President Arthur St. Clair

President Arthur St. Clair

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Ninth President of the United States

in Congress Assembled

February 2, 1787 to January 21, 1787

Students and Teachers of US History this is a video of Stanley and Christopher Klos presenting America's Four United Republics Curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. The December 2015 video was an impromptu capture by a member of the audience of Penn students, professors and guests that numbered about 200.

Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789

Samuel Huntington	March 1, 1781	July 6, 1781
Samuel Johnston	July 10, 1781	Declined Office
Thomas McKean	July 10, 1781	November 4, 1781
John Hanson	November 5, 1781	November 3, 1782
Elias Boudinot	November 4, 1782	November 2, 1783
Thomas Mifflin	November 3, 1783	June 3, 1784
Richard Henry Lee	November 30, 1784	November 22, 1785
John Hancock	November 23, 1785	June 5, 1786
Nathaniel Gorham	June 6, 1786	February 1, 1787
Arthur St. Clair	February 2, 1787	January 21, 1788
Cyrus Griffin	January 22, 1788	January 21, 1789

Arthur St. Clair of Pennsylvania was elected President of the United States, in Congress Assembled on February 2, 1787 and served until October 29, 1787, with his term officially ending on January 21, 1788, with the election of Cyrus Griffin.  He was baptized Arthur Sinclar in Longformacus, Scotland on January 3, 1733 O.S. (Old Style) and died Arthur St. Clair in Greensburg, Pennsylvania on August 31, 1818.  

More than any other U.S. President, St. Clair's life was marked by noble and jarring contrasts. With Washington, he crossed the Delaware to take Trenton and counseled the Commander-in-Chief to advance on Princeton, but later lost Fort Ticonderoga to British General John Burgoyne. He presided as president of the United States in Congress Assembled that called the 1787 Constitutional Convention and enacted the Northwest Ordinance only to be ousted by President Jefferson as governor of the Northwest Territory for opposing Ohio Statehood. Arthur St. Clair also has the unusual distinction of being the only foreign born Continental Congress, USCA or U.S. President of the United States.  

There is much debate over President St. Clair's lineage, his last name at birth and even his year and place of birth. William Henry Smith in his two volume work, The St. Clair Papers,  gives his birth year as 1734 under the name St. Clair with no date.  The Clan Sinclair. however, maintains that St. Clair's actual birth name in Scotland was Sinclair. There is no record of any "Arthur St. Clair" being born or baptized in the 1720's or 1730's  in Thurso or Scotland in total. There is, however, a Thurso record of an Arthur  being born to William Sinclair, a merchant, on March 23, 1736 O.S. (Old Style), which translates to April 3, 1734 under the current Gregorian calendar, known as New Style or N.S.  Despite this, like biographer Smith, the Library of Congress in their Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress disregards the Scottish National Records 1736 birth year record and maintains that Arthur St. Clair was born "March 23, 1734 O.S.." 

 A copy of the 1726 parish register of births for Thurso, which states on the very last entry: "March 24th William Sinclair Merht in Town had his son Arthur (who was born about five o'clock in the afternoon the proceeding day) baptized by the Revd Nr. William ..."  Image courtesy of Alan R. McIvor  

In June of 2022, we travelled to Great Britain to further research Arthur St. Clair's lineage and Cyrus Griffin's courtship of Lady Christina of Traquair.  We visited historic sites, libraries and museums in Thurso, Thurdistoft, Edinburgh, Traquair, Longformacus and London.  The records retrieved from the University of Edinburgh Library and the National Scottish Records  proved to be most helpful in unraveling Arthur St. Clair's birthplace, year  and family lineage. 

Arthur St. Clair was born Arthur Sinclair to Daniel Sinclair and Elizabeth Hamilton Sinclair  sometime before his baptism on January 3, 1733 (O.S.) or January 14, 1733 (N.S.) in  Longformacus, Scotland.   His father, originally from Thurso, had been ordained Minister into the Parish of Longformacus on 5th of May 1715 (O.S.).  On January 17, 1729 (O.S.) Daniel Sinclair married Elizabeth Hamilton , daughter of Robert Hamilton of Airdrie and their first child, James was baptized on  March 6, 1730 (O.S) or March 17, 1730 (N.S.).     

In November of 1734, Daniel Sinclair died quite unexpectedly in Longformacus leaving his widow, sons  James, aged 4 and Arthur, aged 22 months, a rather sizable estate.  The marriage contract executed on May 2, 1729, between Daniel Sinclair and Elizabeth Hamilton set out, in the event of  the husband's death, estate provisions for Sinclair's widow and children.

Daniel Sinclair's holdings included a heritable bond on the lands of the Sinclair Family estate in Thurdistoft, Thurso, Scotland located  305 miles north of Longformacus. Since James, the oldest son, was four at the time of his father's death, the disposition of Elizabeth Hamilton Sinclair and her sons' Thurdistoft inheritance was administered by William Sinclair, Daniel's brother who resided at the Thurdistoft Family estate in Thurso. William Sinclair, uncle to Arthur St. Clair, was also the father of the Arthur Sinclair, noted earlier, born on March 23, 1736 O. S.,  in Thurso, hence the confusion over the President's father, place and year of birth.  

The  Scottish National Records provides proof of the President's ancestry with numerous primary sources indicating that Daniel Sinclair was the father of President Arthur St. Clair. Included in the primary sources are two letters, dated March 20, 1757, and May 26, 1758, sent by Ensign Arthur St. Clair while serving in North America regarding "credit owed to him by James Balfour of Pilrig," the renowned Scottish lawyer and philosopher.  The association  between these two historic figures stems from James Balfour's wife, Louisa Hamilton being the sister or cousin of Elizabeth Hamilton Sinclair, Arthur St. Clair's mother, according to the Balfours of Pilrig, A History for the Family book, page 261.

We are still reviewing and researching numerous documents pertaining to the Daniel Sinclair and Elizabeth Hamilton Families.  We are, however,  quite sure that Arthur St. Clair was the son of Longformacus Minister Daniel Sinclair and Elizabeth Hamilton and not Merchant William Sinclair of Thurso.  The following Sinclair and Hamilton documents that are housed at the Scottish National Records, 2 Princess Street, Edinburgh, UK,  supports this conclusion: 

1. GD69/106 Bond by Arthur Taylor of Thurdistoft to Mr. Daniel Sinclair, minister of Longformacus, his nephew. 9/10/1727
2. GD69/163 Contract of Marriage between Mr. Daniel Sinclair, minister at Longformacus, and Elizabeth Hamilton, daughter of deceased Robert Hamilton of Airdrie.    5/2/1729
3. GD69/165 Two letters from Arthur Taylor at Thurso to his nephew, Mr. Daniel Sinclair, minister at Longformacus, concerning the effects of the latter's deceased mother. 1734
4. GD69/166 Testament Dative of Mr. Daniel Sinclair, minister of Longformacus. Eik to the above dated 20 Apr. 1742. Recorded Lauder Commissariot. 1/1/1735
5. GD69/167 Two notes (on one sheet) concerning the papers of the late Mr. Daniel Sinclair, minister at Longformacus. 1738
6. GD69/108   Draft Disposition and Translation by William Sinclair, merchant in Thurso, to James and Arthur Sinclair, children, and Elizabeth Hamilton, relict of Rev. Daniel Sinclair, of a Heritable Bond on the lands of Thurdestoft [Thurdistoft] (contained in GD69/107) in security for GD69/106. 1742
7. GD69/111 Memorial concerning GD69/106 on behalf of Elizabeth Hamilton, relict of Rev. Daniel Sinclair. 1745
8. GD69/112 Assignation by James Sinclair, eldest son of deceased Rev. Daniel Sinclair, to Elizabeth Hamilton, his mother, of his rights in GD69/106. 6/5/1745
9. GD69/115 Draft Disposition and Translation by William Sinclair, merchant in Thurso, to Elizabeth Hamilton, relict of Rev. Daniel Sinclair, of a Heritable bond on the lands of Thurdestoft [Thurdistoft] (contained in GD69/107) in fulfilment of GD69/106. [See GD69/117]. 29/5/1745
10. GD69/113 Summons against William Sinclair, merchant in Thurso, nephew of Arthur Taylor, at the instance of Elizabeth Hamilton, relict of Rev. Daniel Sinclair, for fulfilment of GD69/106. 7/5/1745
11. GD69/114 Extract Agreement between Elizabeth Hamilton, relict of Rev. Daniel Sinclair, and William Sinclair, merchant in Thurso, for the fulfilment of GD69/106. Registered in B. of C. and S., 9 Apr. 1759. 29/5/1745
12. GD69/118 Letters of Horning and Poinding against William Sinclair, merchant in Thurso, at instance of Elizabeth Hamilton, relict of Rev. Daniel Sinclair, for fulfilment of GD69/114. 9/4/1759
13. GD69/171 Letter from Mrs. Elizabeth Sinclair, dated Aug. 1757 and two letters from Arthur St. Clair (on service in North America) dated 20 Mar. 1757 and 26 May 1758 concerning credit given to him by James Balfour of Pilrig. 1757-1758
14. GD69/172 Four Receipts for funeral expenses of Mrs. Elizabeth Sinclair. 7/2/1766  

Bishop David de Bernham dedicated the Longformacus church on March 11, 1243. The church was "extremely dilapidated" and the choir was in ruins by 1667. Under the leadership of Minister Daniel Sinclair, the church was reconstructed on its original foundations in 1730. On January 3, 1733 (O.S.),  Arthur was baptized at Longformacus Church, most likely by his father, who was still the hamlet's minister.  

