Conclusion Of The Revolutionary War

sulted in casting on his reputation and character, which seemed to have had only remarkable physical bravery as a redeeming trait, the suspicion that murder, as well as treason, was among the crimes of which be had been guilty. The circumstances are briefly these: Jesse Jordan, a deputy wagon-master of Chester County, on Sept. 27, 1778, with a brigade of twelve wagons in his care, was ordered by Col. Andrew Boyd, the wagon-master of the county, to Philadelphia, there to load with provisions, and thence to New Windsor. Jordan was absent much longer than was expected. On his return Col. Boyd demanded the reason, and was told that when he reached Philadelphia, Deputy Quartermaster-General John Mitchell had ordered him, with his train of empty wagons, to Egg Harbor, N. J., then a harbor for American privateers, where he was instructed to load with merchandise belonging to private persons. This he did, and when he returned to the city the goods were delivered to stores kept by private individuals. Col. Boyd immediately laid the matter before Council, and on Jan. 18, 1779, that body demanded an explanation of this transaction from Gen. Mitchell. On the 23d the latter replied that he had sent the wagons to New Jersey by order of Gen. Arnold, whereupon Council requested the general to inform them whether the goods transported were public or private; if the latter, to whom they belong; also desiring Arnold to refer them to the authority by which "public wagons of Pennsylvania were sent into another State to do business merely of a private nature." On January 30th, Jesse Jordan was fully examined respecting the circumstances of this trip. While the matter was pending Arnold left the city, and Jordan and his teamsters being then "in great necessity," the Council considered that "the board ou't to relieve them, so far as to advance £450 until they can procure further redress." On the 25th of February, Deputy Quartermaster-General Mitchell appeared before Council, acknowledged that the blot in his memorandum book under date of Oct. 30, 1778, was done by his orders to conceal an entry of his clerk "of the return of Mr. Jordan's Brigade of waggons from Egg Harbor, & that the obliteration was made after the charge against Gen. Arnold for haying used the public waggons for his private business had come to his (Mitchell's) knowledge." He subsequently, on March 1, 1779, in a lengthy letter to President Reed, gave a circumstantial account of the matter, and on March 27th, Timothy Matlack, the secretary of Council, wrote to Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, stating that Council had advanced Jordan four hundred and fifty pounds, to be repaid when he should recover compensation for the use of the wagons from Gen. Arnold, and the body was anxious to learn whether legal proceedings had been instituted. Ther appears no reference to the subject until October 10th, when Mr. Sergeant informed Council that he had instituted suit for Jesse Jordan against Gen. Arnold, but the action had at that time abated by the plaintiff's death, for "Jesse Jordan has been lately murdered in Chester County." That Arnold personally did that deed no one believed, but there was a general impression that of all men he had the greatest interest in the wagon-master's death, and after the former's treason many there were who thought that perhaps he knew more of the particulars of Jesse Jordan's "taking off" than be cared to tell.

The privateer brig "Holker," named in honor of the French consul at Philadelphia, was owned by Robert Morris, and it is related that on one occasion the vessel, in lead ballast, reached the city very opportunely, for, at the time, the American troops were entirely out of bullets. Her owner immediately turned her cargo over to the authorities for the use of the army. On July 20, 1779, the "Holker" was lying at Chester, where a crew was being recruited for the privateer, and Maj. George Harvy was instructed by Council to allow the then owner of the vessel, Mr. McClanachan, to have ten tons of disabled cannons for ballast. The price was not exactly stipulated, but the major, as some guide for him in adjusting that matter, was informed that wben these disabled cannon were delivered at Chester the ironmaster would give one ton of bar iron in exchange for four tons of the old metal. The brig, as before stated, was then lying at Chester, commanded by Capt. Matthew Lawler, and at that place, from July 17th to August 2d, a crew was recruited for the vessel by Davis Bevan, captain of marines, who had before been mustering officer for the county of Chester. The following list gives the names of the crew, as well as the sums paid each man at the time of enlisting;¹