considered, that the Continental Congress, by resolution of September 8, 1776, advised the Executive Council of Pennsylvania to send disaffected Quakers arrested in Philadelphia, to Staunton for safe-keeping. A number of Quakers, a druggist, and a dancing-master were soon afterwards brought to Winchester and detained there eight or nine months; but we have no account of any persons of the same class having been in Staunton. Several hundred Hessians, captured at Trenton, were, however, detained here for a considerable time, and there is a tradition that some of these were employed by Peter Hanger to build the older part of the dwelling still standing on Spring Farm, adjacent to the city water-works.[1]
How invaluable would be a diary written, even crudely, by a resident of the county during the war, telling about the raising of troops, the departure of individuals and companies for the army, the rumors which agitated the community, and the simple events of common life! But nothing of the kind exists. We have, however, some extracts from the diary of a young Presbyterian minister who made two visits to the county in 1775. There is not much in them, and no reference whatever to pubHc events; but the mere mention of a few people living in the county at that time is somewhat interesting. The minister referred to was the Rev. John McMillan, of Western Pennsylvania, afterwards the Rev. Dr. McMillan, the founder of Jefferson College; and a portion of his diary is found in a book called "Old Redstone" (Presbytery), by the Rev. Dr. Joseph Smith.
Young McMillan came from Pennsylvania, on his second visit, in November, 1775. He says:
"Monday.—Passed through Stephensburgh, Stoverstown, and Millerstown—crossed Shenandoah, and after travelling fortyeight miles, we came to a Dutchman's, where we tarried all night.
"Tuesday.—We rode this day thirty-five miles—crossed the North river, and lodged at Widow Watson's.
- ↑ The Hessian fly, from which the farmers of the country suffered so severely for many years, is commonly believed to have been imported by the Hessian troops in their straw bedding, and hence the name. It appeared on Long Island during the Revolutionary war, and quite numerously in Virginia in 1796. It was, however, prevalent in the American Colonies long prior to the period of the Revolution.
