Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-02-02
THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL"


The. Minutes of Council" pub
lfshed by the Historical Society Of
Delaware, furnish very interesting
reading. They let us behind the scenes
and show how the Revolutionary War
was conducted. The Legislature of
Delaware consisted of the Council and
smother tody called the Assembly.
The order Of, their parliamentary pro-
ceedings were not excelled by any other
body Of men. In the beginning of the
seven years war they raised a regiment
Of 800 men, clothed and equipped, and
sent it to the Continental Army. They
paid the officers and clothed the men
Z throughout the war. 1t was wonderful
how they raised SO much money, but
the processes are all given in the
Minutes. ~
1t appears that Delaware has not
been credited. with the number of men
she but in the field. In message to
the General Assembly in 1852 Gov.
Dickinson says: ~ have lately re-
viewed every regiment in the State
except the eighth, and have been
generally pleased with the appearance
and behavior Of the officers and pri-
Yates on this occasion, and particularly
and Col Folks regiments. -
These with the one in the regular
army would make nine regiments.
These were mostly raised after the bat
tie Of Brandywine. These Minutes also
make clear hoy the public records of
the State came to be lost from the
Court House of New Castle. When
the combined English and German
army landed at the Head of Elk, they
started to march up the stage road to
Philadelphia. This would have taken
them through Wilmington.
The governor of Delaware alarmed at
their possible capture, had the records
placed on board of vessel in the river.
This vessel was afterward captured by
the British. Had the records remained
in the Court House they would have
been saved.s For the British army was
met at Cooch's Bridge over the Chris
tiana and severely checked. Historians
have moderated this battle. / read in
an old newspaper: ga bloody battle
s was fought at -Cooch's BRIDGE
However, the British advanced no
further in that direction, but turned
at right. angles and marched up into
(. Pennsylvania. Il was this flank move.
nient to the left that compelled Wash
ipgton to leave his strong, entrenched
position on Red Clay Creek, and not
because the position was untenable,
rs the historians relate. For the British
had good generals, and they thus com.
PEELED the Americans to meet them in
the open field.
June LIST, 1885: ''The Auditor of Ac.
counts lE. Macomb) having examined
the papers accompanying the petition
of Thomas Stroud to the General As
sembly, which were referred to him,
beg leave to report: That it appears tc
him vessel belonging to the petitioner
was taken or hired BY the then Presi
dent of the State to receive on board
the papers of the Continental Loar
Office of this State and the records o.
New Castle county, together with soms
valuable private property, in order tt
preserve them from falling into the
handspof the enemy, then on theil
march from the Head of Elk to Phila
delphia; that the said vessel, with tn,
aforementioned papers, records aut
property on board, lying under tn,
guns of the fort near Wilmington, wa
taken by the enemy ON the morning
p Of the 18th Of September. 1777, &c. )
This accounts for the loss of tn,
records During the latter part of tn,
war the, First Delaware Regiment wa
in the Southern army under Gen
Greene. In a message of Gov. Dickin
son to the Assembly, he says: II sin
cerely share with you in the higl
pleasure you, must receive from tn
truly honorable testimony given b.
that distinguished commander, Gen
Greene, ito the uniform good conduct
81
of the officers and soldiers of our line. ,
The historians do not mention an
Delaware soldiers at the siege of York
town and some say there were none
But this is mistake. Capt Williar
McKannon's company and Capt. Allie
McLane's company on their way Sout
to Join their regiment were switche
off to the siege Of Yorktown and car
ture Of CORVALLIS.
1t would be interesting to know wha
part they took in the proceedings. A
an incident, a hundred pairs of shoe
were sent to them at Yorktown. TIL
whole of the Delaware regiment wa
not sent South with Greene, detact
ment for some reason was retained i
Philadelphia. This detaching of goo
troops, TO support the more Doubt,
ones may be good generalship, but
is bad for the regiment. 1t commence
at their first battle of Long Island.
A patent was granted to Oliver Evar
in 1887 for the sole right to use LOGON,
tiyes on land. And in the same yea
patent was granted to John Fitch +,
sole right to use steamboats,.
1902. Mr.. McKennan, member
the Assembly, was admitted and pr
sented sundry petitions signed by
number Of the inhabitants of Ne
Castle county, praying an act to inco
porate a company for the purpose
cutting and making canal and lot
navigation from the head waters ofstl
Brandywine Creek down along the san
into the Borough OF Wilmington. -
As this was not carried out it W,
probably opposed by the mill owner
or possibility Philadelphia.
d