 

Kathleen White, Heritage Centre Committeewoman is holding in Longformacus Church a 1772 Arrest Writ, which reads in part: “George the Third, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. to the sheriff of Bedford County … We command you, that you take Linescom of your County Yeoman, if he be found, in your Baliwick ... the eighteenth day of July the twelfth Year of our Reign. Ar. St. Clair, Magistrate" in the Colony of Pennsylvania.  USCA President Arthur St. Clair was baptized in this church on January 3, 1733 (O.S.).   At the time this writ was issued, 39 year old Arthur St. Clair was the father of five children, naming the first two, Daniel and Elizabeth, after his Longformacus Minister father and devoted mother.

On St. Clair's education, we found no public school records of common schooling in either Longformacus, Edinburgh or Thurso.  On higher education, it is reported by the Library of Congress that Arthur St. Clair "attended the University of Edinburgh and studied medicine".  Author Henry Smith  goes further stating in his St. Clair Papers that Arthur St. Clair:

"At an early age, St, Clair was entered at the University of Edinburgh and, it having been determined that he should follow a professional life, in due course he was indentured to the celebrated Dr. William Hunter of London."

We spent hours at the University of Edinburgh’s research library combing through original class records from 1740 to 1770.  During these reviews, we found numerous class attendance registers signed by U.S. Founders Cyrus Griffin, James Wilson and Benjamin Rush but none by Arthur St. Clair or Sinclair.

University of Edinburgh Class Register with USCA President Cyrus Griffin's signature

The only reference we could locate anywhere in the University of Edinburgh archives on USCA President St. Clair or an Arthur Sinclair was an index entry referencing that no records were found by a previous researcher in 1981: 

"St. Clair (or Sinclair) Arthur b. Thurso, Caithness 3 Apr. 1734, supposed to have been at EU.  Indentured to Dr. Wm Hunter  of London.  Served in American Revolution.  Miss Shinn, Philadelphia write March 1981 but JTOH did not find St. Clair.  There is however a Robt. St Clair in 2nd Monro list which was not available to us in 1981." 

Additionally, we were unable to locate any Sinclair or St. Clair  records of the USCA President being an indentured servant of anatomist William Hunter in London.  Nevertheless, St. Clair changed his career path by purchasing an Infantry Ensign (2nd Lieut.) commission on May 13, 1757 in the King's Royal Rifle Corps or 60th Foot Infantry. He came to America with Admiral Edward Boscawen's fleet in 1757.  He served under Major-General Jeffrey Amherst at the capture of Louisburg on July 26th, 1758. St. Clair was promoted to to Lieutenant April 17, 1759 (British Officers in America, published by Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB Canada). He was was assigned to the command of General James Wolfe. At the Battle of the Plains, which decided the fate of the French in America, St. Clair took a notable part:

"Then came the fatal struggle on the plains during which Lieutenant St. Clair seized the colors, which had fallen from the hand of a dying soldier, and bore them until the field was won by the British."[1]

America's Four United Republics

As a military courier, Arthur St. Clair was sent on furlough to deliver mail to his relative, General Thomas Gage, who was stationed in Boston. Major William Erving, a camp assistant to General Wolfe who had been fatally wounded in the battle for Quebec, accompanied Lt. St. Clair on his journey to Boston. Major Erving was the brother of Elizabeth Erving Bowdoin, the spouse of Massachusetts Governor James Bowdoin. She was also the sister-in-law of Mary Bowdoin Bayard, whose wife was Mary Bowdoin Bayard was married to Balthazar Bayard a wealthy New England merchant. Arthur St. Clair was introduced to Boston's elite society through the Bowdoins and those of General Gage. Here he met the daughter of Balthazar Bayard & Mary Bowdoin, Phoebe Bayard (Kopper, K. K. (2005). Arthur St. Clair and the Struggle For Power in the Old Northwest, 1763-1803).   

St. Clair also met James Bowdoin II, Phoebe's cousin, who was an esteemed member of the Massachusetts General Court. Bowdoin would go on to author the highly controversial political report, A short Narrative of the horrid Massacre in Boston ... with some Observations on the State of Things prior to that Catastrophe (Boston, 1770), which  became  one of the most significant works, despite its bias, to influence colonial public opinion against Great Britain.

St. Clair’s courtship of Phoebe Bayard was a short-lived as they were married within six months on May 24, 1760 at the Trinity Episcopal Church. Phoebe Bayard's dowery, bequeathed by her grandfather, James Bowdoin, amounted to 14,000 pounds (WPM p. 73).  Arthur St. Clair, virtually overnight, became an exceptionally prosperous and well-connected with his marriage to Miss Bayard. 

St. Clair resigned from the army on April 16, 1762, as the hostilities had ceased in Canada and there was no longer need of his services. What he and Phoebe did between 1762 and 1767 is unknown.  

We do know, from a permit he signed on April 11, 1767 that St. Clair accepted an assignment on the Western Pennsylvania frontier to manage a relay station known as “his Majesty's Fort at Ligonier.” In the permit he describes himself as the "late Lieut, in his Majesty's Sixtieth Regt. of Foot, having care of his Majesty's Fort at Ligonier." According to St. Clair, a Mr. Frederick Rohrer was granted permission to farm a 200-acre plot of ground near Fort Ligonier. The licensee was required to be  "ready to submit to all commands of the Commanding Officer of the District and of the Garrison," as well as the Commanding Officer in Chief.   Fort Ligonier, at that time, was one of a series of stations for keeping horses for relays on the trek from Fort Bedford to Fort Pitt.  The Rohrer permit was designed to permit fodder and pasture of the horses near the Fort.  

A year earlier, on May 6, 1766, General Thomas Gage, who had succeeded Amherst as commander-in-chief of the British forces in America, wrote to Secretary Conway that a very small garrison might be continued at Fort Ligonier. In all probability, General Gage did secure for his relative, Arthur  St. Clair this position as proprietor of the relay post at Fort Ligonier.  

Less than a year after St. Clair issued this 1767 license,  Lord Shelburne, Great Britain's Southern Secretary, issued instructions to the British authorities in North America to help the Penn Family acquire as much territory from the Iroquois Nation that they were willing to sell.  The Iroquois land acquisition made by the Penn Family in 1768 became just one part of the multi-faceted  Treaty of Fort Stanwix.   

The Treaty of Fort Stanwix was negotiated between Sir William Johnson, his deputy George Croghan, and representatives of the Iroquois. The treaty established a Line of Property following the Ohio River that ceded the Kentucky portion of the Virginia Colony to the British Crown, as well as most of what is now West Virginia. The treaty also settled land claims between the Iroquois and the Penn family for 10,000 pounds, which they agreed to pay in installments.  Virginia's agent, Thomas Walker,  was present, and made no objection on behalf of his province to the Penn Family's massive land acquisition, which included the Forks of the Ohio (HOP p.88).  

This land acquisition was a strip of property spanning Pennsylvania's northeast and southwest corners. The land area exceeded 14,000 square miles. It is important to note that this acquisition covered the entire area from the summit of the Allegheny Mountains to the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers, spanning as far north as Kittanning, thence by a due east line to the source of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in the present Clearfield County. These lands in Pennsylvania were known as the "New Purchase" in 1768 and Arthur St. Clair's Fort Ligonier post was in the heart of this  frontier.

As in the past, the Penn Family maintained that their royal grant granted them the exclusive right to purchase land from the "Indians" in the boundaries of their Charter.  As early as 1700 their Quaker-controlled Assembly enacted a law rendering null and void any Native American title acquired by a private person or business within the bounds of their royal charter.  Consequently, the colonial officials that had prevented settler expansion into the Iroquois territory, were now faced with marketing the  newly bought fourteen thousand square miles of Penn Family land. 

The Penn Family hired Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon surveyors to mark the limits of their land acquisition from the Iroquois'. The surveyors ran their "Mason-Dixon Line" from the "end of Maryland" to a point near the southwest corner of the present state of Pennsylvania.  Here Mason-Dixon ended their work believing they had reached the limit of the Iroquois', near Mt. Morris in Greene County, twenty-three miles east of the corner between Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Penns employed Arthur St. Clair and the others to survey a north-south line from Mason & Dixon's Mt. Morris point to the Ohio River. This "meridian line" intersected that stream somewhere below McKees Rocks-well to the west of Fort Pitt and this area quickly became "disputed lands"  between the Penns and the Virginians.

