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 11
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" Voted by this meeting that this town do agree and firmly united among themselves, strictly to adhere to the law regulating prices, and to use their joint and several influence to support and maintain the same.
" Voted that this meeing be adjourned to monday next, to be opened at the meeting house, at 3 of the clock afternoon, and opened accordingly.
" Voted before the adjournment that this town do engage and promise all such able bodied effective soldiers as shall enlist and go into the continental army on account of and to supply the quota of men demanded of this town at this time, and may not have time before their march to supply their families (if such they have) with necessaries and provision in their absence, shall on their reasonable request be supplied in their absence with necessaries at the prices stated by law, on their lodging or from time to time remitting to a certain committee we shall appoint for that purpose, - money for purchasing the same, at the prices stated by law: and that the ad- ditional charge and expense of providing the same shall be paid out of the treasury of this town.
" Voted that Captain Buel, Capt. Beach and Lieut. James Thomp- son be a committee for the purpose aforesaid.
" Voted that each able bodied effective soldier who shall by the first day of May next enlist into the service of the continental army now raising for the defence of the United States in America, to the number of the quota of men required of this town, and on account of the quota required of said town, shall each man be paid out of the treasury of said town, ten pounds lawful money, each man on his enlisting as aforesaid; and at the end of one year after his en- listment in case he shall continue in said service shall be paid ten
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pounds more lawful money, and so be paid ten pounds lawful money at the end of the second year after their enlistment, provided they shall at that time continue in said service."
At the same meeting the Town Treasurer ' was empowered and desired to borrow of particular persons,' the money that might be needed to pay these bounties, and the selectmen were instructed to lay rates for three successive years to meet these payments."
CONTINENTAL SOLDIERS.
The names of those enlisting at this time, so far as known, are as follows: Isaac Miles, Caleb Miles, Robert Morris, David Ives, Timothy Knapp, Thomas Wire, Joel Gaylord, Bradford Kellogg, John Seeley, and Ichabod Chapin. David Ives de- serted to the enemy.
MILITIA.
The same spring a draft was made from the militia com- panies in Litehfield, Torrington, and Goshen to form a com- pany for Peekskill. The number required from Goshen was from 6 to 10 men, of whom the following are known. Lieuten- ant Matthew Smith, Sergeant Jonathan Buel, Drummer Ed- mund Beach, and Noah Merrills. The company went on to Peekskill where they did guard duty and returned home the latter part of May. It was during their absence that Danbury was burned, but they were not at Danbury at the time.
ON THE OCCASION OF THE BURNING OF DANBURY.
The firing of cannon was heard here on the morning of the Sabbath, April 27th, but the people convened for public worship as usual. Mr. Newell preached. During the time of the intermission a messenger arrived, giving account of the marching of the British. The drum was beat upon the step- stone of the meeting-house. There was no drafting or enlist- ment, but the people all went immediately home and a con-
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siderable number of men fitted off as soon as possible to go to meet the enemy. Ridgefield was the place of rendezvous. To that place they went on, every man on horseback, and each carrying his saddle bags with provisions. They scattered along, Fisk Beach and Cyprian Collins rode in company: ex- pected company enough after they got to Litchfield. Oliver Norton took with him some cake and cheese. Some few of the men were on foot.
The following is a list of the men so far as recollected, and probably is nearly complete. Fisk Beach, Josiah Roys, Jona- than Wadhams, Oliver Norton, Ephraim Leech, Cyprian Col- lins, Miles Norton, John Doud, Isaac Pratt, Silas Richmond, William Beach, James Thompson, Robert Morris, Timothy Buel, and Elihu Lewis.
These men arrived just as the enemy were embarking, and had no opportunity to do anything of consequence.
The town of Danbury was in flames, as also the old church in which were stored 150 barrels of pork. From the stores of provisions there collected,- and which it was the object of the British to destroy,- from these while burning, from the pork especially, there ran a stream of melted lard in the street about one-fourth of a mile in length.
