USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Goshen > History of the town of Goshen, Connecticut, with genealogies and biographies based upon the records of Deacon Lewis Mills Norton, 1897 > Part 10
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George Dear had always followed the sea. When the army had retreated to Ticonderoga, an order was given to enlist all the men who had been sailors for service on the boats upon the lake. He enlisted. In the engagements on the lake it was the custom when the flash of the enemy's guns was seen to cry, " a shot," when the men would fall down. George Dear being deaf, did not hear, and he was cut almost in two by a cannon ball.
While they were at Ticonderoga the news came to Goshen that the soldiers had lost their clothes and were in need. Lieu- tenant Cyprian Collins was sent with clothes and other neces- saries, and we can believe that his welcome was a warm one.
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On the morning of the day on which their term of enlist- ment expired they were ordered out, and an effort was made by the officers to induce them to remain, if only for two or three weeks. But they were tired of that service, and not a man of them would stay. They started the next morning, and each one straggled home as he could. The whole campaign was a failure, and most distressing to the Americans engaged in it. There were 24 men from Goshen in this expedition, one of whom was killed and six, died. Of, the others 12 had the small pox.
In Hollister's History of Connecticut, Vol. II, p. 295, I find the name of J. Matthews, of Goshen, among the names of prisoners who were taken with Colonel Ethan Allen, in his at- tempt upon Montreal. It is said that on the 16th of Septem- ber, 1776, he was confined with many others, in one room at Halifax, among felons, thieves, and negroes.
CAMPAIGN OF 1776, AT LONG ISLAND AND NEW YORK.
At the early session of the General Assembly, Mr. Stephen Goodwin was commissioned and ordered to enlist a company of men from Goshen and vicinity, for six months' service, and when the company was made up to proceed to New York. This was his first experience as a military officer. The militia company was summoned to assemble on the Meeting-house green, for the purpose of securing recruits from its ranks. John Doud, a soldier in the French war, was directed to solicit volunteers. He took a drummer and fifer and march- ed them around the company, calling on the men to enlist under Captain Goodwin. A considerable number of recruits were thus obtained. The company was made up to 60 men and about 50 of them were residents of Goshen, the others mostly from Torrington.
About the first of June the company paraded at the house of Captain Goodwin, and from thenee went on to New York. They rode on horseback to Norwalk, two or three men going
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on with them to drive back the horses from that place. Here they were joined by another company and with them took sloop from Norwalk to New York. The company were quar- tered for four or five weeks in a large brick house near the Battery. Their rations consisted of salt pork, fresh beef, wheat bread, salt, and usually one gill of New England rum a day to each soldier. If they had any vegetables they must pur- chase them.
It was while they were remaining here that the Declara- tion of Independence was made and published, and the army was called out by brigades to hear it read. General Washing- ton was there and in command. There was a feeling of deep solemnity pervading the army. Every one realized, many of them for the first time, that the country's cause must be sup- ported or all the rebel leaders, as they were called by the enemy, must forfeit their lives upon the gallows.
General James Wadsworth, of Durham, commanded the brigade. The company formed a part of the Second battalion, Fisher Gay, Farmington, Colonel. He died in August, and was succeeded by Selah Heart, or Hart, also from Farmington.
The entire brigade was transferred to Long Island about the middle of July. The passage was made in boats and with- out molestation, the British troops at that time being on Staten Island.
The officers of this company were:
Captain, Stephen Goodwin. His health was poor all the summer. He did not go to New York with his company, but later he went on and joined them. He was with them but little, did not go to Long Island, and was not with them when New York was taken. But very little is known of him as an officer.
First Lieutenant, Timothy Gaylord, of Norfolk. He was a good officer, a pleasant man and much beloved by his men. The Connecticut Records report that he was " killed or prisoner Sep. 15, 1776." Timothy Buel, the last survivor
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of the company, reports as follows: " On the occasion of the firing in the orchard I was close by him. As the Hessians ad- vanced, some of the soldiers thinking they were enemies, turned and ran a few rods. I was among them. Gaylord called them back saying, 'Men, what do you run for? They are our own men.' I said, 'You ought to know best.' When the firing began the Lieutenant had his thigh broken by a musket ball. His men did not see him any more, but learned that he was taken prisoner, his wound was healed, he was ex- changed, and while returning home was taken sick and died before reaching it."
