Captain Peter Humrickhouse, War Office Department Pension Office, December 12, 1838.
I, Peter Humrichouse, was born in York County, State of Pennsylvania, on the 10th of October, 1753. I removed to Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pa., at the age of eighteen years. In May, 1776, I entered the Army as a volunteer in a private company under the command of Capt. Thomas Dunging. Our other officers were 1st Lieut. John Bethell, 2nd Lieut. James Hasslett, Ensign George Bringhurst. This was the first company that left that County. We marched to Philadelphia where we took water for Trenton in the State of New Jersey. From there we marched to a place called the Blazing Star, near a place called the Sound. The British at this time were on Statan Island. While here we had very many skirmishes. After remaining on the island two months, we were ordered to Perth Amboy. I there made application for an Ensign’s commission in the Flying Camp, which commission I obtained July, 1776. Our field officers were Col. John Moore, Lieut-Col. Smith and Maj. Bush. We were ordered to Newark, from there to Fort Lee opposite Fort Washington, where we remained until Fort Washington was taken by the British. We were then forced to retreat to New Ark, from there to Elizabeth Town, from there to New Brunswick, from there
to Princeton and from there to Trenton. In our retreat through those and on the road we had many skirmishes with the British and our sufferings were extreme for want of Clothing and food. At Trenton we crossed the Delaware and remained there until the 26th of December, 1776, when on that night we crossed the Delaware again and took a number of Hessian prisoners, who were in Trenton. After the fight I was appointed Officer of the Day and was sent by Gen. Washington with a flag of truce to the enemy’s lines to bury our dead; we then crossed the Delaware where we remained until our Six Months Term of service expired. We then marched to a place called New Town in Bucks County, Pa, where we delivered up our arms. I then returned home to my family in German Town, where I remained until September, 1777. In the month of September, 1777, I again entered the Army as a Captain in the second Battalion of Philadelphians. Our Field Officers were Genls. Potter and Hulgate. We laid a short time at a place called Skippack in Philadelphia County, Pa., but now Montgomery County, Pa. We left that place to meet the British at German Town. At the Battle of German Town our Brigade was placed on the right of the army, and was stationed along the Ridge Bead. After the Battle our Brigade was ordered over the Schuylkill to prevent the British from Foraging. In this Battle our men suffered extremely. After the Battle of German Town, I was appointed by Genl. Washington to take a Cargo of Powder for our troops who were stationed at York Town and Fredericksburgh, Va. Th is Powder was put in tight whiskey Barrels to prevent any suspicion should we meet any of the enemies. Our Company including Drivers, amounted to thirty-six hale, hardy, young
men on whom I had the pleasure to Command. For our Enterprise in delivering the Powder safe to our Troops on the lines we received the Thanks of the Commander In Chief, which Circular together with my three Commissions I herein enclose to the Department. This expedition took us three months to perform. We had eight four horse wagons. During the Battle of German Town our Familys suffered very much from the abuse of the British soldiers while after plunder frequently threatened with the point of the Bayonet if they refused to inform them where they could obtain plunder, and during our march through the
Jersey my men for want of Shoes could be Tracked for Miles through the snow, the blood running from their feet.
(Signed) PETER HUMRICKHOUSE, July 17th, 1832. Washington County, State of Md., ss: Th e Declaration was sworn to before us this 17th of July, 1832. (Signed) BENJAMIN YOE, JACOB SCHNEBLE, Justices of the Peace for the County Aforesaid
