Johans Nicholas BITTINGER

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TAXES: 1779 Manheim Township Tax List, posted by Jane Peppler 06Apr2001, Nicholas Bittinger 50 acres; 1782 Tax Report for Berwick Township, posted by Jane Peppler 08Apr2001, Nicholas Bittinger 200 acres 6 h (inhabitants?) 8 c (children?) 2 slaves, George HERMAN 2c"; 1783 tax report - Berwick Township, posted by Jane Peppler 08Apr2001, "Henry HARMAN one acre of land", George HARMAN one acre of land, Nicholas Bittinger 200 acres 7 inhabitants and 2 servants gristmill sawmill, Nicholas Bittinger 192 acres".
   ... CAPTAIN, JOH. NICHOLAS BITTINGER, b. 6-11-1725, Dorschel, Germany; d. 5-2, 1804 near Abbottstown, York County, Pennsylvania.; Bur. St. John's Luth. Ch. Ceme., Abbottstown, York County, Pennsylvania, who raised a Company of Minutemen known as "The Flying Camp" in the 3rd Battalion, York county Militia, under Co. Richard McAllister's Regiment; married MARIA CHRISTINA REINBOLDT, b. 6-10-1728, d. 5-23-1812. ----------------------------------------------------- Note:  Abbottstown is on the county line of York and Adams Counties. ----------------------------------------------------- Excerpt from the History of Adams County, Pennsylvania, Historical Society Documentation: ------------------------------------------------------ HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY CHAPTER VIII THE REVOLUTION - ADAMS (YORK) COUNTY IN THE STRUGGLE - FIRST COMPANY FOR PENNSYLVANIA -- THE INDEPENDENT LIGHT INFANTRY COMPANY -- FLYING CAMP -- ROSTER OF OFFICERS, ADAMS (YORK) COUNTY. I n a preceding chapter, in giving some account of the Indians, there is told the story of the participation of what is now Adams County (then part of York), in the French and Indian War of 1755. This was the first taste of real organized war of the American people; it was a fitting training school of the people, gathering together the varied and somewhat discordant elements of nationality and religious sects and local prejudices, and molding and cementing the whole into one common element educating the people for the distant but coming Revolution, and to recast the history of all mankind. It is now twenty-one years since the close of the late Civil War. The longest lapse of time since the first war of no intervening struggles. Commencing with that of 1755, there has been a succeeding war on an average of every sixteen years. The French-Indian troubles; the Revolution; the War of 1812--15; the Blackhawk War; Mexican War; and the late Civil War, and at various times the Seminole and other Indian outbreaks of only minor importan ce. These wars and raids and minor skirmishes were all waged in behalf of the final peaceable and permanent possession of the country the unity of our Government. In short, they were fought out in behalf of the first great principle of self-protection and the perpetuation of a government by the people and for the people. They have already tended to develop and more closely knit together the once somewhat discordant races of men who originally came here to harden the muscles and quicken the brains of a nation originally active, resolute, brave, and jealous of the slightest invasion of their rights and liberties. True, the histories of the world's bloody and cruel wars with their attendant sufferings, agony and woe is a hideous mental feast to set before the young minds of this enlightened age, and save for the moral that they furnish, the key they give the mind strong enough to study out the obscure and otherwise undiscoverable secrets of the active influences in shaping and building the slow growths of our civilization, their glowing history had better never have been written. Our two great wars were the Revolution and the late Civil War. Each, it now seems, forever settled great principles of the profoundest interest to humanity -- indeed, not only for all mankind, but for all coming time, at least, as we are now encouraged to hope. The history of Adams County in these two great wars is but an inseparable portion of the history of our country during these eventful periods, and to give the county history in either -- the facts and results in the country's camps, hospitals, marches, sieges, and battle fields, would be nothing less, nor can it be detached from the voluminous general history of our common country. The heroic efforts, the failures, the defeats, the triumphs, and the tremendous results of the great armies in wars of a nation cannot be written in detached piece-meal. You had as well try to doctor smallpox by commencing to dig about and cure the innumerabl e separate pits. Hence, here we shall attempt nothing more that briefest skeleton outline o
