Last updated: September 21, 2020
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Whiskey Rebellion: Answers to Question 8.
If you answered:
A). What? You’re accusing me? I was trying to help. That was the Moderate opinion.
B). Glad to see you. Let’s get ’em. That was the Federalist opinion.
C). Sorry. I made a mistake. That was the Rebel opinion.
When the army crossed the mountains into western Pennsylvania it became clear there was no rebel army to fight, however, the soldiers were anxious for action. On a cold November night, in a coordinated effort, hundreds of men were rounded up, with no distinction being made between suspects and witnesses. Dragged from their beds in the middle of the night, the men were nearly naked, and some were barefoot. They were all physically and verbally abused. Some weren’t given food, water or proper shelter with at least one man dying of exposure. Eventually most the prisoners were released.
Hamilton wanted to capture and prosecute “the leaders” and use them as examples to deter any future disaffected citizens from revolting. Almost all the men who had committed criminal acts were gone.
Hamilton was still convinced moderates had stirred up and fomented rebellion. He interrogated Brackenridge for a day and a half before, determining that Brackenridge’s actions had been “horribly misrepresented” and he was cleared of all wrongdoing. Hamilton aggressively hunted for evidence against two other moderates, his political enemies Gallatin and William Findley, both of which he sought to hang. Witnesses were cross-examined and even imprisoned, but Hamilton never got the proof he sought.
At the end of November the army commander, General Lee, issued a general pardon to all citizens except those people who had fled, those who were in custody and a short list of wanted men. Less than a month after arriving the main part of the army marched back east. The tax collection offices were reestablished.
It’s ironic that Hamilton and the federal army had done the same thing that Tom the Tinker and the rebels had, they occupied the region, suspended civil liberties and used force to get compliance.
Twenty men were marched across the snowy mountains to Philadelphia for trial. They languished in jail for up to six months. Only two simple farmers were convicted. President Washington pardoned both.