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Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
During a militia march to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion, a man in Myer's Town was stabbed and killed by a soldier after resisting arrest for seditious cheers. Suspected informant captured and marched with troops; later identified as John Cresquell and jailed upon arrival in Carlisle on October 4, 1794.
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Extract of a letter from a respectable volunteer, in the Perry Militia, to his friend in Trenton.
"We arrived at this place after a fatiguing march of 18 miles; and, generally speaking, I cannot but say, we have experienced a friendly disposition from the inhabitants of most of the towns on our march; though some places through which we have passed, appeared to be more hostile to the present expedition than others. One man at a little Dutch village, called Myer's Town, between Lebanon and Reading, behaved so imprudently, in a tavern where some of our officers had stopped, as to huzza for the Whiskey Boys, and uttered many other indecent and seditious expressions. Our officers desired him to go about his business; but he still persisted, till he was ordered to be taken under guard—he swore that he would not leave the room till he had drunk his liquor; the guard insisted; and one of them seized him and attempted to bring him forward, but the fellow instantly caught hold of the soldier's bayonet and used every effort to wrest it from him. A contest ensued, in which the soldier stabbed him in such a manner that he expired in the course of half an hour. This circumstance, as you may readily suppose, soon created the greatest consternation in the town; a villain immediately dispatched a message into the country, with what view we did not know, but apprehending that his intention was to give information to others of the same sentiment, and that an attack might possibly ensue, the Colonel determined to secure him, and for that purpose had him instantly put under guard, and we marched him on with us. A flanking party of 16 men was forthwith ordered out, and we (being without ammunition) were directed to be prepared for an instantaneous charge in case of an attack: The inhabitants were extremely anxious, that the soldier should be delivered up to the civil authority: and even sent on constables to Harrisburg for that purpose; but, I believe (under the circumstances of the case) our regiment would have died to a man rather than that should have taken place.
The person who was brought to town yesterday from Carlisle, and committed to jail, is named John Cresquell."
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What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Myer's Town, Between Lebanon And Reading
Event Date
Before October 4
Key Persons
Outcome
one man stabbed by soldier and died within half an hour; john cresquell committed to jail.
Event Details
Militia from Perry encountered hostility at Myer's Town; man cheered Whiskey Boys and made seditious remarks in tavern, resisted guard, leading to fatal stabbing by soldier. Suspected informant John Cresquell captured and marched to Carlisle, later jailed.