(The following respecting Paul Peck, who lived some- where in the vicinity of Wolcottville, was related to Lewis M. Norton by Andrew Norton, in 1839.)
This noted hunter was killed on the occasion of the burning of Danbury. He was not a soldier, but had volunteered as others had done for the occasion. It was not his disposition to march and obey orders as others did; he chose rather to man- age in his own way, and harass the enemy as he could. The barrel of his gun was more than six feet in length and his long experience as a hunter in his native woods had rendered him so expert as a marksman that very little of his ammunition was wasted. Placing himself in a situation of some little security, so fast as he could load and fire, at every shot one man
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of the British fell. At length he received a ball in the head and fell a dead man. He was 73 years old, and some of his gray hairs were said to have been driven into his skull. A British soldier, enraged at the fate of so many of his comrades, came to him, seized his long gun, and striking it upon the ground broke off the stock, bent the barrel, and hung it upon a tree.
(Deacon Timothy Buel added to the foregoing as follows:)
Paul Peck was at the North in 1775, in the company of Capt. Beebe of Litchfield. He carried his own long gun, with- out a bayonet. He was also said to have been in the old French War. The officers found it best to let him have his own way, to some extent.
To return to the account of the Goshen men at Danbury. As the British had done their damage, and marched away be- fore their arrival, they felt themselves at liberty to plunder some of the houses which remained, it being understood that the houses not burned belonged to the tories. Fisk Beach filled his saddle bags with heads of hatchelled flax; James Thompson brought home some articles of wearing apparel; Jonathan Wadhams had in his saddle bags a pair of flat irons. It is said, however, that his wife and daughters strenuously refused to use them on the ground that "the receiver is as bad as the thief." Oliver Norton, when he got home, found in his pocket an old milk cup with the handle off. Josiah Roys and Isaac Pratt each brought something. This loading back from Danbury was the occasion of much sport and joking among the people after their return. There was a feeling pre- vailing among the young people that the tories might be ill treated with impunity; also their families. This was not un- natural, as it was to them that they justly ascribed some of the heaviest calamities they suffered.
The men from Goshen returned directly to their homes in one or two days."
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In the winter and spring of this year there was a small number drafted from the militia of the town to go to Horse Neck, about thirty miles above New York. Their term was three months, and they were employed in guard duty. Of these the following are recollected. Philo Collins, Eber Nor- ton, Stephen North, John Doud, Ebenezer Norton, Jr.
During the summer of 1777, the following notice was served on the officers named:
" COPY.
" To Lieuts. Isaac Pratt & Miles Norton of Goshen. Sirs;
" Whereas it appears that it is likely to be an alarm soon by all appearance therefore I send ye names of ye men who are lately Draughted in your Town that as soon as you have orders to March that you have the men ready at the shortest notice, well equiped not to fail &c.
"the names Draughted as follows
(Here fifty-nine names are given.)
" Goshen men 59, and Harwinton men 42. The officers to Com- mand these men which is 101 is Capt. Nathl. Copley Miles Norton, Isaac Pratt Lients. Eli Wilson, Ensign
"These from your most obedt & Huml Servant
"Dated Torrington 22d of July A D 1777.
" Epaphras Sheldon Col.
"To Lieut Miles Norton Lieut Isaac Pratt "
Salt had come to be the scarcest commodity in this part of the State, and a town meeting was held September 16th, at which the only business transacted was the following:
" Voted that Daniel Miles, Capt. Beach and Samuel Kellogg be a committee to transport the salt provided by this state for this town, now at Boston, to this town in the most prudent manner they can, at the expense of this town: - and when the salt is delivered here, to distribute the same to each family in this town according to their number: they paying said Committee the price said Salt stands the town in when delivered here.
" Voted, that Samuel Nash, town Treasurer, is hereby directed and impowered to sue the notes given to him by sundry persons for not going into the service of the war, for which they had been drafted."
