For those who wonder how the United States got this way, we offer this excerpt from a journal kept by one David Ford, who was part of the militia taking part in the 1794 expedition against the Whiskey Rebellion. The Whiskey Rebellion was a tax revolt in Pittsburgh. It tested the resolve of the newly-formed government, and was successfully put down by a large volunteer force led by President George Washington in person. This was the first and last time that a sitting President actually commanded troops in the field.

The whole thing is pretty funny, really, and we thought you'd enjoy reading about it. Notes on the text are available on archive.org, courtesy of the University of Pittsburgh.

A shorthand guide to the players: think of the Whiskey Rebellion guys as Tea Party Republicans, and the Federalists as Democrats, and you'll probably not be far off.

10th. We marched early for Norristown, the county town of the county of Montgomery, 172 miles from Philadelphia¹, where we arrived about 2 o'clock. Our camp was beautifully laid out on the banks of the Schuylkill², in a very pleasant meadow. Here we were well supplied with short feed, but infamously with hay, owing to the villainy of a farmer, who had sold and promised to deliver good hay, and brought bad³. Norristown is beautifully situated on the Schuylkill; has a handsome court house, goal⁴ and yard, in a separate place, a building for public papers, &c. It lays⁵ on an eminence, and has a most commanding prospect. Here we were joined by the Philadelphia light-horse, who left Philadelphia Thursday. They are most completely mounted and equipped, and very genteel looking troops, about – men⁶, being three companies. Here we found many people very much in favor of the rioters. These were however all of the most ignorant and uninformed part of society⁷. The most strange and absurd notions of the Government seem to have been industriously propagated by some wicked incendiaries⁸; such as, that Congress were going to lay a tax of two dollars on every male child that is born; that one shilling is to be laid on every new coat, and a number of such like stories. At this place we were overtaken by Gov. Mifflin, who came here to procure the quota of troops from the county. He harangued the citizens (a great many of whom had assembled,) very well, (as I am told,) after which he paid a very high compliment to our State, and was very happy to see us on the ground; – in short, every friend of the Federal Government seems delighted with our appearance.

20th, Marched early for Potts Grove, distant 15 miles, where we arrived about 2 o'clock, and pitched our camp most beautifully on the banks of the Schuylkill. Potts Grove is a charming village, pleasantly situated on that river, and inhabited by much the most genteel, hospitable people of any town we had passed through. It was originally laid out by Mr. Potts, and is now very much possessed and inhabited by his descendants, of that name and the name of Rutter. As we were marching into the camping ground, I had the misfortune to receive a very bad wound by the kick of a horse, which cut my boot, stocking, and into my leg on the shin bone about as large as a dollar, and bruised the adjacent parts very much⁹. Here I experienced the attention of many of the inhabitants, by their kind offers of assistance; but in particular, my friend Jesse Potts happened to be in town, who immediately came to see me, sent for his sulkey¹⁰, and took me to his nephew's, Mr. Thomas Potts, who had come to meet me. Here I found the most pohte hospitality and sympathy I could wish, from an amiable woman, Mrs. Potts, and Miss Potts, a sister of my friend, Mr. Jesse Potts. Here I spent the night, and had every possible attention from all the family. Several of the Messrs. Potts and Rutter called to see me, and pressed me to stay the next day; and all have very cordially invited me to
spend some time with them on my return, which I have promised to do. The Messrs. Potts are all largely concerned in extensive iron woiks of every kind, and some on new and improved constructions. My friend Doct. Anderson, who has joined our squadron as surgeon, was so good as to stay with me at Mr. Potts', and is, as well as myself, well pleased with the politeness and hospitality of the people.¹¹

22d. The troops rested here [they've got all the way to Reading] this day, myself confined to the house most of the day¹²; in the afternoon Col. Rhea, who had been very polite, called on me to go and see a gentleman by the name of Mr. Rose, a most complete musician and plays on at least 10 different instruments ; in addition to which he has a collection of curiosities for his own amusement, and some very excellent paintings.

He favored us, in company with his daughter, with some music on the piano forte, violin and an excellent organ. He treated us with great politeness, and is a good federalist. He very obligingly offered me his chaise to get on, but having procured a covered wagon I declined troubling him.

24th. Marched for Lebenon [Lebanon], at which place we arrived at 10 o'clock, distance 14 miles. In this day's march, we passed through the finest country I have seen in our march. We begin to find black walnuts growing spontaneous¹³. The country well cultivated; buildings good, and of stone, and mostly inhabited by Germans. We passed a small village of about 50 houses, called Major town, near the Tulpehocken, on which is the famous canal for joining the Susquehanna and Schuylkill together. I was unable to go and see it, but many of the gentlemen did¹⁴, and tell me it is a most grand undertaking; that the canal is already dug ten miles, in which are five locks, to embrace thirty feet; that they are executed in a masterly manner – that in the distance already done there is a great number of elegant arched bridges over the canal, wherever it goes across the road. There are now employed 600 hands at it, and everyprospect of succeeding in this
part of the bold enterprise, which if once accomplished, from this to the Schuylkill, and from thence to the Delaware, will turn such a torrent of wealth into Philadelphia, as will certainly secure it the emporium of America.