We know from a John Penn land warrant, that St. Clair accepted a position to open a land office on April 3, 1769,  as the agent and surveyor  for the Penn Proprietary Colony. 

 By 1764 the couple decided to settle permanently in Ligonier Valley, Pennsylvania. St. Clair aggressively purchased large land farm and timber tracts.  He erected mills, dug mines, and farmed eventually becoming the largest landowner in western Pennsylvania and a prominent British  subject.   

Together, Arthur and Phoebe raised seven children. The first two children,  Daniel St. Clair and Elizabeth (St Clair) Lawrence were named after President St. Clair's father and mother. The other five children were named John Murray St. Clair, Margaret (St. Clair) Johnston, Arthur St. Clair Jr., Louisa (St. Clair) Robb and Jane (St. Clair) Jarvis

In 1770 St. Clair was appointed surveyor of the district of Cumberland. He was subsequently appointed a justice of the court, of quarter sessions and of common plea.  Other offices included appointments to the proprietary council, a  county justice, recorder, and clerk of the orphans' court. 

On March 9, 1771, Bedford County was established by an act of the General Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania, entitled "An act for erecting a part of the county of Cumberland into a separate county."   The commissioners appointed to "run, mark out, and distinguish the boundary lines between the said counties of Cumberland and Bedford," were Robert McCrea, William Miller, and Robert Moore.  Arthur St. Clair was appointed the first prothonotary, recorder, and clerk of court, by Governor John Penn, March 12, 1771, and deputy register for the probate of wills, 18th of same month, by Benjamin Chew, Register General. Bedford County, whose boundaries then stretched to the Ohio River Valley, was the part of the western frontier of the British colonies and eventually was divided into 21 different present Pennsylvania counties.  In 1772 there were 350 families on the county tax rolls being, principally, Scotch-Irish and German immigrants.    St. Clair’s offices were located in the basement of Bedford's "Espy House" that still stands today. President George Washington would later utilize the same home as his Whiskey Rebellion headquarters while St. Clair served as his Northwest Territorial Governor.

As prothonotary, recorder and clerk of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Arthur St. Clair had a wide range of duties. In 1771 no other western Pennsylvania counties existed. Bedford County encompassed present-day counties of Fayette, Westmoreland, Washington, Greene and parts of Beaver, Allegheny, Indiana and Armstrong counties. This September 24th, 1771 Arthur St. Clair to William Allen gives a sampling of what his position entailed in the frontier of Western Pennsylvania.

 Arthur St. Clair to William Allen September 24th, 1771- Courtesy Stan Klos

Sir -- I am sorry to inform you that the Murder of two Six Nation Indians has lately happened in our County. The Murderer is now in our Gaol. I had him taken to Fort Pitt and confined there for a few days that the Indians might see him and know that we were inclined to do them Justice and took the information against him before them. They appeared to be well satisfied with it and declared in their way that their Hearts should still be well towards their Brothers tho' this affair had given them much uneasiness. It has unluckily fallen in a bad Family as the People killed were near Relations to the Chief of the Six Nations in that part of the Country. That you may be the better acquainted with the Circumstances I have inclosed a copy of the Information and you will please to give Order for the Fellows Trial when you think Proper.

From the Appearance of things at first I flatter'd myself this County would soon be brought into good Order, but the Prospect is at present much altered, the People to the westward of the Allegany Mountain forming dangerous Associations to oppose the execution of the Laws. The Sherrif was lately escorted out of a settlement upon the Youghiogeny by a Body of Armed Men and threatned severly if he ever returned to execute his Office till the western line of the Province was run; and a number had the audacity to go to Col. Wilson, who is a Magistrate in that Quarter, and insist on his signing their Association; but he behaved with great spirit. Sized and confined their ring-leader and obliged them to relinquish their Agreement and burn the Paper before his Face. God knows where these things will end. I wish we have not something like the regulating scheme in Carolina. I have enclosed a copy of the Sheriff’s Deposition to Mr. Shippen together with Col. Wilson’s letter to me that he may lay them before Council. I am extremely glad to hear of Mr. Penn and his Lady and Mr. Allen’s safe arrival in England and am with great respect

Sir Your most obedient and very humble Servant

Arthur St. Clair.

September 24th, 1771 Arthur St. Clair to William Allen - Courtesy Stan Klos

By 1774 Arthur St. Clair had risen in favor and was appointed the Magistrate, as well as Prothonotary, in the newly formed Westmoreland County. Colonial Virginia was in a bitter border dispute with the Penn's of Pennsylvania over large parts of the new Pennsylvania County including Fort Pitt.

In 1758 General Forbes, along with Colonel Washington, took command of the Ohio River junction from the French garrison who had burnt Fort Duquesne in their flight to Canada. The Fort   had been burnt beyond repair but the garrison left behind to secure the source of the Ohio River needed shelter from the winter.  Colonel Hugh Mercer was charged as the commander and oversaw fortification construction on the banks of the Monongahela River 1000 or so feet from where it flowed in the Allegheny River forming the Ohio River.  Fort Mercer was completed in January 1759 and was large enough to shelter a force of 400 men.  Here soldiers, engineers, indigenous people, and citizens labored for 19 months to construct an elaborate fortress on the three rivers triangle consisting of two acres inside the fortress walls and 18 more inside the outer earthen works.    

Fort Pitt was considered royal possession.  The western Pennsylvania roads leading to the fort were constructed during the Forbes Campaign open the area to settlement by Pennsylvanians.   Three years earlier, roads were constructed by General Braddock’s  during his campaign to capture Fort Duquesne through the Virginia wilderness.  Braddock’s force were routed by the French and forced into retreat after advancing to present day Braddock, Pennsylvania on the Monongahela River.    General Braddock was mortally wounded in the battle and of the 1,300 men he had led in the campaign, 456 were killed and 422 wounded.  Braddock’s road, however, remained intact opening the northern Ohio Valley for future settlement by Virginians. Both colonies, therefore, were poised to claim Fort Pitt once the British forces withdrew ending the royal jurisdiction over the territory.

Peace between the colonies had reigned at Fort Pitt for the years while it was garrisoned by British troops.   A decision, however, was finally made to withdraw British troops from Fort Pitt due to debts incurred over the War for Empire better known as the French and Indian War in the North American theater.   In 1772, thirteen years after it was built, the fort was sold by Captain Charles E. Edmonstone of the 18th Royal Regiment to Alexander Ross and William Thompson for fifty pounds of New York colonial currency. The construction materials that were used in the outer fort’s embankments were dismantled and utilized in the construction of buildings that would eventually form the earliest structure of the “Pittsburg” settlement. Jurisdiction over the region passed from the English Crown to the Pennsylvania Colony.

This did not settle the Boundary disputes between Pennsylvania and Virginia.  To protect its interest Pennsylvania, with permission from the Crown, garrisoned a colonial militia to protect the fort. This action did not deter Colonial Governor Lord Dumore who insisted the land claims to the region, including the settlement of Pittsburg, belong to Virginia.   On January 6, 1774, Dunmore commissioned and sent Dr. John Connolly to Fort Pitt as the "Captain and Commandant of Pittsburgh and its dependencies." Connolly began rising a militia from local Virginians who quickly garrisoned the dilapidated fort for Lord Dumore.

The fort, upon Connolly’s seizure, was renamed Fort Dumore in honor of the Colonial Governor.   Commandant Connolly then issued a Fort Dumore Proclamation, calling on the people of Western Pennsylvania to meet him, as a militia, on the 25th of January 1774.  Arthur St. Clair who was the King's magistrate of Westmoreland County, founded only year earlier on February 26, 1773 encompassing the fort, was appalled by Connolly's seizure and issued a warrant for his arrest. Connolly was captured and imprisoned by Magistrate St. Clair in the jail at Hannastown,  the Westmoreland County seat.

In asserting the claims of Virginia, Lord Dumore insisted that Magistrate St. Clair should be punished for his temerity in arresting his Captain by dismissal from office. Governor Penn declined to remove St. Clair instead commending him as a superior magistrate by first providing proper legal notice to Mr. Connolly who was only arrested  after he refused to surrender the Fort.  Governor Penn wrote Governor Dumore on March 31, 1774:

I am truly concerned that you should think the commitment of Mr. Conolly so great an insult on the authority of the Government of Virginia, as nothing less than Mr. St. Clair's dismission from his offices can repair. The lands in the neighbourhood of Pittsburg were surveyed for the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania early in the year 1769, and a very rapid settlement under this Government soon took place, and Magistrates were appointed by this Government to act there in the beginning of 1771, who have ever since administered justice without any interposition of the Government of Virginia till the present affair. It therefore could not fail of being both surprising and alarming that Mr. Conolly should appear to act on that stage under a commission from Virginia, before any intimation of claim or right was ever notified to this Government. The advertisement of Mr. Conolly had a strong tendency to raise disturbances, and occasion a breach of the public peace, in a part of the country where the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania hath been exercised without objection, and therefore Mr. St. Clair thought himself bound, as a good Magistrate, to take a legal notice of Mr. Conolly.