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" At a town meeting lawfully convened and held in Goshen September 25th 1777 - at the same meeting Capt. Buel was chosen moderator.
" At the same meeting Voted, that each able-bodied [man] be- longing to this said town, who shall enlist as volunteers under Gen- eral Oliver Woolcott, in the present requisition for soldiers to assist General Gates in the Northern department, to serve the said General Woolcott in said army untill dismissed by him, shall be paid five pounds Lawful money out of the treasury of said town: - provided, if any such soldier has given his note to said Treasurer for any former neglect, he shall only receive his note he has given said Treasurer.
" Voted, that Ephraim Starr, Daniel Miles, Capt. Stanley, Capt. Buell, Ensign Collins, Silas Richmond, Fowler Merwin and Samuel Kellogg be a committee with full power to purchase at the expense of this town, for each Non commissioned officer and soldier now in the continental army, which are of the quota of soldiers required of this town, each non commissioned officer and soldier one shirt, either linnen or flannel, one hunting shirt or frock, one pair of woolen over- alls, one or two pairs of stockings, and one pair of good shoes; and deliver the same to the Commissary or Commissaries appointed to receive the same, according to a resolve of the Governor and Com- mittee of safety, dated at Lebanon 12th day of September Instant."
Some time during the summer, and probably soon after the communication received from Colonel Sheldon, six of the militia were drafted to join the army at the North for three months. These six men were Sergeant Ambrose Collins, Joseph Brooks, Noah Merrills, -- Scott, Matthew Lock- wood, and Elisha Mayo.
Ambrose Collins went as a substitute for Fowler Merwin. The engagement with Mr. Merwin was made by his father, Cyprian Collins, without consulting Ambrose. Mr. Merwin was to pay forty dollars premium, continental money ..
During the summer, after the burning of Danbury, the people of Goshen, with the exception of those in the army, were not interrupted in the pursuit of their ordinary occupa- tions. This was gratifying to them as their business had suf- fered much in 1776, as during the summer of that year nearly one hundred men had been called into the service. The pro-
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gress of General Burgoyne at the North had aroused the anxiety of the people. The battle of Bennington had been fought on the 16th of August, in which General Stark had de- stroyed the detachment under the British Colonel Baum. The next day, Colonel Breyman, who had been despatched by General Burgoyne to assist Colonel Baum, was also attacked and defeated. The difficulties which General Burgoyne found in his way were getting every day more formidable; and the subjugation of the New England States was found to be no easy thing. Strong hopes began to be entertained that the British army in the North and their General, who had made his boasts of his ability in one short season, to overrun New England, might be obliged to take their position with the Americans as prisoners of war.
At this time General Oliver Wolcott issued a call for vol- unteers from the regiments of his brigade for service in the North. His appeal is hopeful and full of the most patriotic sentiments. It was on account of this call that the town meet- ing of September 25th was held. Quite a large detachment was raised in the towns of Litchfield, Goshen, Torrington, and probably other towns in the vicinity, of which General Wol- cott took command. As no rolls of the men have been pre- served, the names of all who volunteered cannot be given, but the following are among the number who went from Goshen: Jonathan Buel, Jr., Nathaniel Newell, Cyprian Collins, Ne- hemiah Lewis, Robert Rood, Jonathan Kettle, and Doctor Elisha Sill.
The detachment under General Wolcott went on in great haste, one of the last days in September, and joined the army of General Gates about three weeks before the surrender of Burgoyne. The six militia mentioned above, had been with the army some time. They were connected with the main army under General Gates, and were posted on the left, where General Arnold commanded. Their position brought them into the hottest of the battle on the 7th of October. The
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American army was on the west side of the river, and a short distance south of the British. The right wing of the Ameri- cans, under General Gates, stretched eastward down to the river.
