ciators in l776, and in 1880
subscribed 5000 to the Penn4 lyanla
bauk. an institution organized tor the
purchase of p oyl.ions for the us Of the
continental army Mr. H II was also one
e the original subscribers to the b nix Of
North America md a director from ISL 10
1872. From 80 to 1854 he was mem.
Der Of the assembly, anu of tire executive
council from 1855 tn l7SS MIR Hill mar.
ried daughter of csc NJ redith, whom
he survived H. died If the yellow f,ver
September Is, 1898, leaving no issue. HIs
town house when be built, was at the
corrcr of Fourth and Union streets. This
house is still standing and If after years
was the residence Of DR.. Philip lying
Physlck
TuE ENCAMrMENr NEAR GERMANTowS,
The movement of the troops to this
camping ground, which they reached the