From another source it was reported that it was supposed he was poisoned by the British while a prisoner.
Second Lieutenant, Stephen Scovil, of Torringford.
Ensign Jesse Judd, of Goshen, commissioned, but it is not known that he was ever with the company in the field.
Ensign Jabez Wright, of Goshen.
Adino Halc, First Sergeant. An active man, always faith- ful in performance of his duties.
Seth Lockwood, Second Sergeant, of Goshen.
Giles Gaylord, Third Sergeant, of Norfolk. He was brother to the Lieutenant. These were sons of Samuel Gay- lord, one of the first settlers of Goshen.
Robert Rood, Fourth Sergeant, of Goshen.
William Starr, Corporal, of Goshen.
The company rolls are lost, and it is impossible to obtain the names of all the soldiers. The following names of Goshen soldiers were given by Mr. Andrew Norton, in 1838: Caleb Carr.
John Carr. These were brothers, and were taken prisoners at the orchard, but finally returned.
Joel Gaylord and Joseph Gaylord, brothers, returned.
Elijah Towner, returned.
Abraham Beach. He was taken prisoner, but finally ex-
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changed. He died at Milford on his way home, of camp distemper, June 5, 1777.
Martin Beach. Son of Linus Beach, and cousin of the above. He was taken prisoner with his cousin, and confined with him on prison-ships. He died at New York of camp distemper, Nov. 8, 1776, aged 18.
Martin Nash. Wounded in the shoulder and taken prisoner at Flatbush. Died of camp distemper in New York, Nov. 3, 1776.
Oliver Griswold. Died in New York of camp distemper, while in the army.
John Seely. A blacksmith. Returned.
Ichabod Chapin. Brought up by Nehemiah Lewis, Sr. After his return he married Asenath, daughter of Chiliab Smith.
Nathaniel Newell. Eldest son of Rev. Abel Newell. Re- turned.
John Norton. Son of David Norton. Returned.
Isaac Baldwin. Son of Nathaniel Baldwin. Returned.
David Humphrey and his brother
Simeon Humphrey. Sons of David Humphrey. Both re- turned.
George Dear. Son of George, who was killed at the North on Lake Champlain.
Timothy Stanley, Jr.
Stephen North and his brother
Seth North. Sons of John North. Both returned.
Joseph Norton. Son of Elihu. Returned.
Timothy Tuttle. Son of Timothy. Returned.
Edmund Beach, Drummer. Son of Deacon Edmund. Re- turned.
Timothy Buell. Son of Captain Jonathan Buell, Sr., Re- turned.
James Davis and his brother
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Joel Davis. Sone of the James Davis who married the daugh- ter of Nehemiah Lewis, Sr. They both returned.
Stephen Goodwin, Jr., Fifer. Son of the Captain. Returned. Josiah Bartholomew, Jr. Returned, but died of small pox the next year.
William Starr. Brother to Ephraim. He was Ensign the next year.
Jeptha Merrills and his brother
Noah Merrills. Sons of David. Both returned.
John Willoughby. He deserted and went to Maine.
Ebenezer Lewis. Son of Ebenezer Lewis. Married a woman of unsavory reputation whom he found in the army in 1779. Deserted from the South near the close of the war, and was arrested and returned to the army by Cy- prian Collins.
James Brown. He was brought up by Captain Samuel Petti- bone and later lived with Colonel Ebenezer Norton. He deserted and never returned. It was reported that he was executed for robbery in Virginia, and on the gallows stated that he was from Goshen, Conn.
Abraham Wadhams. Son of Jonathan. He was sick three months in New York, and was brought home by his father.
Medad Norton. Son of Captain Miles. Returned.
Asa Brooks. Son of Charles, brother of Joseph. Returned. Solomon Morse. A carpenter. In the affair of the orchard he received a shot in the ankle, and thinking he could not escape he turned his gun breech upwards, in token of his surrender. In this situation he was overtaken by John Norton, and told him that he must give up as he could not go on. John proposed to carry the gun and did so and they escaped. Returned.
Robert Rood. Taken prisoner with the Carr brothers in the orchard, but finally returned.
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Thomas Lucas. Son of Thomas. He was taken sick with camp distemper on his way home and died ten days after reaching it, Dec. 20, 1776, aged 27. The burial was in the cemetery on East street.