    f what occurred locally within the limits of Adams County. When the Revolution was fought out Adams was part of York County. This was then the remote backwoods point where even the important news of the day could but slowly reach. But in the very first movements in 1772, when the people of the country were stirred with sympathy for the suffering Bostonian, the spirit of the freemen was manifested here as soon as in any other portion of the country, and soon spread abroad the names and fames of men who moved the people to war for "Liberty or Death" -- names in the country that are honorably borne by the worthy descendents of these truly illustrious sires. We seriously question if there is a spot in any portion of our Union where there is an equal number of names of historic interest that is to be found among the people of Adams County today, that is, in proportion to the population. These people here, as early as 1765, began to show unmistakable signs of distrust of the acts of the British Government. In fact, as early as 1760, discontent was openly spoken at public gatherings. April 18, 1775, the people of the county met and by resolutions in behalf of the troubles of the people of Boston felt, "feelingly for them." A committee was appointed to receive donations for Bostonians, and Heidelberg Township sent £36 17s 5d.; Germany Township £16 2s.; Manheim, by the hands of Adam Eichelberger, £5 15s 6d., and by the hands of Michael Karl £5 9s 9d.; by the hands of David Newman £3 16s 3d. The entire county sent £246 8s 10d., and the committee sent an open letter of sympathy to the people of Boston. This letter was signed by James Smith, President; George Eichelberger, Michael Doudle, David Grier, Michael Swope, Peter Reel, Thomas Hartley, George Furvin, James Donaldson, Michael Smyser, Baltzer Spangler, John Hay. June 21, 1774, a meeting was held of which Michael Swope was Pres ident. An election was held in the county July 4, 1771 to obtain the sense of the people on the state of affairs. December 16, of this year, an election for Assemblymen was held, and a County Committee was also elected. Of the committee elected were Henry Slagle, George Eichelberger, John Hay, Archibald McClean, David Grier, Baltzer Spangler, Nicholas Bittinger, William McClellan, Joseph Donaldson, George Irwin, David Kenedy, Thomas Fisher, John Kean, John Houston, George Kuntz, Simon Kupenbeffer, Joseph Jeffries, Robert McCosley, Michael Hahn, Daniel Melferly, Michael Davis, Jacob Dahtel, Fredrick Fischel, James Dickson, all familiar names in Adams County. Then there were Patrick Scott, Michael Dantel, Michael Bard, Casper Reinaker, Henry Leibhard, John Maxwell, George Oge, John O'Blenes and Andrew Finley on this committee. They were not aware of it, but it was really organizing for war with the mother country. July 1, 1775, the first company of soldiers marched from Pennsylvania to Boston. November 3, 1775, a county committee of correspondence was appointed. For all of York County there were elected twenty-six committeemen. At the head of this committee stands the name of Michael Swope; then these is James Smith, Thomas Hartley, John Hay, David Grier, George Eichelberger, Baltzer Spangler, John Huston, Thomas Armor, Christopher Slagle, Peter Wolfe, Zachariah Shugart, John Herbach, John Spangler, Francis Crezart, George Brinkerhoff, John Semple, Robert McPherson, Samuel Falie, William McClellan, John Agnew, David Kenedy, George Kerr, Abraham Banta, John Mickle, Jr., Samuel McCanaughy, Richard McAllister, Christian Graef, Henry Slagle, John Hamilton, Thomas Lilley, Patrick McSherry, James Leeper, Baltzer Keurtzer and others. The committee gave notice that parties purchasing sheep to kill or sell to butchers, or attempting to drive through the county sheep under four years old, would be arrested and treated as public enemies. The Independent Light Infantry Company wa s formed in December 1775. Officers: James Smith, Colonel; Thomas Hartley, Lieutenant Colonel; Joseph Donaldson, Michael Swope, Majors; George Irwin, Captain; John Hay, First Lieutenant;
    William Bailey, Second Lieutenant; Christopher Lawman, Ensign; Paul Metzgar, Henry Walter, Jacob Gardner, and John Shultz, Sergeants; William Scott, Clerk. There were 100 Privates. Recruiting throughout the county now went on rapidly. Five companies had been formed by the early spring of 1776. Another was organized in May. The first and second companies had dissolved and joined other companies. In 1776 York and Cumberland Counties were required to each raise four companies. The men made a regiment, of which William Irvine was First Colonel. Moses McClean was Captain of one of the companies of York County, and Archibald McAllister was Captain of the Third Company. In May 1776, Captain William McPherson and Lieutenant Jacob Stake marched with a Rife Company to Philadelphia. The celebrated Flying Camp was organized in July 1776, and marched to New Jersey. To this command York County furnished two Battalions; five Battalions had been sent, two were accepted into the Flying Camp and the others returned home. It is said the reason why so many more were called for, than were accepted, was that the authorities wanted to test the spirit of the people. The history of the Flying Camp briefly is as follows: June 3, 1776, Congress resolved that a Flying Camp be established in the middle colonies to consist of 10,000 men. Pennsylvania to furnish 6,000 men and Maryland and Delaware the remainder. They were to enlist for six months. York County was required to furnish as its quota 400 men. The State convention resolved to add four additional Battalions to the Flying Camp, York to furnish 515 men. The quotas were promptly filled and consisted of three Brigades. James Ewing was Brigadier General of the First Brigade, consisting to three Battalions, the first of which was commanded by Colonel Michael  Swope. There were eight companies in the last named Battalion. First Company -- Michael Smyser (Schmeiser), Captain; Zachariah Shugart, First Lieutenant; Andrew Robinson, Second Lieutenant; William Wayne, Ensign. Second Company -- Gerhart Graeff, Captain; Kauffman, Lieutenant. Third Company -- Jacob