| Citation |
PEP.775.034
1 Jun 1775:2241 (1/56)
[Report of formation of local militia units]
The aged, as well as the young, daily march out under the
banners of liberty, and discover a determined resolution to
maintain her cause even until death.-- In the town of
Reading, in Berks county, there had been some time past
three companies formed and very forward in their exercise;
since, however, we are well informed a fourth company have
associated under the name of the Old Man's Company. It
consists of about eighty Germans of the age of forty and
upwards-- Many of them have been in the military service in
Germany. The person who, at their first assembling, led
them to the field is ninety-seven years of age, has been
forty years in the regular service, and in seventeen pitched
battles; and the drummer is eighty-four. In lieu of a
cockade they wear in their hats a black crape, as expressive
of their sorrow for the mournful events which have
occasioned them, at their late time of life, to take arms
against their brethren, . . .
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