David Holmes. Son of Phebe Holmes, who was the second wife of Chiliab Smith. Supposed to have returned.
Matthew Lockwood.
Jesse Judd. Took the place of Abraham Wadhams when he was sick.
The following incidents occurring to the company of Cap- tain Goodwin were related by Deacon Timothy Buell in the summer of 1839. He was at that time 72 years of age.
The company remained on Long Island until the famous retreat of General Washington, from that place to New York, early in September, 1776.
The day but one previous to the battle of Flatbush, Colonel Hart's regiment was called out from the intrenchment to go on guard duty, about four miles South. Half the regiment were doing sentry duty the first part of the night and half the latter part. I had been sick and excused from duty two weeks before, but I went with my regiment. It was a rainy night, and I sat by a tree while not on guard, sitting upon the lock of my gun to keep it dry. In the morning we made fires of rails and warmed and dried ourselves. The regiment returned to the intrenchments towards night. Martin Nash, Martin Beach, and some others were detailed for guard duty that same night. These were in the fighting at Flatbush the next day.
The regiment of Colonel Hart rested that night, and in the morning, it was ordered to their alarm post, after break- fast, in a field near where they were quartered, some 40 rods distant. Here it stayed until about 9 or 10 o'clock. At that time an officer rode up and inquired for the officer command- ing the regiment. It was immediately ordered to march southeast two miles to the breastworks, in which they were
9
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placed at the west end of the line extending east. From there it was ordered into the fort, on the line which was some- thing like half a mile east, on a small, high hill.
While there I had an opportunity of seeing the movements of the army and of the enemy. I saw a Maryland regiment fired upon by the enemy, who were concealed in the woods. It was a surprise. The regiment halted and returned three fires and then retreated. They were all killed or taken prisoners.
Our regiment was called back to its former place in the intrenchments before night. We remained under arms all night, part on guard and part trying to sleep as they could, some going into a barn near by. And here we were kept two hours, not allowed to go to our quarters, each mess of six send- ing for their provisions. The cooking was done elsewhere.
From this place commenced the retreat, so memorable in the history of the revolution. It was a dark, foggy night, the weather having been lowery for some time before. About midnight all were called out to parade by the breastwork. After the men were paraded a man passed along the line, say- ing in a low tone of voice, " Soldiers, look up your messmates; don't let one be left; if one is left it will be a dreadful thing." This he kept repeating as he passed along. All were ordered not to speak a loud word. The order was then given to march immediately back to the quarters at Brooklyn, without noise or music. We marched directly by the houses where our company had been quartered, a short distance, then halted, the road being full of men between us and the ferry. At this time Edmund Beach and myself, unknown to the officers, slipped ont and passed by the side of the fence down to the ferry, to see what was going on. We found the boats loading with men and starting to cross as rapidly as possible. We re- turned and told the company what was being done. No or- ders were given, but the men of our company with one con- sent, started to the houses where we had been quartered, got our packs and what else we had (each mess had a kettle), and
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returned. Seth and Matthew Lockwood, Edmund Beach, Ashbel* Beach, of Beach street, Jesse Judd and myself messed together. The men were moved toward the ferry as fast as they had room and crossed in boats over to New York; all silent, careful not to take in too many men; push off as soon as loaded, land and back again as soon as possible. I got over about two o'clock. In loading there was no distinction; a com- pany might or might not be together. The men found each other as they could. The sentries were the last to be brought off, just before sunrise.
Captain Goodwin was not with the company at this time, and the company was quartered in a house where we remained from three to five days. Our regiment was then ordered North, about two miles outside of the city, where we stayed two days with no shelter, except what we made with rails. Then we were ordered about one mile farther North to a breastwork on the west side of East River. We entered the breastwork after breakfast on Sabbath morning, September 15th. It was a clear day and very warm. There we stood in the sunshine about four hours, or until afternoon, without food or drink. The breastwork extended from north to south. Our company's position was near the northern extremity of the intrenchment. The ground was gently sloping to the river, about sixty rods distant. The ditch was cut down perpen- dicularly about thirty inches and six feet wide, the earth thrown out on the lower side so that by stooping the men would be protected. Our brigade was the only one within the in- trenchment.
At the time we entered there were three British ships of war lying in the river, directly opposite, and some smaller ves- sels back of them. The embarkation of British troops from Long Island begun at the same time. We counted 60 of these boats, full of men. After all were embarked the foremost
* Ashbel Beach's name has not appeared before.