Dritt, Captain; Baymiller, First Lieutenant; Clayton, Second Lieutenant; Jacob Meyer, Ensign. Fourth Company -- Christian Stake, Captain; Cornelius Sheriff, First Lieutenant; Jacob Holzinger, Second Lieutenant; Jacob Barnitz, Ensign. Fifth Company -- John McDonald, Captain; William Scott, First Lieutenant; Robert Patton, Second Lieutenant; Howe, Ensign. Sixth Company -- John Ewing, Captain; John Paysley, Ensign. Seventh Company -- William Nelson, Captain; Todd, First Lieutenant; Joseph Wood, Second Lieutenant; Nesbit, Ensign. Eighth Company -- Williams, Captain. Nicholas Bittinger was Captain in the Second Battalion. Colonel Swope's Battalion suffered as severely as any during the war. Captain Gerhart Graeff's Company was captured at the Battle of Long Island; only eighteen men ever returned to the Regiment. At Fort Washington, near New York, the soldiers from this section suffered severely. Nearly the entire command of Colonel Swope was either killed or taken prisoners. In the list of prisoners were Colonel Swope, Mayor William Bailey, Surgeon Fullerton, Captain Michael Smyser (spelled then Schmeisor), Captain David Dritt, Captain Christian Stake, Captain John McDonald, Lieutenant Zachariah Shugart, Lieutenant John Hotzinger, Lieutenant Andrew Robinson, Lieutenant Robert Patten, Lieutenant Joseph Welsh, Ensign Jacob Barnitz, Ensign Adjutant. Howe and Ensign Jacob Meyer. Of Captain Stake's Company, in addition to the officers named, we have the names of Sergeant Peter Haak, Sergeant John Dicks, Sergeant Henry Couaselman, Corporal John Adlum, David Parker, James Dobbins, Hugh Dobbins, Henry Miller, (afterward removed to Virginia), John Strohman, Christian Strohman, James  Henry, Joseph Bay, Henry Hof, Joseph Updegraffe, Daniel Miller, Henry Shultz and a mulatto, Bill Lukins. Captain McCarter was shot through the breast and died the fifth day after. Jacob Barnitz was wounded in both legs, and lay a prisoner for fifteen months. Years afterward o
    ne of his legs had to be amputated. Congress fled from Philadelphia and met in Lancaster, September 27, 1777, the day Philadelphia was taken by the enemy, but Lancaster was deemed unsafe, and, September 30, Congress assembled at York, where it continued nine months. The Commander-In-Chief's guard, organized by General Washington in 1776, consisted of 180 men, and among those were John Dother of Marsh Creek and William Karnahan of York. William McPherson was Second Lieutenant of Captain Albright's Company. McPherson was captured, August 27, 1776 at Long Island and exchanged April 20, 1778. He died at Gettysburg, August 2, 1832 and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. In the memoirs of General Wilkinson is graphically described the gallantry of Colonel Hand and Major Miller in checking the pursuit of the enemy in our Army's memorable retreat across New Jersey. Captain McClelland was promoted from Lieutenant in the First Pennsylvania October 1, 1779. His Company left York under General Wayne in 1781 for the Southern service. He retired from service January 1, 1783 and resided on Marsh Creek in 1791. August 18, 1781, Brigadier General Irvine represented to the Council that "a number of spirited inhabitants, west of the Susquehanna, signified their intention of equipping themselves to act as light horse and volunteers." A Company was raised, half at Hanover and the rest at Marsh Creek. The officers were William McPherson, Captain; Robert Morrison, Lieutenant ; James Gettys, Cornet. Captain Joseph McClellan's journal of date May 26, 1781, says: "Marched from York at 9 AM, under command of General Wayne, and encamped eleven miles on the road to Fredricktown (with 800 effective men). "May 27, the general b eat at daylight and the troops took up the line of march at sunrise, and halted near Peter Little's Town, it being fourteen miles;" from there they continued their march through Taneytown to the Monococy and " passed through Fredricktown about eight, where was a number of British officers, prisoners, who took a view of us as we passed through the town." The Pennsylvania Regiments in January 1781 were reduced to six, and re-enlisted. Robert McMordie (spelled in the list McMurdie), of Marsh Creek, became Brigade Chaplain July 1779. He is fully mentioned elsewhere in the church history. Sergeant John Knox was from this county in the Sixth Pennsylvania, also Corporal James Lawson of Berwick, and Felix McIlhenny, James Hamilton, taken prisoners June 8, 1776, captured at same time was Edward Hickenbottom, of Cumberland Township. The following names are found in Captain Joseph McClellan's journal as men of his Company. James Allison, Phillip Brenlls, John Davis, John Farmer, Nicholas Howe, Samuel Lecount, Valentine Miller, Daniel Netherhouse, James Sedgwick, Mathew Turney. There are other names, but they were citizens of York County. Mathew Farney (or Forney), of Marsh Creek, was in the Thirteenth Pennsylvania. Captain Moses McClean's First Lieutenant was Barnet Eichelberger, who resigned, and John Edie succeeded; John Hoge, Second Lieutenant and Robert Hopes, Ensign. Lieutenant Edie was taken prisoner June 8, 1776, and exchanged April 10, 1778. He afterward became General Edie. Ensign Hopes was rapidly promoted. He was killed at the Battle of Brandywine. Peter O'Neal enlisted from Cumberland Township. Joseph Russell entered the Army at the age of nineteen years. Joseph Wilson same age. Lieutenant Irvine received seventeen bayonet wo