Lt. Col. Henry Miller

Bio

Henry Miller was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on February 13, 1751. After obtaining a law degree in England, Miller was admitted to the bar in York county, Pennsylvania in 1770. From about 1772 until he joined the Continental Army in 1775, he held the position of Collector of the Excise.

Despite being in this position, he was a strong advocate for the cause of the colonies, and assisted in organizing a company to join the Continental Army, commissioned as 1st Lieutenant.

On July 25, 1775, his company was the first to reach Cambridge, Massachusetts, at this time held by the British, by way of Long Island and west of the Hudson River. Taking a portion of his company, he managed to get to the rear of the British sentries, where they became engaged with the guard. Miller’s company killed several of the guards, taking two prisoners, while losing just one of his own men. After this battle he was promoted to captain.

In November of 1777, he was promoted to major, and then later promoted to lieutenant colonel commandant of the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade in 1778.

One notable story about his prowess in battle took place at Monmouth. Miller had two horses shot out from under him, but upon securing a third one he continued in the battle.

In his memoirs, General James Wilkinson noted regarding Miller, “Major Miller, of Hand’s riflemen, was ordered by Gen. Washington to check the rapid movements of the enemy in pursuit,” while the colonial army was retreating across New Jersey. The efforts of Miller probably saved the patriot army from devastation.

In 1779 Miller resigned his commission, citing financial difficulties at home due to his long absence in the army.

In 1780, he was chosen high sheriff of York county, a position he held until 1783, at which time he joined the legislature, which he performed until 1785.

From 1785 until 1794, Miller served as a justice of the peace and of the court of common pleas. He also served as a member of the Constitutional convention of the state in 1790.

In 1794, under requisition of troops by President Washington due to the threat of the English on the western borders of the new United States, he was made brigadier-general. Later that same year, he became quartermaster-general and led the expedition to suppress the Whiskey Insurrection.

Later in 1794, Miller was appointed by President Washington Supervisor of the Revenue for Pennsylvania, an office he served until Thomas Jefferson became President.

After a spell in private mercantile pursuits, he was again requisitioned into the army during the War of 1812 as a brigadier-general, in command of the militia at Baltimore, and charged with the defense of Fort McHenry and its dependencies.

Upon the resolution of those threats, he retired from the army for good, returning to Pennsylvania. From 1821 until his death he served as the prothonotary of Perry county.

Henry Miller died in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on April 5th, 1824.

Source: Appleton’s Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1600-1889, Vol IV: Lodge – Pickens

Henry Miller was born on February 13, 1751, in Manor Township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.

On June 26, 1770, he married Sarah Ann Rose.

He died in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on April 5th, 1824.

Miller spent the winter of 1777-1778 at the Valley Forge encampment with Washington.

[Source: http://valleyforgemusterroll.org/regiments/pa2.asp]

Miller was a member of the 1790 Constitutional Convention of Pennsylvania, which abolished the 1776 Pennsylvania Constitution and created a new one.

As part of the Convention, he was elected to serve on a Committee of Nine to propose the new Constitution. The Committee of Nine consisted of William Findley, James Wilson, William Lewis, Alexander Addison, James Ross, Charles Smith, William Irvine, and Miller.

[Sources: Foster, Joshua S.. “The Politics of Ideology: The Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1789-1790” The Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1789-90 – Journals, Volume 59, Number 2, April 1992, Pages 122-143. https://journals.psu.edu/phj/article/download/24953/24722. ]

Letters to/from George Washington

To George Washington from Captain Henry Miller, 27 April 1776

From Captain Henry Miller

New Utrecht [N.Y.] April 27th 1776

I send you this by Express to inform that at dawn of Day this Morning a Small Sloop came down the River the Sentry on Staten Island haled her as also those on our side but she wou’d not come too each of the Sentrys Fired several Guns at Her which she disregarded & pass’d under a Smart Breeze to the Asia Man of War, our lower Sentry informs me that when she came near the Asia she Hoisted a blew Flag & they sent out a Barge to meet Her I have Just observed going to the Hook where she came from I cannot learn but immagine from New-York she bore off from our shore so much twas impossible we cou’d stop Her passage.

Henry Miller Cap. 1st Regimt

ALS, DLC:GW. Henry Miller commanded a Pennsylvania rifle company posted on Long Island. New Utrecht (now part of Brooklyn) was at the western end of Long Island, overlooking Gravesend Bay where the British warship Asia was anchored at this time.

Reference:

“To George Washington from Captain Henry Miller, 27 April 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, last modified June 13, 2018, http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-04-02-0117. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 4, 1 April 1776 – 15 June 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1991, pp. 143–144.]

PERMALINK: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-04-02-0117

From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Henry Miller, 18 December 1778

To Lieutenant Colonel Henry Miller

Head Quarters Middlebrook [N.J.] 18th Decr 1778.

Sir

I have your letter of the 21st Ultimo, now before me.1

A good officer cannot feel more real concern, to find that his domestic affairs, and the circumstances of his family, make it necessary for him to leave the army, than I do myself in loosing his services.

I always part reluctantly with the officer, who like you, has been early in the cause, and borne his share of military danger and fatigue; and I cannot help wishing that a continuance in the army, could in anywise be made compatible with your domestic duties. But should you fi this impossible—I suppose I need not tell you that it is customary, in all cases of resignation, to have a certificate that there is no public or regimental account unsettled. You will be pleased to communicate such a certificate, in case you take a conclusive determination to resign.

I am Sir Your very hble servt.

Df, in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

1. Miller’s letter to GW of 21 Nov. from Philadelphia reads: “It is with much concern I find myself under the Necessity of Offering the resignation of my Commission as Lieut. Colol in the 2nd Pennsyla Regimt. My Private Affairs are in such a situation that, I cannot without material Injury to my Family continue any longer in the service—I possessed but a small Estate, from the extravagant prices of every thing, have expended almost every Shilling for the support of my Family, my pay afforded but a scanty subsistance for myself.

“I engaged in the Army as early as the 20th of June 1775—and have never been from it in any Action since, and have taken a part in almost all of them—I trust therefore my quitting the service will not be attributed to any other cause but the reasons mentioned—I shall return to York Town and there wait your Excellencys Answer, which I hope will be an acceptance of my Resignation” (PHi: Gratz Collection).

Reference:

“From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Henry Miller, 18 December 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, last modified June 13, 2018, http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-18-02-0515. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 18, 1 November 1778 – 14 January 1779, ed. Edward G. Lengel. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2008, pp. 453–454.]

PERMALINK: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-18-02-0515