Mr. St. Clair is a gentleman who for a long time had the honour of serving his Majesty in the regulars with reputation, and in every station of life has preserved the character of a very honest worthy man; and though perhaps I should not, without first expostulating with you on the subject, have directed him to take that step, yet you must excuse my not complying with your Lordship' s requisition of stripping him, on this occasion, of his offices and livelihood, which you will allow me to think not only unreasonable, but somewhat dictatorial.

I should be extremely concerned that any misunderstanding should take place between this Government and that of Virginia. I shall carefully avoid every occasion of it, and shall always be ready to join you in the proper measures to prevent so disagreeable an incident, yet I cannot prevail on myself to accede in the manner you require, to a claim which I esteem, and which I think must appear to everybody else to be altogether groundless. [2]

Counter arrests and much correspondence followed, but the controversy was soon obscured by the stirring events of Lord Dunmore's War. Disturbances were renewed by Connolly on several border fronts and once again he was arrested. The Virginia Colonial Governor ordered the counter arrest of three of the Pennsylvania justices and in an exchange Connolly was released. The boundary troubles between Virginia and Pennsylvania were finally settled by the Continental Congress while Arthur St. Clair was commissioned in the Revolutionary War.

Arthur St. Clair was appointed a colonel of one of the Pennsylvania regiments and received his recruiting orders on the 10th of January, 1776. Colonel St. Clair raised and trained a regiment in the dead of winter. He then marched six companies of the regiment from Pennsylvania to Canada, a distance of several hundred miles, and joined the American army in Quebec on April 11th, 1776.

General Montgomery, who in the fall of 1775 defeated the British at Chamblee, St. Johns, and Montreal, gave Congress a fair prospect of expelling the British from Canada annexing that province to the United Colonies. Unfortunately the General was defeated and killed before St. Clair's arrival after the disastrous affair at Three Rivers. St. Clair, therefore, could only aid General Sullivan in the retreat as second in command under General Thompson. St. Clair's familiarity with British military strategy and the Canadian wilderness were key assets that helped save the Northern army from capture.

According to 18th Century military historian David Ramsay:

The Americans were soon repulsed and forced to retreat. In the beginning of the action General Thomson left the main body of his corps to join that which was engaged. The woods were so thick, that it was difficult for any person in motion, after losing sight of an object to recover it. The general therefore never found his way back. The situation of Colonel St. Clair, the next in command became embarrassing. In his opinion a retreat was necessary, but not knowing the precise situation of his superior officer, and every moment expecting his return, he declined giving orders for that purpose. At last when the British were discovered on the river road, advancing in a direction to gain the rear of the Americans, Colonel St. Clair in the absence of General Thomson, ordered a retreat.

Colonel St. Clair having some knowledge of the country from his having served in it in the preceding war, gave them a route by the Acadian village where the river de Loups is fordable. They had not advanced far when Colonel St. Clair found himself unable to proceed from a wound, occasioned by a root which had penetrated through his shoe. His men offered to carry him, but this generous proposal was declined. He and two or three officers, who having been worn down with fatigue, remained behind with him, found an asylum under cover of a large tree which had been blown up by the roots. They had not been long in this situation when they heard a firing from the British in almost all directions. They nevertheless lay still, and in the night stole off from the midst of surrounding foes. They were now pressed with the importunate cravings of hunger, for they were entering on the third day without food. After wandering for some time, they accidentally found some peasants, who entertained them with great hospitality. In a few days they joined the army at Sorel, and had the satisfaction to find that the greatest part of the detachment had arrived safe before them. In their way through the country, although they might in almost every step of it have been made prisoners, and had reason to fear that the inhabitants from the prospect of reward, would have been tempted to take them, yet they met with neither injury nor insult. General Thomson was not so fortunate. After having lost the troops and falling in with Colonel Irwine, and some other officers, they wandered the whole night in thick swamps, without being able to find their way out. Failing in their attempts to gain the river, they had taken refuge in a house, and were there made prisoners. [3]

In recognition of this service St. Clair was promoted to Brigadier-General on August 9th, 1776 and ordered to join George Washington to organize the New Jersey militia. Ramsay reports of these desperate times:

This retreat into, and through New-Jersey, was attended with almost every circumstance that could occasion embarrassment, and depression of spirits. It commenced in a few days, after the Americans had lost 2700 men in Fort Washington. In fourteen days after that event, the whole flying camp claimed their discharge. This was followed by the almost daily departure of others, whose engagements terminated nearly about the same time. A farther disappointment happened to General Washington at this time. Gates had been ordered by Congress to send two regiments from Ticonderoga, to reinforce his army. Two Jersey regiments were put under the command of General St. Clair, and forwarded in obedience to this order, but the period for which they were enlisted was expired, and the moment they entered their own state, they went off to a man. A few officers without a single private were all that General St. Clair brought off these two regiments, to the aid of the retreating American army. The few who remained with General Washington were in a most forlorn condition. They consisted mostly of the troops which had garrisoned Fort Lee, and had been compelled to abandon that post so suddenly, that they commenced their retreat without tents or blankets, and without any utensils to dress their provisions. In this situation they performed a march of about ninety miles, and had the address to prolong it to the space of nineteen days. As the retreating Americans marched through the country, scarcely one of the inhabitants joined them, while numbers were daily flocking to the royal army, to make their peace and obtain protection. They saw on the one side a numerous well appointed and full clad army, dazzling their eyes with the elegance of uniformity; on the other a few poor fellows, who from their shabby cloathing were called ragamuffins, fleeing for their safety. Not only the common people changed sides in this gloomy state of public affairs, but some of the leading men in New-Jersey and Pennsylvania adopted the same expedient. Among these Mr. Galloway, and the family of the Allens of Philadelphia, were most distinguished. The former, and one of the latter, had been members of Congress. In this hour of adversity they came within the British lines, and surrendered themselves to the conquerors, alleging in justification of their conduct, that though they had joined with their countrymen, in seeking for a redress of grievances in a constitutional way, they had never approved of the measures lately adopted, and were in particular, at all times, averse to independence.

On the day General Washington retreated over the Delaware, the British took possession of Rhode-Island without any loss, and at the same time blocked up commodore Hopkins' squadron, and a number of privateers at Providence.[4]

When George Washington and St. Clair retreated over the Delaware, the boats and barges along the east side of the Delaware River were removed and garrisoned by the remnants of the Continental Army. This act halted the progress of the British Forces into Pennsylvania in the winter months of November and December. The English commanders, sure of eminent conquest once the Delaware River froze, deployed their army in Burlington, Bordentown, Trenton, and on other waterfront towns in New Jersey.

On the Pennsylvania side of the river, General Washington ordered Generals Sullivan and St. Clair to recruit and train troops as the Continental Army was in desperate need of reformation. Together, with the Philadelphia troop recruiting successes of General Mifflin, Sullivan and St. Clair raised over 2000 new troops to support the Revolution. St. Clair and Sullivan joined Washington's beleaguered 400 troops in Pennsylvania and prepared for Washington's Delaware crossing to Trenton, New Jersey. On Christmas night 1776 St. Clair's Continental troops, now under Washington's command, crossed into New Jersey and attacked the Hessians at dawn on the 26th. Twenty-two Hessians were killed, 84 wounded and 918 taken prisoner. Ramsay account of the surprise attack states:

Of all events, none seemed to them more improbable, than that their late retreating half naked enemies, should in this extreme cold season, face about and commence offensive operations. They [The British] indulged themselves in a degree of careless inattention to the possibility of a surprise, which in the vicinity of an enemy, however contemptible, can never be justified. It has been said that colonel Rahl, the commanding officer in Trenton, being under some apprehension for that frontier post, applied to general Grant for a reinforcement, and that the general returned for answer. 'Tell the colonel, he is very safe, I will undertake to keep the peace in New-Jersey with a corporal's guard.'

