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AN INCIDENT
— IN THE —
History of the Germans in Maryland.
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AN INCIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE
GERMANS IN MARYLAND.
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Translated from "Der Deutsche Pioneer,'' vol. IX, (1877) p. 157.
by Jno. G. Morris.
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N the year 1775 an Englishman named J. F. D. Smyth,
Esq., travelled through this country and in 1784 pub-
lished his tour in London under the title: "A Tour
through the United States of America." His experience in ou
neighboring city of Fredericktown was somewhat singular and
this topical fact renders it interesting to us as a society, be-
cause it falls directly in the line of our researches. We owe
to the unamiable humor of this Englishman a genre picture,
though somewhat in the style of a caricature, of the political
relation of the Germans in that place in those days.
This man Smyth, a surgeon, travelled through this coun-
try when the colonists had lost their patience with the mother
country and the uprising against England broke out. Smyth
was also excited, but only at the unspeakable presumption
and stupid unreasonableness of the subjects of his majesty,
George III. Hence it was no wonder, that collisions and
conflicts ensued and that Smyth was by many regarded as a
spy. His conduct made him a martyr to his loyal opinions,
— he was in consequence rather roughly treated by the Ger-
mans, on whom he vents his pardonable indignation.
In 1775 he came to Fredericktown where the armed col-
onists were undergoing a review. It appears that he was
known, and he was ordered to appear next morning before a
revolutionary committee. The English tourist did not feel
himself secure, — he did not comply with the order, but
suddenly and secretly left the town. He went as far as
Hagerstown, but everywhere he found Germans, whose appear-
ance was by no means agreeable to him. While he was spend-
ing the night, six miles from Hagerstown, he was overtaken
36
and captured by a guard sent after him,—Nov. 19th, 1775.
He calls them ''unfeeling German scoundrels, upon whose
brows are written assassination, murder and death." He was
taken back to Hagerstown, where he was visited by many per-
sons and then he was led back to Fredericktown with drum
and fife, playing the rogues' march. Here he was treated
barbarously, as he says: "They dragged me before a committee,
which consisted of a tailor, a leather breeches maker, a shoe-
maker, a gingerbread baker, a butcher and two tavernkeepers.
The majority were Germans and I was subjected to a very re-
markable hearing, as follows: —
One said, "You infernal rascal, how darsht you make an
exshkape from this honorable committee?" "Fer fluchter
Dyvel," cried another, "how can you shtand so shtyff for king
Shorsh akainst dis koontry?" "Sacrament," yelled another,
"dis committee will make Shorsh know, how to behave him-
self," and the butcher exclaimed, "I would kill all the English
tieves as soon as ich would kill an ox or a cow."
And here as far as the Germans of Fredericktown are con-
cerned, the curtain falls. But what we here see, is but a small
part of the history of those times. Many of the Germans
joined the party of the revolutionists and would not allow
themselves to be trifled with. Smyth's book removes all doubt
on that subject, and he takes occasion to ventilate his indig-
nation against it. Let him have this satisfaction. These plain
mechanics were an abomination to him and he-took a sort of
malicious delight in saying, "that he did not need neither
coat nor breeches, that he hated gingerbread, and could not
bear butchers and tavern keepers."
He was kept under arrest seven weeks and was to be
transported to Philadelphia. He escaped at night and endured
much, suffering and privation, — he crossed the Alleghanies,
but was re-captured in January 1776. The Committee of Safety
in Philadelphia kept him in security for a year, finally he was
released and restored to his friends.
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