anarchy, would have followed the establishing of a rival constitutional convention. Both parties saw the danger, and bitter as was the feeling between them, there was wisdom enough left to shun such a dreadful situation. "Under the influence of these apprehensions the different parties alternately withdrew from the House to frustrate the designs of each other, till the members, heartily tired and wearied with mutual disappointment, agreed to break up the House and go home." They adjourned, therefore, on the 14th of June, with only thirty-six members present, to meet on the 26th of August; and at that time, lacking a quorum, they adjourned until the 23d of September. They interposed a feeble protest against the invasion of the Assembly's authority. After voting £1,000 to John Penn for his salary, and other sums to the old provincial officers, amounting in the aggregate to £11,000, the Assembly adjourned forever.

At the time specified in the constitution, elections for members of the Assembly and Supreme Executive Council were held. The anti-constitutional party determined, in a spirit as revolutionary as that of which they complained, to disregard or evade its requirements. The election was fixed for November, 1776. Their plan was to call a convention for the purpose of remodeling the constitution and to elect members of the Assembly, but no councillors, and thus, if possible, to defeat the constitutional government. Instead of voting for a member of the council, they voted on the abstract question whether there should be councillors or not. The electors omitted to take the oath prescribed by the con

1 Penn. Gazette, June 26, 1776.

stitution. The city anti-constitutional ticket for the Assembly prevailed, and it was decided by a vote of two to one not to elect councillors. The same course was taken with a similar result in the county of Philadelphia; in the other counties councillors, as well as assemblymen, were duly elected as the constitution prescribed. During the excitement of the election the British invaded New Jersey and drew near to the Delaware. Party differences were forgotten in the presence of the common danger.

The new Assembly met and organized on the 28th of November. It continued its sessions until the middle of December, when they were dispersed by the impending danger and excitement, and did not unite until the 14th of the following January. From this time it continued to act with regularity and apparent deliberation. As several of the opponents of the constitution refused to take their seats, the vacancies were filled by a new election, held under the authority of the Assembly itself. The failure to elect representative councillors from Philadelphia was remedied on the following January by the election of Thomas Wharton, an active and patriotic Whig and Constitutionalist. On the 4th of March the Executive Council was organized by the election of Mr. Wharton as President, and George Bryan as Vice-President, and thus at last the new government became complete.

CHAPTER IX.

MILITARY MOVEMENTS. 1776-1783.

SECTION I.

Preparations for War.

INDEPENDENCE had been declared by speech and pen, but its realization was to come only through war, whose length and cost could not even be foretold by the wisest prophet. Many believed that the conflict would be brief; the hopeful revolutionist confidently predicting that Great Britain would speedily bow before strongly organized resistance, while the loyalist as confidently predicted a speedy collapse of America's new hopes and unlawful exhibitions of power. Lexington and Concord were followed by Bunker Hill, which mightily aroused the warlike spirit in every colony.

During these exciting months, Pennsylvania had been preparing for war, but not for rebellion. The hope was still cherished that the British ministry, comprehending more fully the determination of the colonies to resist, would give way. For this reason all parties were united in making effective war preparations. The loyalist joined hands with the revolutionist, believing that by a vigorous demonstration of war power, war itself would be averted.

The Continental Congress had recommended the formation of a state militia; with this request Pennsylvania had complied. Fifty-three battalions or regi

ments and a flying camp had been organized under the direction of the committee and council of safety and the provincial conference. Into some of the companies had been drawn the elite of the young men of the city and county of Philadelphia. Notwithstanding their principles, not even all the Friends, especially the young men, could keep aloof. A company of light infantry was formed, called the Quaker Blues, organized in competition with the Greens, or as they were sneeringly styled, the silk-stocking company, commanded by Captain John Cadwalader. Their life and duties are vividly described by Graydon, one of the tony fellows of the time. He belonged to the Greens, seventy in number. At first, they drilled morning and evening; later, when more proficient, only in the afternoon. The place of rendezvous was the house of their captain, whose demijohns of madeira were set out in the yard for the refreshment of the young weary patriots before beginning their exercise.1

A battalion consisted of eight companies. In organizing, the committee of safety followed the regulations adopted by the Continental Congress. Regular companies consisted of one captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, four sergeants, four corporals, one clerk, one drummer, one fifer, and sixty-eight privates, eighty

1 The associators, when living in their barracks in the Northern Liberties, were under regulations. These required the reveille to be beaten at daylight, troop at 8 a. m., long roll at 9, retreat at 8 p. m., tattoo at 9 p. m. Each officer's room was furnished with a pine table, two chairs, a bucket, pot hooks, crane and iron shovel, tongs, ash-box and bedding. Each room for non-commissioned officers and privates had a pine bedstead with wooden bottom for two men, a canvas bed filled with straw, bolster case, pine table, two benches and a rack for fire logs.

three rank and file. Each soldier was furnished with a musket carrying an ounce ball, bayonet, steel ramrod, priming rod, a cutting sword or tomahawk, a cartridge box for twenty-three cartridges, twelve flints, a knapsack, a pound of powder and four pounds of balls. The officers of each company were selected by the members, but the field officers of a battalion were chosen either by the county committees and officers of the companies, or by the Assembly or committee of safety.

Some of the militia or associators were organized as minute men. Congress recommended that one-fourth of the military should organize in this manner, and be ready at the shortest notice to march anywhere their assistance might be required. As they might be called out first, Congress recommended that especial attention be paid to their military instruction. Some of the counties complied with the recommendation, organizing battalions and electing officers in the same manner as in other cases.'

The number of men enrolled in these battalions is not known. If complete, the entire militia force numbered 36,252. It is not improbable that this number associated. In York County they numbered 3,349 and were organized into five battalions. In Bucks County 1,688 associated and 1,613 refused to comply with the requirement. In Lancaster County "within a week the greater part of the able-bodied men of military age in the entire county" associated. A person in Cumberland County who wrote to another on the 6th of May,

'Five battalions were formed in the city of Philadelphia, six in the county, four in Bucks, five in Chester, eight in Lancaster, five in York, four in Cumberland, five in Berks, four in Northampton, two in Bedford, three in Northumberland and two in Westmoreland.