In the evening of Christmas day, General Washington, made arrangements for recrossing the Delaware in three divisions; at M. Konkey's ferry, at Trenton ferry, and at or near Bordentown. The troops which were to have crossed at the two last places were commanded by generals Ewing, and Cadwallader, they made every exertion to get over, but the quantity of ice was so great, that they could not affect their purpose. The main body which was commanded by General Washington crossed at M. Konkey's ferry, but the ice in the river retarded their passage so long, that it was three o'clock in the morning, before the artillery could be got over. On their landing in Jersey, they were formed into two divisions, commanded by general Sullivan, and Greene, who had under their command brigadiers, lord Stirling, Mercer and St. Clair: one of these divisions was ordered to proceed on the lower, or river road, the other on the upper or Pennington road. Col. Stark, with some light troops, was also directed to advance near to the river, and to possess himself of that part of the town, which is beyond the bridge. The divisions having nearly the same distance to march were ordered immediately on forcing the out guards, to push directly into Trenton, that they might charge the enemy before they had time to form. Though they marched different roads, yet they arrived at the enemy's advanced post, within three minutes of each other. The out guards of the Hessian troops at Trenton soon fell back, but kept up a constant retreating fire. Their main body being hard pressed by the Americans, who had already got possession of half their artillery, attempted to file off by a road leading towards Princeton, but was checked by a body of troops thrown in their way. Finding they were surrounded, they laid down their arms. The number which submitted was 23 officers, and 885 men. Between 30 and 40 of the Hessians were killed and wounded. Colonel Rahl, was among the former, and seven of his officers among the latter. Captain Washington of the Virginia troops, and five or six of the Americans were wounded. Two were killed, and two or three were frozen to death. The detachment in Trenton consisted of the regiments of Rahl, Losberg, and Kniphausen, amounting in the whole to about 1500 men, and a troop of British light horse. All these were killed or captured, except about 600, who escaped by the road leading to Bordentown.

The British had a strong battalion of light infantry at Princeton, and a force yet remaining near the Delaware, superior to the American army. General Washington, therefore in the evening of the same day, thought it most prudent to re-cross into Pennsylvania, with his prisoners.

The effects of this successful enterprise were speedily felt in recruiting the American army. About 1400 regular soldiers, whose time of service was on the point of expiring, agreed to serve six weeks longer, on a promised gratuity of ten paper dollars to each. Men of influence were sent to different parts of the country to rouse the militia. The rapine, and impolitic conduct of the British, operated more forcibly on the inhabitants, to expel them from the state, than either patriotism or persuasion to prevent their overrunning it.

On the 28th, Washington re-crossed the Delaware and took possession of Trenton. The British detachments that had been distributed over the New Jersey river towns had now assembled at Princeton. These troops were also reinforced by a British detachment from New Brunswick, N.J. commanded by General Cornwallis. From this position the English planned to overwhelm Washington, by sheer numbers, hoping to defeat the Continental Army on January 2nd. Realizing this Washington carefully considered his options. A retreat to the city of Philadelphia would have shattered the Continental Army's confidence that permeated the new nation after their Victory at Trenton. George Washington decided to stand, fight and see what opportunities may arise in the heat of what would be a manageable late afternoon battle. The Continental forces readied their defenses. [5]

The British began their advance from Princeton at 4 P.M. attacking a body of Americans that were posted with four field pieces just north of Trenton. This overwhelming military action required the forces to retreat over Assunpink Creek. Here Washington had posted cannons on the opposite banks of the creek. The cannons, together with musket fire, stalemated the pursuing British at the bottleneck created by the bridge. The British fell back out of reach of the cannons, and made camp for the night. The Americans remained defiantly camped on the other side cannonading the enemy until late in the evening.

Washington called a council of war that night on January 2, 1777 with his troops camped along Assunpink Creek. Many of St. Clair's Biographers, and even St. Clair himself, claim that the movement that culminated in the Victory at Princeton the following day was his recommendation to the council. The General's biographers purport that not only did St. Clair direct the details of the march but also his own brigade marched at the head of the advancing army.

Washington's decision to go around the British lines at night and advance on Princeton was brilliant. The plan was a smashing success and British losses were estimated at 400 to 600 killed, wounded or taken prisoner. General Cornwallis and his troops were forced to withdraw into Northern New Jersey to protect key towns recently conquered by the British. Ramsay reports on the battle:

The next morning presented a scene as brilliant on the one side, as it was unexpected on the other. Soon after it became dark, General Washington ordered all his baggage to be silently removed, and having left guards for the purpose of deception, marched with his whole force, by a circuitous route to Princeton. This maneuver was determined upon in a council of war, from a conviction that it would avoid the appearance of a retreat, and at the same time the hazard of an action in a bad position, and that it was the most likely way to preserve the city of Philadelphia, from falling into the hands of the British. General Washington also presumed, that from an eagerness to efface the impressions, made by the late capture of Hessians at Trenton, the British commanders had pushed forward their principal force, and that of course the remainder in the rear at Princeton was not more than equal to his own. The event verified this conjecture. The more effectually to disguise the departure of the Americans from Trenton, fires were lighted up in front of their camp. These not only gave an appearance of going to rest, but as flame cannot be seen through, concealed from the British, what was transacting behind them. In this relative position they were a pillar of fire to the one army, and a pillar of a cloud to the other. Providence favoured this movement of the Americans. The weather had been for some time so warm and moist, that the ground was soft and the roads so deep as to be scarcely passable: but the wind suddenly changed to the northwest, and the ground in a short time was frozen so hard, that when the Americans took up their line of march, they were no more retarded, than if they had been upon a solid pavement.

General Washington reached Princeton, early in the morning, and would have completely surprised the British, had not a party, which was on their way to Trenton, descried his troops, when they were about two miles distant, and sent back couriers to alarm their unsuspecting fellow soldiers in their rear. These consisted of the 17th, the 40th, & 55th regiments of British infantry and some of the royal artillery with two field pieces, and three troops of light dragoons. The center of the Americans, consisting of the Philadelphia militia, while on their line of March, was briskly charged by a party of the British, and gave way in disorder. The moment was critical. General Washington pushed forward, and placed himself between his own men, and the British, with his horse's head fronting the latter. The Americans encouraged by his example, and exhortations, made a stand, and returned the British fire. The general, though between both parties, was providentially uninjured by either. A party of the British fled into the college and were there attacked with field pieces which were fired into it. The seat of the muses became for some time the scene of action. The party which had taken refuge in the college, after receiving a few discharges from the American field pieces came out and surrendered themselves prisoners of war. In the course of the engagement, sixty of the British were killed, and a greater number wounded, and about 300 of them were taken prisoners. The rest made their escape, some by pushing on towards Trenton, others by returning towards Brunswick. The Americans lost only a few, but colonels Haslet and Potter, and Captain Neal of the artillery, were among the slain. General Mercer received three bayonet wounds of which he died in a short time. He was a Scotchman by birth, but from principle and affection had engaged to support the liberties of his adopted country, with a zeal equal to that of any of its native sons. In private life he was amiable, and his character as an officer stood high in the public esteem.

While they were fighting in Princeton, the British in Trenton were under arms, and on the point of making an assault on the evacuated camp of the Americans. With so much address had the movement to Princeton been conducted, that though from the critical situation of the two armies, every ear may be supposed to have been open, and every watchfulness to have been employed, yet General Washington moved completely off the ground, with his whole force, stores, baggage and artillery unknown to, and unsuspected by his adversaries. The British in Trenton were so entirely deceived, that when they heard the report of the artillery at Princeton, though it was in the depth of winter, they supposed it to be thunder: The Battle of Princeton was another important Continental Victory as it further raised the moral of the troops and the nation. The surprised British troops quickly evacuated Princeton on the onslaught and to Washington's delight; they re-deployed their troops from quartering Bordentown and Trenton to New Brunswick. The British also decided to evacuate their troops from Newark and Woodbridge holding under force only Amboy, along with New Brunswick, in Central New Jersey. The British retreat from the victories of Trenton and Princeton sparked a resurrection of patriotism that kept George Washington and his troops invigorated throughout the winter of 1777.[6]

General Washington, upon St. Clair's council, made the decision to winter in Morristown because its passes and hills afforded geographical shelter to his suffering army. The negative outlook that had ceased these United States of America in the fall of 1776 had all but dissipated in the northern hills of New Jersey. Recruiting that had been painfully measured just before the Battle of Trenton was successfully rehabilitated. It soon became clear to everyone that George Washington would quickly organize and train a permanent regular force to resume the offensive in the spring.

While in Morristown, the New Jersey militia was re-charged and conducted several successful skirmishes killing forty and fifty Waldeckers at Springfield. These were the same soldiers who were, but a month before, overrun by the British without even meager opposition. George Washington remained, throughout his incredible life, steadfastly loyal to Arthur St. Clair recognizing the Pennsylvania general's deeds and council during the campaigns against Trenton and Princeton. It was a beginning of a friendship that would positively serve the United States, beyond anyone's expectations, for the next 24 years. For his service in 1776 and 1777 St. Clair was promoted to Major-General.

Arthur St. Clair's next call to action was by John Hancock who ordered him to defend Fort Ticonderoga. This upstate New York fort was built to control the strategic route between the St. Lawrence River in Canada and the Hudson River to the south. Overlooking the outlet of Lake George into Lake Champlain, it was considered a key to the continent. The fort was used in the War for Empire and largely abandoned except for British military stores that remained there at the beginning of the Revolution. In 1775, Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold surprised the British and captured Fort Ticonderoga. The cannons and armaments were used in the siege of Boston, which drove the British out of Massachusetts. The fort was garrisoned with 12,000 troops to counter any invading force coming into America from Canada.