By such like stories, the anti-federalists in all parts of the Union, are endeavoring to render the minds of the people sour and dissatisfied with the government, and sorry I am, that Americans seem so fond of the idea of revolutions, and changing government, that the flame of alteration catches with avidity. We are here led to believe that the majority of the people over the mountain, are disposed to support government, and acquiesce in the law, and that we shall have no trouble with them – that this may be the case we all wish – that they may return to a proper sense of their duty would be much more grateful to us than having to compel them by arms, but unless they do, we most certainly shall try our strength¹⁵.

29th. Fine day, very hot. This day the Philadelphia horse determined to begin the business of collecting the gentry of sedition, in which some volunteers from our troops joined. They went out in two or three directions and brought in several of the Pole gentry; one of them, after being a
prisoner, used very abusive and provoking language, after which he endeavored to make his escape, upon which one of the Philadelphia troops ordered him to stop, which he disregarded, upon which he shot him through with his pistol, of which wound he died next morning. This was rather an unfortunate affair as it doubtless will irritate some as well as intimidate others, but by misrepresentation it may be made very bad use of, and as falsehood seems the forte of the anti-federal gents, there is no doubt but they will embrace this occasion to display their abilities. One of the fellows brought in this day was an Irish schoolmaster, who had been a very busy fellow in the ways of sedition; he was very much frightened when taken; he had repeatedly said, he would himself blow the President's brains out if he attempted to lead the army over the mountains against the insurgents, and much such like talk; he was committed to jail. Our men were all
ready to cut him up, but a word to the civil authority prevented any interference. We find a great majority of the people in this county have got the canine madness against government, but our appearance has silenced them, and given the friends of government an opportunity to show themselves.

4th. The greatest vieing [sic] between the New Jersey and Pennsylvania horse who should be first on the ground to receive the President. At ten o'clock, the signal for mounting came, and away went the horse. The vanguard of the Phila. horse very improperly pressed by our troops, and took post in front. This was considered as not polite by the New Jersey cavalry, more particularly as we were strangers. The President came on. He was met by a very large train of Generals and other gentlemen, and all the troops that could be mustered. On his approaching the town, he was saluted by a Federal salute, and the ringing of bells; and every heart expands
with joy, except the whiskey boys. They made a passage through the town to the Pennsylvania camp, and after receiving them, he took up his quarters in town. He was accompanied by Col. Hamilton as an aid, and a small scout of horse. No army ever received him with more heartfelt joy and satisfaction. I was much mortified that I could not attend the train. I was only a spectator of the cavalcade.

13th. The cavalry themselves marched for Chambersburgh, a pleasant village consisting of about two hundred houses, much better built than Shippensburg. This town lays on the waters of the famous Conogocheche¹⁶, near where it was proposed to have the final seat of federal government, and is the county-town of –; has a very handsome court house, a market and some capital mills, and belongs to Capt. Chambers, who has leased on moderate terms. This town has risen suddenly, not having been laid out more than ten years; here we found the best tavern we had seen for a long time. Capt. Chambers was so polite as to invite me, with Gen. White's family, to dine with him¹⁷.

l5th. This day marched for Thompson's Cove at the foot of the range of mountains called the North, and three miles from Mercersburg. Here we lay this night, drew provisions, and made ready to scale the mountains in the morning¹⁸.

16th. Marched, and in one mile began to ascend the mountain, which here is very rugged and seemed to wind round one point after another for three or four miles¹⁹, until we reached the summit, whence in every direction we could see nothing but hills and mountains towering over each other, as if they were trying who should get the highest²⁰. We descended this, and raised another, and after descending that, got into a small valley called
Wallace station, where we found just room enough to encamp, and hay to feed our horses, but found the most wretched houses and improvements, and poverty that we had seen.

18th. Marched, and forded the Junietta, about yards wide, and three feet deep ; here the river bends round a point and seems to run three or four miles almost directly back. After a march of seven miles, we were informed that we might proceed on to Bedford; this we did with very great
alacrity, and arrived at sundown.

19th. Here we are to Stay a few days, and then proceed to Pittsburg: distant one hundred miles. This town is not very pleasantly situated; consists of about eighty or one hundred houses,…

[Here the Journal abruptly ends.]

Editor's Note: We don't know what caused Ford to break off his journal. Indian attack? Some more local nabobs to rub elbows with? The end of the Whiskey Rebellion? Probably that, because they were near the scene of Washington's confrontation with the rebels. All that riding and histrionics wasted.

We do know that Washington marched his army through Pittsburgh and arrested the malcontent leaders. The whiskey tax was paid until Thomas Jefferson repealed it in 1802. Things settled down for the next 60 years. Ford went home to New Jersey, and shared this journal with a census taker in his old age.

Dmitri Gheorgheni

16.07.18 Front Page

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