George Washington Papers
Documents filtered by: Project="Washington Papers"
sorted by: editorial placement
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-06-02-0003-0003-0003

[Diary entry: 3 October 1794]

3d. Breakfasted at Humels T. 14 M. and dined and lodged at Harrisburgh on the Banks of the Susquehanna 23 miles from Lebanon.

At Harrisburgh we found the first Regiment of New Jersey (about 560 strong) commd. by Colo. Turner drawn out to receive me. Passed along the line, to my Quarters—and after dinner walked through and round the Town which is considerable for its age (of about 8 or 9 years). The Susquehanna at this place abounds in the Rockfish of 12 or 15 Inches in length & a fish which they call Salmon.

Hummelstown, Dauphin County, ten miles east of Harrisburg, had around 90 buildings and a German Lutheran church (SCOTT [2] description begins Joseph Scott. The United States Gazetteer: Containing an Authentic description of the Several States, Their Situation, Extent, Boundaries, Soil, Produce, Climate, Population, Trade and Manufactures. Together with the Extent, Boundaries and Population of their Respective Counties . . .. Philadelphia, 1795. description ends ).

Harrisburg at this time “is regularly laid out, and contains upwards of 300 houses; several of these are neat, commodious dwellings; some of brick, and others of stone; a handsome brick court houses, a stone jail, & a German church” (SCOTT [2] description begins Joseph Scott. The United States Gazetteer: Containing an Authentic description of the Several States, Their Situation, Extent, Boundaries, Soil, Produce, Climate, Population, Trade and Manufactures. Together with the Extent, Boundaries and Population of their Respective Counties . . .. Philadelphia, 1795. description ends ).

turner: The 1st New Jersey Regiment was under the command of Lt. Col. Francis Davenport (GOULD description begins “Journal by Major William Gould, of the New Jersey Infantry, During an Expedition into Pennsylvania in 1794.” Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society 3 (1848–49): 173–91. description ends , 181). Apparently no Colonel Turner accompanied the New Jersey troops. GW may have meant to write “Forman.” Lt. Col. Jonathan Forman was in command of the 3d New Jersey Regiment, infantry, and New Jersey militia (CLUNN description begins Nicholas Wainwright. “March on Pittsburgh, 1794.” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 71 (1947): 44–67. description ends , 58, n.80). Captain Gould notes this day that he, Colonel Forman, and another militia officer “accepted an invitation from the President to take a glass of wine with him (GOULD description begins “Journal by Major William Gould, of the New Jersey Infantry, During an Expedition into Pennsylvania in 1794.” Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society 3 (1848–49): 173–91. description ends , 178).

After his arrival in Harrisburg, a group of the town’s citizens presented GW with an address supporting the government. GW replied before his departure early on 4 Oct. (DLC:GW; Gaz. of the U.S., 16 Oct. 1794).

Index Entries