| Citation |
NJJ.783.044
9 Jul 1783:12,13,21 (230)
From the Freeman's Journal. Mr. Bailey, The late mutiny of
the continental troops in this city has been attended with
consequences so interesting to the United States, and
affecting to the honour of this, that I presume the
following account will not be disagreeable to your readers,
who may be assured of its authenticity in all the material
parts, and without known or intended inaccuracy in any.
About two weeks ago, advice was received from Col. Butler,
commanding officer at Lancaster, that the troops there
discovered a very discontented temper, which he apprehended
would soon break out into some open acts of mutiny. A few
days after farther advices came, that a party had actually
thrown off all obedience to their officers, and marched to
Philadelphia, notwithstanding the utmost exertions of their
officers to prevent it. Accordingly on Thursday the 17th
ult. about 80 soldiers without offices, but compleatly armed
with bayonets fixed, drums beating, and green boughs in
their hats, marched down Market Street, and proceeded to the
barracks, where there were quartered 150 old soldiers,
lately arrived from Carolina, the corps of artillery, and
others of different corps to the amount of 400 in the whole.
No measures were taken, except conferrences between the
president and council and congress, till the Saturday
following: when to the astonishment of the city, and the
public dishonour, these troops, with fixed bayonets and
drums beating, marched to the state house, the seat of
Congress, and the supreme executive council. Having placed
guards at different doors, and sent off detachments to those
places where they supposed arms and ammunition were
deposited, they sent up a written paper to the president and
council, desiring that they might be authorized to choose
their own officers and demanding an answer in 20 minutes, or
an enraged soldiery would be set in upon them. . . [article
continues for 2 more columns, and is written by An
Observer]
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