Whiskey Rebellion vs. Bedford County

Every student of American History, past and present has read and studied the various phases of the Whiskey Rebellion which occurred in the south western part of Pennsylvania.

However, getting down to fine points very few realize that Bedford County played an important part which historians either overlooked or felt was not important enough to mention.

Historians do not indicate whether there were or were not distillers here who were affected by the tax. Yet there were many residents of the county who were quite opposed to this tax and on one occassion a number of local residents were arrested for their opposition.

Alexander Hamilton was President Washington's Secretary of the Treasury. To raise money to pay off the National debt incurred by the Revolutionary War, he levied a tax of four pence per gallon of distilled spirits produced by all persons who made and sold this product.

Records in the local Court House show that in 1794 a large number of local citizens were arrested. One of the crimes they committed was the raising of a flag near the 'forks of the road' west of Bedford. It was inscribed "Liberty and No Excise". For this deed they were brought into the January court of 1795 which was presided over by a judge and two associates. The records show these men pleaded guilty. Their sentences ranged from fines of five shillings to fifteen pounds. The father of several of these guilty persons was a horse master in General Lee's expedition. This father was also one of the largest landowners in Bedford Township.

The persons most affected were the Scotch-Irish settlers in the south-western section of the state. They were far from being classed as 'law-breakers'. In fact many of these same men served with General Washington in the First Regiment of foot of the Continental Army. They were god-fearing people who were trying to make a living for their families by a trade they and their ancestors had followed for centuries. The levying of taxes by the English laws was the principal reason for their coming to America. Their inherited hatred of levying taxes was carried here in the 1700's.

The grain, rye and corn, could only be transported in small quantities on horseback to a slow market. However, when converted into whiskey, they had a ready market for this product, not only to the eastern but in western areas of the country. Much of it was even carried down the Ohio River by barges. This ready sale provided money in their pockets for clothing, materials for farming, sugar as well as lead and gunpowder.

Now that Alexander Hamilton imposed this tax, the settlers rebelled. The Government sent out tax collectors to collect these taxes from every family who made whiskey. These collectors were beaten, tarred and feathered and their homes were even burned. To show that the Government intended to enforce this law, President Washington commanded General Henry Lee to carry out this order.

Bedford and Bedford County became an important center of activity. Bedford was the central Headquarters. There exists recorded correspondence dated October 19, 1794 which verifies that over six-thousand soldiers were encamped here, preparing to proceed to the disturbed areas. President Washington arrived here in the evening of October 19, 1794 from Fort Cumberland to review the troops, make final arrangements and to make a speech. He was met here by the Governors of Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The army under General Lee departed from Bedford October 21. It is interesting to note that orders were given that men on horseback were detailed to bring up the rear to arrest stragglers and to try and protect families along the roadway from damages of these men. Any damages committed were to be paid for by the officers of every rank.

After the army reached its destination, and the settlers finally agreed to abide by the new laws and after a number of the residents were arrested, the army had to return home. Historical records do not show whether they came back to Bedford, but we are certain that troops from the eastern part of the state passed through here and the troops of Maryland and Virginia went by way of Fort Cumberland.

From accounts I have read, it appears that the soldiers apparently helped the settlers dispose of their distilled spirits. I have in my possession a report, written by one of the residents who lived along the road on which the 'Whiskey Boys,' as the soldiers were called, passed. He states that most of the soldiers 'were beastly drunk and very few half-sober. They were all encrusted with mud'. Any army officer riding ahead of these drunken soldiers had warned the residents to lock up everything so that it could not be stolen.

When one large delegation of men arrived at this home, in order to be on the good side of the men, they were invited to gather in the yard and on the front porch and the musicians, who were sober enough, played. The owner recorded that the concert was so loud that all the rats about the buildings were so scared that they vacated the premises for more than a year.

He also reported the soldiers had several prisoners who were more respectable than captors. Even when most possessions were under lock and key, the soldiers managed to take quite a few objects. When the owner objected, several soldiers threatened to send him to the Devil.

Shortly after the soldiers left, three appraisers stopped to assess the damages of the 'whiskey boys'. The owner was later paid for his losses by the Army Commissary.

We must assume that if this happened at one home, it certainly must have taken place at nearly every residence along the route. We have never seen an account of these acts previously recorded in the history of Bedford County.