The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-09-12
SOME HISTORICAL FACTS.
Prominent Parts Taken by
Western Maryland in the
Days Of the Revolutionary
War.
By DIR. BERNARD STEINER, PHI. ID.
Courtesy Johns Hopkins Press.


frontier post was soon made a
prison. We have seen that pris-
oners were sent to Frederick early
in the war. In April, 1777, Fred
erick was suggested to Governor
johnson as "the most proper
place for those now in Maryland
Of the Scotch regiment" and in
May f300 were appropriated for
the subsistence of prisoners of
Frederick.
After the erection of the bar
racks, large numbers of Hessians,
captured at Saratoga and else
where, were sent to Frederick
and the Maryland part of the
German regiment, Capt. Browns
company of mattresses, and Col.
Crockett's battalion of Virginia
troops were ordered to act as their
guards. AS early as May, 1777,
prisoners were sent to Hagers.
town rather than to Frederick.
"where there's already some sort
of provision" since "great part
of our powder is at the latter
place."
Before the barracks were com
pleted in December, 1777, Col.
Beatty, who commanded the
forces in the town, received 100
prisoners, whom he was com.
PEELED to confine temporarily in
the Jail. Late on the afternoon
of Christmas day they set fire to
the Jail and made an attempt to
escape. Beatty ordered every
man to arm himself as quickly as
possible and repair to the Jail
yard. The taller opened the gate
and about third of the pris-
oners attempted to rush out, but
their ardor was quelled with the
butt end of musketS. After the
fire was eXtinguiShed, the prison
erS were removed to the Tory Jail.
Though prisoners were in Fred
erick during the entire war, the
greatest number arrived after
Corvallis surrender. Two Hes
sian regiments and the Bayreuth
IagerS were sent to Frederick at
once. while the other HeSSians,
who were first sent to Winchester,
Va, were soon transferred thither.
son the march through Maryland
the German settlers showed them
much kindness, and German
speech and friendly hospitality
gave them much comfort Their
food. too, improved, "though dur
ing the ensuing winter provisions
ran short" and complaints were
made of "the bad food and the
utter want of clothing" During
the summer of 1882, the prisoners
were more comfortable. Many
were allowed 10 work on the
neighboring farms, arrie d
daughters of the German settlers.
ransomed themselves for about so
Spanish milled dollars apiece.
and remained in Frederick county.
If they could not raise the neces
sary amount for ransom. the
Americans frequently advanced
the money and kept the Hessians
as "redemptiOners." Others of
the prisoners died, deserted, or
enlisted in the American armies,
so that the regiments became
greatly reduced. In September,
1882, 800 English prisoners from
Corvallis army came from Win
chester to Frederick, escorted by
an American volunteer corps
made up of various nationalities,
including 40 Anspach- Bayreuth
soldiers, who had been released
on joining the American army.
The little Mountain City was
truly cosmopolitan during that
year. In addition to English,
German and American troops, it
was the station for some time of
the French legion commanded by
the Marquis la Rouerie. His tri
butte to the State and town was
most flattering. Writing to Gov
ernor Paca on December 2S, 1882,
he expressed the thanks of him
self and his soldiers "for the
friendly dispositions and behav-
Jour of the Marylanders towards
us. The town of Frederick, in
which we have made the longest
station, has more particularly evi
denced to us the worthy and high
character of that country. Per
nit me to add here that where
people are sensible as these of the
rights of military men to their
attention and care, they do de
serve having reSpecta BILE troops ,
as the Maryland line. and do ere
ate in Others wishes for the OPP
to serve them"
The barracks at Frederick town
were not sufficient to hold all the
prisoners and so on December 16,
1777, Joseph Nource. of the War
Office. from York, Penn. wrote to
Col. Moses Rawlings, asking that
he examine Fort Frederick and
report as to its condition. accom-