U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Morgan, Daniel (1737-1802) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Aler's History of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia by F. Vernon Aler, 1888 Printed for the Author by The Mail Publishing Company, Hagerstown, MD. CHAPTER VIII. Historical Pen Sketches of the Early Residents of Berkeley County by the late Hon. Chas. James Faulkner. Pages 180-183, GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN Represented this county and district in the 5th Congress of the United States — that is from 1797 to 1799. The military history of - this distinguished soldier, has been so frequently written and is so familiar to the public mind, that it need only here be briefly glanced at. He is mentioned in these sketches only because of his connection with the County of Berkeley. He was born in New Jersey in the year 1737. At the age of eighteen, he emigrated to Virginia and obtained employment from farmer Roberts, of Berkeley County. He delighted in the management and use of his team, and acquired throughout life, the subriquet of the "old wagoner." He shared in the perils of Braddock's defeat, probably as a wagoner, and was wounded by a bullet through his neck and cheek. The profit of his business as a wagoner enabled him to purchase a tract of land in Frederick County, where he lived at the commencement of the Revolutionary War. In June, 1775, he was appointed a captain by Congress. He was in the expedition against Quebec, and contributed to the capture of Burgoyne. He defeated Tarlton in January, 1781, in the battle of Cowpens, taking upwards of 500 prisoners. For this action Congress voted him a gold medal. Soon afterwards he retired from the army and returned to his farm. The excise, or as it is most usually called "The whiskey Insurrection," is an interesting episode in our early history. It was the first open, defiant and formidable opposition of the Federal government, after the adoption of our present constitution. It grew out of an act of Congress imposing an internal revenue duty on distilled spirits. Much dissatisfaction existed throughout the United States at the imposition of this excise duty. But it was in WesternPennsylvania, and especially in the four counties of Alleghany, Washington, Green and Westmoreland, that this dissatisfaction broke out in open rebellion. The revenue officers were seized, tarred and feathered. The houses and barns of those supposed to be friendly to the Government were burnt. Many acts of extreme violence were perpetrated. No civil process could be executed. Lawlessness universally prevailed. Armed bands of forty and fifty, and even as high as five hundred, were organized to resist the government. It was boldly asserted that the insurgents could bring into the field seven thousand well armed troops. It could not be supposed that such men as President Washington and Secretary Hamilton would tamely submit to see the new Government thus paralyzed and defied in the performance of one of its most important and vital functions. A proclamation was issued by President Washington, calling upon the insurgents to disperse. This not being obeyed, a requisition was made upon the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia for 15,000 troops to crush the insurrection. The requisition was promptly complied with. General Henry Lee, of Virginia, was placed in command of the army. Gen. Morgan was assigned to the command of the Virginia troops. Hamilton left the Treasury Department and remained during the expedition at the headquarters of the commanding general. Washington proceeded toward the scene of strife as far as York, and designed taking command in person, but public business (Congress then being in session) called him to Philadelphia. The appearance of this formidable army in the disaffected district under such able, popular and experienced commanders soon brought the insurgents to their senses. They rapidly disbanded and dispersed. Some of the leaders were indicted for treason, but no convictions followed, and Gen. Morgan, with a body of Virginia militia, was left for some time in the disaffected district to see that no further violence was attempted. In 1797 Gen. Morgan was elected from the district composed of the counties of Berkeley and Frederick, as a member of the 5th Congress. His opponent was Robt. Rutherford, whom he defeated. The election was con- tested before the House, but the committee reported in favor of Morgan, and as Rutherford did not appear to contest the conclusions of the report, it was unanimously concurred in by the House. General Morgan submitted no motion and made no speech during his term of service. He was a rough, uneducated man, and while he felt perfectly at home on the field of battle, he, with sensible modesty, knew his deficiencies in civil life, and felt like a child in the presence of the enlightened statesmen then around him. But if he did not know how to speak, he knew how to vote with his party, and if the records of Congress be searched there will be found no name that adhered so loyally to its allegiance to the Federal organization as Daniel Morgan. He had able and accomplished leaders in the per- sons of Harrison, Gray, Otis and Robert Goodloe Harper, to point out to him the path of party duty, and he followed them with the same unfaltering fidelity with which he had followed Washington in the field of battle. He voted for the bill to punish, "usurpation of Executive authority," and against the repeal of the alien and sedition laws, and at the close of his term published an address to his constituents vindicating the administration of the elder Adams. No one doubts that he was an honest and conscientious politician, however much they may differ in opinion from him. When, in view of a war with France, a provisional army was organized in 1798, President Adams favored the appointment of General Morgan to its command, subject, of course, to the supreme command conferred upon Washington. But General Washington insisted upon that position being given to Hamilton, which was acceded to with a bad grace by Adams, as he hated Hamilton most cordially. Morgan died in Winchester on the 6th of July, 1802, aged 65 years. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Berkeley County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/berkeley/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------