During the latter stages of the American War for Independence, the American Continental Army under Gen. Washington spent much of its time in New Jersey keeping a watch on the British Army in New York. Winters were hard. The suffering at Valley Forge in 1777-1778 was not the only time the soldiers suffered from lack of food and adequate shelter. On January 1, 1781, some of the Pennsylvania troops mutinied to demand payment from Congress and release from their enlistment. For the most part the mutineers were relatively well behaved, and eventually the revolt was settled peacefully. However, at the beginning of the revolt two officers were injured while trying to subdue the troops. One of these, Capt. Adam Bitting, died from his injuries. Below are several accounts of what happened that day.
January 1, 1781. A fine morning. The General and field officers of the Line met to settle the arrangement. The day spent in quietness. About 8 o'clock in the night a number of men in the 11th Regiment began to huzza and continued some time, but it was generally thought it only proceeded from the men drinking, as they had drawn half a pint of liquor this day. A number of the officers collected in order to quiet the men, which was done in a great measure. But in a short time a disturbance began on the right of the division, by the men parading with their arms and firing some scattering shots, which soon became general through the division, not withstanding every endeavor used by the officers. The men at length seized upon the artillery and began to drag them off on the road. During this time Captain Bitting was shot through the body and soon died. Captain Tolbert was badly wounded. Several shots were fired from the artillery as they kept them moving, the men in general by this time being in arms, huzzaing and firing their pieces in the air. The 9th & 5th regiments were kept in their parades until they were threatened by others, if they did not move off they would turn the artillery oil them, several shots being filed over their heads. At length the greater part of them mixed in with the other regiments, and kept the road by Gen. Waynes quarters. A number returned that night, collected more men, and, indeed, forced near one half the Line away. Their first half was at Vealtown, four miles from camp, and they continued there until they collected most of the Line.
From Pennsylvania Archives Series 2, Vol. XI, Page 631 John B. Linn & Wm. H. Eole, Ed., Harrisburg, 1880
At half-past four on the moonless morning of January 2, 1781 Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, Commanding the Pennsylvania troops then in winter quarters near Morristown, New Jersey, wrote a hurried letter to George Washington, who was at New Windsor six miles above West Point on the Hudson.
"It's with inexpressible pain that I now inform your Excellency of the general mutiny and defection which suddenly took place in the Pennsylvania Line, between the hours of nine and ten o'clock last evening. Every possible exertion was made by the officers to suppress it in its rise, but the torrent was too potent to be stemmed. Captain Bettin has fallen a victim to his zeal and duty."
Source for above Draft Letter Jan. 2, 1781 4:30 AM, Anthony Wayne to George Washington from Way P. Stille's Wayne, 242-43, taken from Mutiny in January by Carl Van Doren, The Viking Press, New York, 1943, p. 13
The majority of the men seem to have been still indisposed to mutiny, or undecided whether or not to fall in with the active minority. Colonel Walter Stewart's regiment (the 2nd) had to be forced to join or else be bayoneted. Captain Thomas Campbell of the 4th paraded a part of his regiment and led them in an incompleted charge to recapture the fieldpieces. They advanced a little, then dispersed and left the officers alone. A soldier from the mob attacked Lieutenant Colonel William Butler of the 4th, "who was obliged to retreat between the huts to save his life. He went around one hut and the soldier, around another to head him, met Captain Bettin [Adam Bettin of the same regiment] who was coming down the alley, who seeing a man coming towards him in a charge, charged his espontoon to oppose him, when the follow fired his piece and shot the Captain through the body, and he died two hours later." (What is said to be Bettin's grave is still shown under what is called the Bettin Oak on the Jockey Hollow road.)
Source for above Penna. Magazine of History and Biography XXI, 72-75, taken from Mutiny in January by Carl Van Doren, The Viking Press, New York, 1943, Chapter 4 p. 46-47