In 1776 with Washington's losses troops deserted and were moved to more pressing posts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. By the spring of 1777 Fort Ticonderoga had fallen in disrepair with only a handful of troops protecting the northern passage When it became clear that the British, under General Burgoyne, were marching to retake the position, Congress hastily ordered Major General Arthur St. Clair to command and defend Fort Ticonderoga, by a letter:

Philadelphia, April 30, 1777 John Hancock to Arthur St. Clair - Courtesy of Stan Klos

To: Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair.

Sir:  -- The Congress having received intelligence of the approach of the enemy towards Ticonderoga have thought proper to direct you to repair thither without delay. I have it therefore in charge to transmit the enclosed resolve [not present] and to direct that you immediately set out on the receipt hereof.

John Hancock, Presidt. 

Major-General St. Clair arrived in early June and set about preparations for defense. Although Congress desperately wanted to retain Fort Ticonderoga, St. Clair was only spared some 2,500 men and scarce provisions to hold it. A minimum garrison of 10,000 men was required to check the British advance. Burgoyne's army consisted of 8,000 British regulars and 2,500 auxiliary troops.

In preparation, St. Clair's force was too small to cover all exposed points. In his scramble to post his men St. Clair made the decision not to fortify the steep assent to the mountain top which he deemed impassable for heavy artillery. When British arrived in the area, he was proved disastrously wrong because Burgoyne outflanked him by hauling his artillery batteries atop nearby Mount Defiance. The British were now capable of bombarding Fort Ticonderoga without fear of retaliation by the Americans.

St. Clair and his officers held a council of war, and decided to evacuate the fort. Matthias Alexis Roche de Fermoy, by orders of Congress, and against the protest of George Washington was made the commander of Fort Independence, opposite Fort Ticonderoga. Fermoy made a grave military error that almost caused St. Clair the loss of a large number of his forces. Upon the retreat of St. Clair from Ticonderoga, Fermoy set fire to his quarters on Mount Independence at two o'clock on the morning of July 6th, 1777 thus revealing to Burgoyne St. Clair's evacuation of Fort Ticonderoga. Had it not been for this, St. Clair would have made good his retreat with minimal causalities and loss of his supplies.

St. Clair fled through the woods, leaving a part of his force at Hubbardto. These troops were attacked and defeated by General Fraser on July 7th, 1777, after a well-contested battle. On July12th, St. Clair reached Fort Edward with the remnant of his men. St. Clair reported:

"I know I could have saved my reputation by sacrificing the army; but were I to do so, I should forfeit that which the world could not restore, and which it cannot take away, the approbation of my own conscience".[7]

St. Clair's action forced General Burgoyne to divide his forces between pursuit of St. Clair and garrisoning Fort Ticonderoga. Burgoyne, after a long and arduous trek through the New York frontier, made an unsuccessful attempt to break through American Forces and Capture Saratoga. Burgoyne retreated and ordered his troops to entrench in the vicinity of the Freeman Farm. Here he decided to await support from Clinton, who was supposedly preparing to move north toward Albany from New York City. He waited for three weeks but Clinton never came. With his supply line cut and a growing Continental Army he decided to attack on October 7th ordering a recon-naissance-in-force to test the American left flank. This attack was unsuccessful and Burgoyne loss General Fraser primarily due to Benedict Arnold's direct counter-attack against the British Center.

That evening the British retreated but kept their campfires burning brightly to mask their withdrawal. Burgoyne's troops took refuge in a fortified camp on the heights of Saratoga. Clinton never arrived, the Continental Forces swelled to over 20,000. Faced with overwhelming numbers, Burgoyne surrendered on October 17, 1777 to General Horatio Gates who was hailed the "Hero of Saratoga". This was one of the great American victories of the war and made the British retention of Fort Ticonderoga untenable. This surrender shocked the European Nations and direly needed foreign aid poured into US coffers from France and the Netherlands.

Despite this positive outcome General St. Clair was accused of cowardice by the same faction (Conway Cabal) that sought the ousting of George Washington as Commander-in-Chief for "The Hero of Saratoga".  George Washington supported St. Clair’s position who remained with his army throughout the court-martial process. St. Clair was with Washington at Brandywine on September 11th, 1777, acting as voluntary aide.

The Court met August 25th, 1778, and continued the examination of witnesses until September 29th with General Benjamin Lincoln as its President.  The charges were: neglect of duty, cowardice, treachery, incapacity as a General, and shamefully abandoning the posts of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence. 

General St. Clair testified in his own defense on September 29 which those in attendance found to be very able and complete.  The court acquitted him stating:

Indeed, from the knowledge I had of the country through which General Burgoyne had to advance, the difficulties I knew he would be put to   subsist his army, and the contempt he would naturally have for an enemy whose retreat I concluded he would ascribe to fear, I made no doubt he would soon be so far engaged, as that it would be difficult for him either to advance or retreat. The event justified my conjecture, but attended with consequences beyond my most sanguine expectations. A fatal blow given to the power and insolence of Great Britain, a whole army prisoners, and the reputation of the arms of America high in every civilized part of the world! But what would have been the consequences had not the steps been taken, and my army had been cut to pieces or taken prisoners? Disgrace would have been brought upon our arms and our counsels, fear and dismay would have seized upon the inhabitants, from the false opinion that had been formed of the strength of these posts, wringing grief and moping melancholy would have filled the now cheerful habitations of those whose dearest connections were in that army, and a lawless host of ruffians, set loose from every social tie, would have roamed at liberty through the defenseless country, whilst hands of savages would have earned havoc, devastation, and terror before them! Great part of the State of New York must have submitted to the conqueror, and in it he could have found the means to enable him to prosecute his success. He would have been able effectually to have co-operated with General Howe, and would probably have soon been in the same country with him; that country where our illustrious General, with an inferior force, made so glorious a stand, but who must have been obliged to retire if both armies came upon him at once, or might have been forced, perhaps, to a general and decisive action in unfavorable circumstances, where by the hopes, the now well-founded hopes of America, of liberty, of peace and safety, might have been cut off forever. Every consideration seems to prove the propriety of the retreat, that I could not undertake it sooner, and that, had it been delayed longer, it had been delayed too long.

The Court, having duly considered the charges against Major-General St. Clair, and the evidence, are unanimously of opinion that he is Not Guilty of either of the charges against him, and do unanimously acquit him of all and every of them with the highest honor.  B. Lincoln, President. [8]

Lafayette wrote to St. Clair,

 I cannot tell you how much my heart was interested in anything that happened to you and how I rejoiced, not that you were acquitted, but that your conduct was examined.[9]

John Paul Jones wrote,

I pray you be assured that no man has more respect for your character, talents, and greatness of mind than, dear General, your most humble servant.

St. Clair assignment after the ordeal was to assist General John Sullivan in preparing his expedition against the Six Nations and later was appointed a commissioner to arrange a cartel against the British at Amboy on March 9th, 1780. St Clair was then appointed to command the corps of light infantry in the absence of Lafayette, but did not serve, owing to the return of General George Clinton. He was a member of the court-martial that condemned Major Andre, commanded at West Point in October 1780, and aided in suppressing the mutiny in the Pennsylvania line in January 1781.

St. Clair remained active during the 1780's Campaigns raising troops and forwarding them to the south to Lafayette and Washington. Congress in an attempt to protect Philadelphia from another British occupation ordered St. Clair's to round up troops to defend the city from what was believed to be an imminent attack by General Clinton:

Philadelphia, September 19, 1781 Charles Thomson to Arthur St. Clair - Courtesy of  Historic.us

By the United States in Congress Assembled September 19, 1781 

Ordered that Major General St. Clair cause the levies of the Pennsylvania line now in Pennsylvania to rendezvous at or near Philadelphia with all possible exposition.

Extract from the minutes  
Charles Thompson 

Specifically the Journals of the Continental Congress reported:

The report of the committee on the letter from Major General St. Clair was taken into consideration; Whereupon, The Committee to whom were referred the letter of the 28th. of August last from Major General St Clair, beg leave to report-- That they have conferred with the Financier on the subject of the advance of money requested by General St Clair for officers and privates of the Pennsylvania line, and that he informs your Committee that it is not in his power to make the said advances--

That your Committee know of no means which enables Congress at present to make the advance requested by General St Clair: and they are therefore of opinion that his application ought to be transmitted to his Excellency the President and the Supreme Executive of the State of Pennsylvania with an earnest request that they will take the most effectual measures in their power to enable General St Clair to expedite the march of the troops mentioned in his letter.

Ordered, That the application of Major General St. Clair be transmitted to his Excellency the president and the supreme executive council of the State of Pennsylvania and they be earnestly requested to take the most effectual measures in their power to enable General St. Clair to expedite the march of the troops mentioned in his letter.[10]

Washington continued he maneuvers surrounding Cornwallis at Yorktown. When Congress realized that the British were not going to attack Philadelphia; orders were hastily given to St. Clair to move his forces south to Yorktown. St. Clair joined Washington at Yorktown only four days before the surrender of Lord Cornwallis.