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boat put out a flag, which was the signal for them all to pro- ceed, at the same moment the fire of the ships commenced directed to our brigade in the breastworks; the object of which seemed to be, to keep our men there, that no resistance should be offered to the landing of the troops upon York Island. The firing from the ships was tremendously heavy; the balls and grape shot went over our heads and all around us. We were not allowed to stand up, but I and some others would occasion- ally lift up our heads to watch the troops in the boats. They soon passed the ships, going up the river, and were out of sight; a point of woods, reaching down to the river, obstruct- ing the view. They landed at a place called Turtle Bay, a lit- tle to the north of our brigade. The firing lasted one and one- half to two hours.
After the British troops had landed and were marching, as was supposed, to the south, west of the intrenchment, and at some little distance from it, the fire of the ships slackened; the reason for which is supposed to have been that their own men might not be exposed. When the firing had almost ceased, and only an occasional shot to the southwest, the brigade was ordered to march out at the south end of the ditch in single file, and as fast as possible. We had to run about ten rods south, when passing behind a ledge of rocks we were sheltered from the fire of the ships.
Here was a small orchard, inclosed with a stone wall, hav- ing a bar way on the south side, near the southeast corner. In this orchard the brigade huddled promiscuously to take a little rest, our commanding officers with us. We were hungry, thirsty, out of breath, and all were glad to be sheltered from the British fire. Many laid down their packs and some their coats. At this moment a body of men from the north marched down upon the east side of the orchard, outside the wall, in platoons of four. They were dressed in the same manner as an American regiment of York Grenadiers; wearing blue coats with red facings, white vest, breeches, and stockings
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and black gaiters. They wore high caps with metal on the front, large, and high. The officers of the brigade were not agreed as to who these men were. Some were certain that they were friends, and others believed that they were enemies. They continued to approach until opposite our brigade, and commenced entering through the bar way. The Brigade Major, John Palsgrave Wyllys, of Hartford, reached out his hand to shake with the commanding officer, and he pulled him from his horse. General Wadsworth called out, " Who are von?" "Friends," was the answer of the officer command- ing, with something of the German accent. "You are no friends," said Wadsworth, and putting spurs to his horse escaped. Before Major Wyllys' sword was taken from him, he had swung it and cried, " Retreat, retreat, retreat." The Hes- sians commenced firing and we all fled as we could.
Brigade Major Wyllys and Colonel Hart were taken pris- oners. Eight of Captain Goodwin's company were made pris- oners on the spot and among them, the acting commander, Lieutenant Gaylord, who had his thigh broken by a musket ball.
Our flight was over the stone wall and westward, the ground descending through a piece of open woodland a short distance, to a low piece of ground, covered with alders. In getting over the stone wall, on the west side of the orchard, John Norton overtook Robert Rood, Caleb and John Carr, who had stopped there. " What are you about? " asked John. " We are going to give them battle," was the reply. The three men were taken prisoners. As a part of the company were getting over the wall they were closely pursued by the Hessians. It was re- ported in the camp, although I saw nothing of it, that the commanding officer of the Hessians was killed by one of our men, Sergeant Salmon Agard, from Torringford. He had jumped over the wall, when the Hessian Colonel, in close pur- suit called him to surrender. As he was turning to face him he cocked his gun and shot the officer dead, and made his es-
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cape. This account was current among the men who escaped, and was probably given at first, or sanctioned by Agard him- self.
At the time the Hessians attacked us Captain Goodwin's company were together near the middle of the orchard. The men were tired, and many of them were seated when the affair began. They had removed their packs, and many of them their coats and left them, or in some instances, threw them away when retreating. I saw nothing of the Hessians after leaving the orchard, but while passing through the piece of timber the sound of the bullets over our heads and among the trees gave sufficient evidence that we were being pursued. After pass- ing through the low ground covered with alders, we went over ascending ground to an open field when we discovered the columns of the British army directly in our front, leisurely marching to the south on the main road to New York. These were the troops that had just landed above. On seeing the main road occupied by the enemy it was the object of our men to get ahead of them, and cross the road in order to make our escape to the North River. We continued to run to the south, in the open fields, keeping some forty or fifty rods from the enemy, until we had gained a sufficient distance to make it safe to turn westward and cross the road. This was about three-fourths of a mile south of the place where we had first seen them. When we crossed they were in full view and from one-eighth to one-fourth of a mile distant. It is supposed that they feared an ambuscade, for they proceeded cautiously, and did not molest us.
