The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-11
Cleaved from the oak and level laid;
Those cracks where zephyrs oft would


Through oiled paper give us light;
One door on wooden hinges hung,
Lets In friend, or siokly throng."
Tossing says-HIf there is q SPOT on
the face of our broad land whereonaPa-
triotism should delight to pile it's high
est end most venerated monument, it
should be in the bosom of that little
vale on the bank of the Schuylkill.
Even at Valley Forge there were days
of enjoyment One of those days was St.
Patriok's day. 1t came about in this
way. The Pennsylvania Germans made
Paddy and displayed 1t on the morn
ing of that saints day to the great in
dignauion of the Irish soldiers In camp.
They Assem- bled in large bodies armed
and swore vengeance against the New
England troops, supposlng they got up
the insult. Affairs were getting serious
and none of the officers could appease
them. Washington was notified OF tne
trouble and soon ascertained that the
New England troops were Innocent. out
be did not wish to oppose the Germans.
He rode up to the Irish and kindly
agreed with them, requesting them TO
show him the offenders and they should
be punished, but they could not desig-
promptly. st too am a lover of ST. Pat
rick and must settle the affair by max
ing the army keep the day. He ordered
an extra drink OF rum to every man in
the command, and they all made merry
of 1t, and were good friends. Ths affair
WAS thus settled satisfactory to all, and
all had a good time. This illustrates
his men and shows why they loved and
were loyal to him.
Amid all Of General Washington's
troubles his enemies sought to overthrow
him, and make General Horati Gates,
commander-in-chiefo of the army. This
conspiracy was called the Conway
Cabal' and the chief actors were Generals
Conway, Mifflin and Gates. assisted by
several members of Congress whodoubtsd
Washington's ability to command
large army. They forged letters and
tried to Ink Lafayette with 1t by fnt-
terry, but to his honor. they were uusuc-
cessful. The whole affair failed of sue
cess and General Conway wrote Washing
ton expressing sorrow for his con-
duct.
Discussions and dissatisfaction were
rampant in those times and Congress
ordered, in February, that oil commits
stoned officers must take an oath Of ALE
glance to the United States. Blank oaths
were printed and sent to the army for
the officers to sign and read as follows:
81 ------ do acknowledge the
United States, to be Free, Independent
and Sovereign States and declare that
the people thereof owe no allegiance Or
obedience to George the Third, King OF
Great Britain; and / renounce, refuse,
and abjure any allegiance or obedience
to him and do swear that will to the
utmost of my power, support, maintain
and defend the said United States
against the said King George the Third,
his heirs and successors and his or their
absttors, assistants ana adherents and
will serve the said United States in the
with fidelity according to the best OF my
skill and understanding.
These oaths were administered to sew
eral officers at one time. each officer pla-
cling his hand upon Bible. They could
be sworn to before Washington, or any
major or brigadier general, who certified
to the signature.
In the archives at Washington are the
original oaths of allegiance, and they
ii On of autographs. Among those names
are some that are of special interest to
our people. because they were Maine
men then. Now they should be known
among the heroes of our State.
The following names may not be all
that would be of interest to us, but they
are valuable relics of Maines' share in
the struggle for our independence. The
places of residence have been added for
the convenience of their descendants and
Others for indentifcation:
Twelfth Massachusetts,, Brewers Regi-
ment-M MAJOR Tobias Fernald, Kittery;
Capt. James Council. York; Lieut.. Tim
othy Remiok,s Kittery; Lieut.. william
Frost, K1ttery; Lieut.. James Means,
Falmouth: Ensign Ebenezer Storer,
Wells; Lieut.. John Pray, Kittery; Capt.
Richard May berry.
Tupper's Eleventh Massachusetts, Regi-
ment. Capt. Richard Msyberry, Wind
NAH; Capt. Daniel Wheelwright. Wells;
Capt. George White, Topsham; Lieut..
Daniel Lupt, Falmouth; Lieut.. Isaac
Childs, Falmouth: Lieut.. William Has
ty, Scarboro; Lieut.. Hugh Mulloy,
brunswick, Ensign William MoKenney,
Soar boro; Lieut. Josiah Parsons, York .
Ensign John Little6eld, Wells; Deputy
Muster Master Henry Sswall, Falmouth.
Lieut.. Jonathan Libby of Scarboro
was no doubt at Valley Forge.
Capt. Daniel Lane. Of Col. Ichabod
Alden's Regiment signed at Albany, N.
Y; he belonged in Buxton.
Major General Benjamin Lincoln and
Captain Lemuel Trescott of Col. Henry
Jackson's Regiment, who both after
ward moved to Maine, signed at Valley
Forge.
From returns made in she latter part
Of January IT'S it seems evident that
the following additional Maine officers
of Col. Tupper's Eleventh NJ Massachusetts,
Regiment were at Valley Forge.
Capt. Samuel Themes of Falmouth.
he was not with his company January
Goth, as Lieut.. William Hasty was in
command.
Lieut.. Silas Chadbourns of Gorham.
Lieut.. William Stanwood of Bruins
wick.
Lieut., Josiah Bradgon of York.
i James Means lived at Str0udwater and
his mouse stands there now. He served
nearly eight years and half in the ar
my.
Rbenezer Storer moved to Portland
from Wells and built the house now the
Bellows school. His service was over
eight years and half.
Daniel Luns lived In Westbrook, east
of Pride's Corner. He served until June
g. 1888.
Isaac Childs lived at Old Falmouth,
He served about four years in the army
Henry Sewall was mason here when
he enlisted in 1774. lie served through
the war and died at Augusta, promi-
nent and respected citizen.
The following regiments are known
to have spent thu winter at Valley Forge,
ord that fa et nust he of some jDtarAsr IN