In November he was placed in command of a body of troops to join General Nathanael Greene, and remained in the south until October 1782. St. Clair writes of this period:

When the army marched to the southward, I was left in Pennsylvania to organize and forward the troops of that State and bring up the recruits that had been raised there. The command of the American Army was kept open for, the General intending to take it upon himself. Formally, the command of the allied army, which hitherto he ha had only done actually. After sending off the greatest part of that line under General Anthony Wayne, and on the point of following them, Congress became alarmed that some attempt on Philadelphia would be made from New York, in order to diver General Washington from his purpose against Lord Cornwallis, and they ordered me to remain with the few troops I had left, to which it was purposed to add a large body of militia, and to form a camp on the Delaware: of this I immediately apprised Washington, who had written to me, very pressingly, to hasten on the reinforcements of that State; informing me of the need he had of them, and, as he was pleased to say, of my services also. He wrote again on the receipt of my letter, in a manner still more pressing, and I laid that letter before Congress, who, after considerable delay and much hesitation, revoked their order, and I was allowed to join the Army at Yorktown, but did not reach it until the business was nearly over, the capitulation been signed in five or six days after my arrival.

From thence I was sent with six regiments and ten pieces of artilleray, to the aid of general Greene in South Carolina, with orders to sweep, in my way, all those British Posts in North Carolina; but they did not give me trouble, for, on my taking direction towards Willmington, they abandoned that place and every other post they had in that country, and left me at liberty to pursue the march by the best and most direct route; and on the 27th of December, I joined General Greene, near Jacksonburgh. [11]

The war was effectively over after this assignment and Arthur St. Clair was furloughed and returned home in 1782. His Ligonier estate, including the mill which he had opened for communal use, was in ruins. Titles to his lands were not carefully managed and squatters occupied key tracts. St. Clair noted in a letter that he lost £20,000 on one piece of real estate alone. His biographer William Henry Smith summed up his homecoming plight: as:

The comfortable fortune, and the valuable offices, which were all his in 1775, and eight years of the prime of life were all gone ---- all given freely, and without regret, for freedom and a republic. [12]

St. Clair, though still a major-general, was elected to the Pennsylvania Council of Censors. He was an active member and drafted the report of the Censors, who were charged with correcting defects in the Pennsylvania Constitution. St. Clair's authored the recommendations calling for a new Pennsylvania State constitutional Convention. The measure, however, was defeated as less than 2/3rds of the People supported the Resolution. In that same year he was elected Vendue-master of Philadelphia (auctioneer) which was thought to be a very lucrative position in City government. The victory in the war left the State with a lot of property to be sold of which St. Clair received a portion of the revenue. St. Clair later, as the 9^th President of the USCA, declared that he lost money in that office fronting expenses that were never reimbursed by the financially distressed city.

In the summer of 1783, while General St. Clair was still discharging his duties as Vendue-master of Philadelphia, a crisis gripped the confederation government that would doom it from ever assembling at Independence Hall again. President Boudinot and the United States in Congress Assembled on a hot summer day were faced with a mutiny of soldiers in Philadelphia surrounding their session at Independence Hall. USCA requested that the Pennsylvania Supreme Council, also in session at Independence Hall, call out the Pennsylvania militia but they declined seeking to settle the mutiny peacefully. The mutineers demands were made in very dictatorial terms, that,

unless their demand were complied with in twenty minutes, they would let in upon them the injured soldiery, the consequences of which they were to abide. [13]

Word was immediately sent, by President Boudinot, to General St. Clair and his presence requested. General St. Clair rushed to the scene and confronted the mutineers. St. Clair then reported to President Boudinot, Congress and the State legislators of Pennsylvania his assessment and the demands of the mutineers. Congress then directed him

 ... to endeavor to march the mutineers to their barracks, and to announce to them that Congress would enter into no deliberation with them; that they must return to Lancaster, and that there, and only there, they would be paid.

After this, Congress appointed a committee to confer with the executive of Pennsylvania, and adjourned awaiting St. Clair’s signal that it was safe to evacuate the building. The Journals of the United States in Congress report on Saturday, June 21, 1783:

The mutinous soldiers presented themselves, drawn up in the street before the statehouse, where Congress had assembled. The executive council of the state, sitting under the same roof, was called on for the proper interposition. President DICKINSON came in, and explained the difficulty, under actual circumstances, of bringing out the militia of the place for the suppression of the mutiny. He thought that, without some outrages on persons or property, the militia could not be relied on. General St. Clair, then in Philadelphia, was sent for, and desired to use his interposition, in order to prevail on the troops to return to the barracks. His report gave no encouragement.

In this posture of things, it was proposed by Mr. IZARD, that Congress should adjourn. It was proposed by Mr. HAMILTON, that General St. Clair, in concert with the executive council of the state, should take order for terminating the mutiny. Mr. REED moved, that the general should endeavor to withdraw the troops by assuring them of the disposition of Congress to do them justice. It was finally agreed, that Congress should remain till the usual hour of adjournment, but without taking any step in relation to the alleged grievances of the soldiers, or any other business whatever. In the meantime, the soldiers remained in their position, without offering any violence, individuals only, occasionally, uttering offensive words, and wantonly pointing their muskets to the windows of the hall of Congress. No danger from premeditated violence was apprehended, but it was observed that spirituous drink, from the tip-pling-houses adjoining, began to be liberally served out to the soldiers, and might lead to hasty excesses. None were committed, however, and, about three o'clock, the usual hour, Congress adjourned; the soldiers, though in some instances offering a mock obstruction, permitting the members to pass through their ranks. They soon afterwards retired themselves to the barracks. [14]

Thanks to Arthur St. Clair's ability to reason with the mutineers, President Boudinot, the Delegates and the Pennsylvania legislators passed through the files of the armed soldiers without being physically molested. President Boudinot on June 23^rd wrote his brother requesting his aid to protect Congress in what would be the new Capitol of the United States.

My dear Brother Philada. 23 June 1783 -- I have only a moment to inform you, that there has been a most dangerous insurrection and mutiny among a few Soldiers in the Barracks here. About 3 or 400 surrounded Congress and the Supreme Executive Council, and kept us Prisoners in a manner near three hours, tho' they offered no insult personally. To my great mortification, not a Citizen came to our assistance. The President and Council have not firmness enough to call out the Militia, and allege as the reason that they would not obey them. In short the political Maneuvers here, previous to that important election of next October, entirely unhinges Government. This handful of Mutineers continue still with Arms in their hands and are privately supported, and it is well if we are not all Prisoners in a short time. Congress will not meet here, but has authorized me to change their place of residence. I mean to adjourn to Princeton if the Inhabitants of Jersey will protect us. I have wrote to the Governor particularly. I wish you could get your Troop of Horse to offer them aid and be ready, if necessary, to meet us at Princeton on Saturday or Sunday next, if required.[15]

 A committee, with Alexander Hamilton as chairman, waited on the State Executive Council to insure the Government of the United States protection in Philadelphia so Congress could convene the following day. Elias Boudinot, however, received no pledge of protection by the Pennsylvania mili­tia and ordered an adjournment of the USCA on June 24th to Princeton, New Jersey.  This was the last time the Confederation Congress would convene in Pennsylvania.  

The President issued and released this Proclamation to the Philadelphia newspapers explaining the USCA’s move to Princeton:

A Proclamation. Whereas a body of armed soldiers in the service of the United States, and quartered in the barracks of this city, having mutinously renounced their obedience to their officers, did, on Saturday this instant, proceed under the direction of their sergeants, in a hostile and threatening manner to the place in which Congress were assembled, and did surround the same with guards: and whereas Congress, inconsequence thereof, did on the same day resolve, " That the president and supreme executive council of this state should be informed, that the authority of the United States having been, that day, grossly insulted by the disorderly and menacing appearance of a body of armed soldiers, about the place within which Congress were assembled; and that the peace of this city being endangered by the mutinous disposition of the said troops then in the barracks, it was, in the opinion of Congress, necessary, that effectual measures should be immediately taken for supporting the public authority: and also, whereas Congress did at the same time appoint a committee to confer with the said president and supreme executive council on the practicability of carrying the said resolution into due effect; and also whereas the said committee have reported to me, that they have not received satisfactory assurances for expecting adequate and prompt exertions of this state for supporting the dignity of the federal government ; and also whereas the said soldiers still continue in a state off open mutiny and revolt, so that the dignity and authority of the United States would be constantly exposed to a repetition of insult, while Congress shall continue to fit in this city; I do therefore, by and with the advice of the said Committee, and according to the powers and authorities in me vested for this purpose, hereby summon the Honorable the Delegates composing the Congress of the United States, and every of them, to meet in Congress on Thursday the 26th of June instant, at Princetown, in the state of New Jersey, in order that further and more effectual measures may be taken for suppressing the present revolt, and maintaining the dignity and authority of the United States; of which all officers of the United States, civil and military, and all others whom it may concern, are desired to take notice and govern themselves accordingly.