After running westward, about half a mile, the foremost halted till all had come up, General Wadsworth among them. Here we paraded for the first time since we left the breast- works, and marched north on the lower road in regular order. I was in the front guard at the time, and after marching about one mile we saw a man galloping rapidly towards us, and soon recognized the iron gray horse and General Putnam. On
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coming up he stopped a moment, asked what had taken place, directed us to Kingsbridge and galloped on. It was stated that he went on to the lower part of the city, brought off all the American guards and arrived safe in camp.
The brigade arrived that night at Harlem Heights and our mess went into a meadow, to a stack of hay, of which we pulled out some and spread it upon the ground. It was a bright, moonlight night, we were tired and hungry, but had found some water in a field after General Putnam left us. We made ourselves as comfortable as possible, covering ourselves with Edmund Beach's blanket, which he had saved with his pack, having nothing but his drum to carry.
The next morning, about ten o'clock, we drew some fresh beef, salt, and flour. Some one in the company had somewhere obtained a pot that would hold a pailful. This pot we put a- boiling for our beef and kept it boiling, as it was the only thing of the kind for the company. Some of us took our flour and went down to the side of the North River, where there was a spring. Here we found a large rock, about 8 feet high, with a hollow like a basin upon the top of it. Into this hollow we put our flour and bringing water in our hats from the spring we wet it up and made dough. This dough we baked on flat stones before the fire and "it was good." It was about noon, and we had not taken any food since sunrise of the preceding day.
At this time there was fighting a mile south of us, in which the Goshen militia were engaged. Our brigade was considered too much exhausted to be called into action at that time. We returned to Goshen the December following.
THE MILITIA AT NEW YORK IN 1776.
During the summer all the men belonging to the two militia companies in the town, who were considered fit for service, were called out to go to New York. They were
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formed into one company of 40 or 50 men. Of this number only the following names can be ascertained.
Captain Medad Hills, Lieutenant Matthew Smith, Ensign Asa Francis, Sergeant Jonathan Kettle, Corporal Jonathan Buel, Jr., Charles Humphrey, David Ives, Amos Beach, Isaac Butrick, Robert Morris, Abraham Smith, Titus Gaylord, Jesse Stanley, and Alexander Griswold.
Isaac Butrick deserted from New York, and was afterward considered a tory. The company suffered a great deal from camp distemper, and a considerable number were released to come home. The company were in one engagement, referred to in the account of Captain Goodwin's Company. It is not known that any of the men received injuries on that occasion, and all except the deserter, returned home in six or seven weeks.
In December, 1776, a company of volunteers from the towns of Winchester, Torrington, and Goshen enlisted. The enlistment pledge, and the names of the Goshen volunteers are as follows:
" We the subscribers have and do voluntarily engage to march for the relief of the Continental army, under such offi- cers as shall be chosen by the Company to which we belong."
Medad Hills, Captain; Timothy Stanley, Lieutenant; John Doud, Ensign; Andrew Bailey, Fisk Beach, Daniel Baldwin, Elisha Catlin, James Brown, John Carington, John Grant, Amasa Cook, Joel Gaylord, Phineas Hinman, Samuel Hopkins, Benjamin Ives, Jared Jones, David Landon, Robert Morris, Daniel Miles, Medad Norton, Eber Norton, Ebenezer Norton, Jr., Benjamin Oviatt, Josiah Roys, Chileab Smith, Stephen Tuttle, Elisha Thompson, Levi Thompson, Elijah Wilcox, Stephen North.
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1777.
It was in the spring of 1777 that the Continental Congress first arranged to raise soldiers for three years, or during the war.
We extract from the records of the town.
" At a town meeting held April 1, 1777, pursuant to the directions of his Hon. the Governor and Committee of Safety, Samuel Kellogg was chosen Moderator. At the same meeting Capt. Asaph Hall, Stephen Thompson, Cyprian Collins, Abel Phelps, Jun. were chosen a committee to procure the tents and other necessaries required by law to be provided by this town and to draw money out of the town treasury for that purpose. and Voted that the town pay said com- mittee for their reasonable cost in procuring the same.
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