The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-05-01
Historic Mount Holly.
ITEMS OF INTEREST CONCERNING THE
MILITARY HISTORY OF THE TOWN

ITEMS OF INTEREST CONCERNING THE
MILITARY HISTORY OF THE TOWN
BY William A. Slaughter and Henry c. Shinn
The first notice of Mount Holly in
connection with military affairs is
found In John Woolman' s diary, under
date of August 9, 1857, when the writer
notes that ''orders came at night to the
military officers in Burlington county,
directing them to draft the militia, and
prepare number of men to go off as
soldiers to the relief Of the English at
Fort William Henry, in New York
government; few days after which
there was a general review OF the
militia at Mount Holly, and number
of men were chosen and sent Off under
some officers"
A few days later orders came to draft
three times as many men. who were to
hold themselves in readiness to march
upon receipt OF fresh orders.
On August IL, 1857. the officers met
at Mount Holly and agreed upon draft
ing. The men chosen were ordered to
meet their respective captains at set
times and places; those drawn in
Northampton township to meet at
Mount Holly. Many of the men Sc
lected were Friends, and John Wool
man, in great turmoil OF mind, writes
in his journal; This was such time
as had not seen before"
I'm this time Of commotion some OF
our young men left these parts, and
tarried abroad until it was over; some
came and proposed to go as soldiers;
others appeared to have real tender
scruple in their minds against joining
in wars, and were humbled under the
apprehension Of trial SO near"
Some Of the Friends called upon the
commanding officer and stated tn cir
feelings. After conference, they were
allowed to return home for the time,
but ordered to provide themselves as
soldiers and be ready to march when
called upon"
None of these soldiers engaged in
battle at this time. The French cap
tured Fort William Henry before aid
reached the besisged English, and the
first draft returned home after few
days march. The second draft was not
called out.
The next visit of troops to Mount
Holly was on April 4, 1858, when the
townspeople were ordered to prepare
quarters for about one hundred soldiers,
who remained here about two weeks.
Six shillings week per man was al
lowed as pay to the housekeepers. One
soldier was quartered upon John Wool
man. When payment was offered to
Woolman, he refused to take it. say
ing he had received the soldier in pas
sive obedience to authority.
There appears to be no further record
Of military affairs in Mount Holly un-i
til the period of the Revolution when
we find the Hessian occupation OF De-
cember, 1776. and the encampment Of
the Thirteenth Pennsylvania regiment
under Colonel Stewart, at Iron Works
Hill, from November % to November
q, 1777. Both Of these events have
been described in preceding articles in
this series. Gen. Green, with Glover's
brigade, and Gen. Mulhenberg, were
here on November 25.
Without doubt, detachments of the
American troops were frequently in
Mount Holly at times other than thope
stated. According to tradition, a num-
Der OF soldiers who died OF fever were
buried in st. Andrews graveyard a
little south of the present chapel,
where there is large vacant piece Of
ground which has never been sold off
in lots. It is known that Israel Shrsvs.
lieutenant colonel of the Second New
Jersey regiment commanded by Gen.
Maxwell, was in Mount Holly April s,
ITS, as on that date he addressed the
following:
Special order to Captain Chambers
"Sir:-You are to retire to the New
mills with your two peaces and a
guard, with part of the baggage and
stores, there Remain until further or
ders, unless the enemy should make a
movement that way, then you are to
move further up the country, keeping
a back road and out of their reach.
Mr.. Lawrence Shaney is to forage for
your artillery horses and baggage wagon
horses. Keep strickt eye over Will
liam Seeds and Samuel Carter, two
prisoners.
81. Shreve,
"Col. Com.
Mount Holley. April s, 177S."
Colonel Shreve's residence near
Georgetown was afterwards burnt by
the British.
During this period the British in
Philadelphia made frequent forays
into New Jersey, and Mount Holly
was one of the centers for the Ameri-
can troops. The town was too far dis
tant to be reached by small raiding