 President Boudinot chose Princeton for the seat of government because he was a former resident, a Trustee of the College of New Jersey, and his wife was from a prominent Princeton Stockton family.   Additionally, Princeton was located approximately midway between New York and Philadelphia and the College of New Jersey had a building large enough in which the USCA could assemble.    

Assembled in Princeton, the  USCA turned to a resolution that was proposed by Alexander Hamilton ordering General Howe to march fifteen hundred troops to Philadelphia to disarm the mutineers and bring them to trial.  The matter was sent to a committee.  General Washington had already taken action and dispatched the troops in response to President Boudinot’s letter of the 21^st requesting is aid.  General Howe had already arrived just outside of Princeton that evening writing Commander-in-Chief Washington on the 1^st “I arrived yesterday with the Troops within four Miles of this Place where they will halt until twelve to Night.”   The following day, the USCA resolved:

That Major General Howe be directed to march such part of the force under his command as he shall judge necessary to the State of Pennsylvania; and that the commanding officer in the said State he be instructed to apprehend and confine all such persons, belonging to the army, as there is reason to believe instigated the late mutiny; to disarm the remainder; to take, in conjunction with the civil authority, the proper measures to discover and secure all such persons as may have been instrumental therein; and in general to make full examination into all parts of the transaction, and when they have taken the proper steps to report to Congress.[16]

With the resolution in hand, Howe set out for Philadelphia.   He spent the night of July 2^nd encamped in Trenton and started crossing the Delaware River into Pennsylvania the following morning. Near Trenton Howe met with General St. Clair coming to Princeton and he updated the general on the situation. General St. Clair pressed on to Princeton and met with the President that evening. Boudinot wrote General Washington:

General S'. Clair is now here, and this moment suggests an Idea which he had desired me to mention to your Excellency, as a Matter of Importance in his View of the Matter in the intended Inquiry at Philadelphia.— That the Judge Advocate should be directed to attend the Inquiry — By this Means the Business would be conducted with most Regularity — The Inquiry might be more critical, and as several of the Officers are in Arrest, perhaps a Person not officially engaged, may Consider himself in an invidious Situation — It is late at Night, and no possibility of obtaining the Sense of Congress, and therefore your Excellency will consider this as the mere Suggestion of an individual & use your own Pleasure.[17]

George Washington, after receipt of the letter, ordered Judge Advocate Edwards to repair at once to Philadelphia.[18]

The USCA resolution directing General Howe to move with the troops against the mutineers affronted General St. Clair and he regarded it as an attempt to supersede his command and undermine his negotiations. General St. Clair took it upon himself to write Congress the following letter:

[General Howe came to enquire into the conduct of the officers and Sergeants after the Mutiny that drove Congress from Philadelphia] 

Sir, When I had the honour to wait upon you at Princetown I was pleased to find that General Howe had been ordered to Pennsylvania and at the same time I was flattered to hear, as I did, from several of the members of Congress that It was left at my discretion either to direct the enquiry into the late disorders amongst the troops this State, or leave it entirely to him. For though it was not more than had a right to expect it was a piece of attention that could not fail to be gratifying. 

At the time I left Princetown I had determined to leave the matter entirely to General Howe, but upon selection finding myself in command in this state, having been called to it by the secretary at War previous to his departure for Virginia and that I had also been brought into view by Congress, it struck me that another officer taking up the business would have an odd appearance and must beget sentiments unfavorable to me. I therefore acquainted General Howe that I had understood the Resolution of Congress left me, at least an option. [struck out - "justify the appointment of a Junior Officer to carry into effect what a Senior had began"] I read the Resolution and understood it as he did that the business was to be conducted by him; but upon reconsidering it, the expressions I see will admit of another construction. I wish they had been more explicit on my own account, because if they had, there could have been no doubt about the line I should pursue, nor could there have been insinuations (underlined) to my prejudice. My conduct must have been either satisfactory to congress or not -- if not, the instances should have been pointed out, and I might have defended myself, but against an implied censure, there is no defence, and nothing in my opinion but incompetence or worse, can justify the appointment of a junior officer to carry into effect what a senior officer had began. On General Howe's because he might have found himself in a disagreeable circumstances from not fully comprehending the views of congress and my situation. I beg Sir I may not be misunderstood. I am not soliciting to be continued in command here. I have the highest respect for Congress but I owe something to myself also, and I have to declare to them in the most express terms, that I can take no farther command in the State and to require that they will please to direct the Secretary at War to order General Howe or some other officer to manage the business of dismissing the Pennsylvania line.* I have been long enough in publick life to know that there are injuries a man must bear they have and been so often repeated to me as to have rendered me callous, nor are the conversations that arise from them the less poignant that cooperation cannot be demanded. I have the honour to be sir, etc,.

*To General Howe I shall afford all the assistance I can and shall attend the court Martials as an evidence whenever I receive notice of its being convened.

 President Elias Boudinot chose not to bring the letter before Congress replying:

I duly recd your favor of yesterday but conceiving that you had mistaken the Resolution of Congress, I showed it to Mr. Fitzsimmons and we have agreed not to present it to Congress, till we hear again from you. Congress were so careful to interfere one way or the other in the military etiquette, that we recommitted the Resolution to have everything struck out that should look towards any determination as to the Command, and it was left so that the Commanding officer be him who it might, was to carry the Resolution into Execution; and it can bear no other Construction.  If on the second reading you choose your Letter should be read in Congress, it shall be done without delay.
I have the honour to be with Great respect
Your very Humble Servt 
Elias Boudinot, President 

P. S., You may depend on Congress having been perfectly satisfied with your conduct. [19]

Boudinot undoubtedly trusted St. Clair’s judgment and spared him the embarrassment of making his letter known to Congress. William Henry Smith, the complier of Arthur St. Clair’s Papers concludes his chapter on this incident stating:

While St. Clair was engaged in closing up the accounts and furloughing the veteran soldiers, in 1783, the new levies, stationed at Lancaster, refusing to accept their discharges without immediate pay, mutinied and marched for Philadelphia, for the avowed purpose of compelling Congress to accede to their demands. The mutineers were reinforced by the recruits in the barracks of Philadelphia, and, as they marched to the hall where Congress was in session, they numbered three hundred. Their demand was made in very peremptory terms, that, "unless their demand was complied with in twenty minutes, they would let in upon them the injured soldiery, the consequences of which they were to abide." Word was immediately sent to General St. Clair, and his presence requested. After hearing a statement of the facts by him, Congress directed him to endeavor to march the mutineers to their barracks, and to announce to them that Congress would enter into no deliberation with them; that they must return to Lancaster, and that there, and only there, they would be paid.1 After this, Congress appointed a committee to confer with the executive of Pennsylvania, and adjourned. The members passed through the files of the mutineers, without being molested.

The committee, with Alexander Hamilton as chairman, waited on the State Executive Council; but, receiving no promise of protection, on the 24th of June, advised an adjournment of Congress to Princeton. The day after their arrival there, a resolution was passed directing General Howe to march fifteen hundred troops to Philadelphia to disarm the mutineers and bring them to trial. Before this force could reach Philadelphia, St. Clair and the Executive Council had succeeded in quieting the disturbance without bloodshed. The principal leaders were arrested, obedience secured, after which Congress granted a pardon. The resolution directing General Howe to move with the troops, gave offense to General St. Clair, who regarded it as an attempt to supersede him in his command. Thereupon, he addressed a sharp letter to the President of Congress, who very considerately refrained from laying it before that body. Explanations followed, showing that St. Clair had misconstrued the order, and peace prevailed once more. [20]

 It was not until two years later that Arthur St. Clair would enter onto the stage of national politics.  In November of 1785 he was elected a Pennsylvania delegate to the USCA and joined the ranks of the same body he freed from the military mutiny two years earlier.   His tenure as a delegate to the USCA was plagued with quorum failures.  By January 1, 1787, the USCA had gone almost two months without forming a quorum and replacing President Gorham who had returned to Massachusetts in early November 1786.  

So paralyzed was the federal government that on January 12^th, when Massachusetts General William Shepard wrote to Knox [21] pleading with him to endorse the decision to arm 900 local militia using guns and ammunition commandeered from the U.S. Arsenal he was marching on to  protect at Springfield, Knox replied that he lacked authority to give that permission. That authority, Knox wrote, rested with the United States Congress, which was not currently in session.  General Shepard decided to go ahead without Knox’s permission lest the Arsenal "fall into into Enemies from too punctilious observance of Forms."  Shepard reached the armory before Shays and commandeered the weapons stored there.

USCA President Arthur St. Clair
Continued