Ambrose Collins was stationed as sentry for the Council of War, which was held on the evening before the battle of the 7th of October, at the marquee of General Gates, and heard the greater part of the conversation among the officers composing the council. The consultation continued until ten o'clock, with General Gates presiding.
All but two of the officers were in favor of not attacking the British the next day, thinking that the capture of the enemy might be effected without the further effusion of blood. But General Arnold was very resolute and rose and told the Council that he should march out his brigade on the next morn- ing and attack the enemy, let the consequence be what it would, and so he did. In the morning his brigade was par- aded and commenced the attack.
The following account of what he saw and took part in on the field is from Sergeant Ambrose Collins.
In the morning of October 7th we heard constant firing but a short distance away. The company to which I belonged were mustered to receive their rations. General Arnold came along on an elegant brown horse, and ordered the men to hasten their preparations for action. We were paraded two deep for the march, the line being between one and two miles in length. Our march was through some fields that had been cleared, but chiefly through the woods, over logs and among the trees and bushes. It was not until about noon that our company faced the enemy where there had previously been fighting, and many of the dead bodies were lying about. The Americans being more numerous than the British we were able to extend our lines to the left farther than they, com- pelling them to retreat in order to avoid being flanked.
We continued to press on, keeping our lines as well as the
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ground would permit; loading and firing rapidly as possible as we advanced. Our steps were lively, but we did not run. I saw no fighting with bayonets. At one time I saw just before me a British officer sitting and supporting himself by a tree. I drew up and was about to shoot him, when I thought the man is wounded and I let him live. In the morning I had 24 cartridges, and at night had two or three left. I was not dis- posed to fire until I had an object distinctly in view, for I knew that I could get no new supply of ammunition during the day. It was not windy, and there was a great deal of smoke, but I could generally see the enemy; sometimes close by and then farther off. We took one piece of cannon, but were soon obliged to retreat and lose it. This piece was al- ternately taken and lost three times. The Americans on the whole advanced, but the firing was deadly, and the men were falling fast on both sides.
We came to a small breastwork, made of rails and high enough to shelter men, with openings through which they might shoot. We drove the British from this to their princi- pal breastworks. The strong breastworks of the enemy were forced by the men under Arnold; the British retreating as the Americans took possession of them.
This was about sunset, and the men near me who had been in the action all the afternoon were soon ordered to return to the camp. This order was a welcome one, as we were much fatigued. Our places were supplied by fresh troops. I did not see General Arnold that day after that time in the morn- ing.
Our eamp was at least a mile back. In returning to it we passed over the same ground on which we had been fighting. The dead were lying where they had fallen and some of the wounded. They were gathering them up and carrying them off in two horse lumber wagons. The wounded were taken up and laid or thrown in one on top of the other till the box was full, when they drove away south to the camp. As they were
10
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passing one of the wagons, they saw Colonel Morgan. As they were throwing in the bodies some almost, and some quite dead, " Here," said Colonel Morgan, "is my Lieutenant-Colonel." He was dead, and as he was a very heavy man, I took hold with several others and helped put him in the wagon. We heard but little groaning among the wounded, and what we heard we did not notice much, being much fatigued and exhausted and every one had himself to take care of. It is probable that such of the wounded as were likely to live or were able to call for help had been carried from the field before this.
We were very hungry and thirsty, having had neither food nor drink since the morning. When our company reached the camp we got some supper, after which we turned into our tents and slept quietly, each in his blanket, all night. We had no straw, but the ground was tolerably dry. I knew nothing that day of volunteers from Goshen.
On the day of the battle of Saratoga, the American women followed close after the American soldiers, as they were ad- vancing and even exposed themselves where the shot were flying, to strip the dead. These were doubtless the basest of their sex; such as sometimes follow an army. I saw one woman while thus employed, struck by a cannon ball, and literally dashed to pieces. I also saw the women attempting to strip a wounded Hessian officer. One woman was attempting to get his watch. He was able to speak and although they could not understand what he said he made so much resistance that they left him.
Cyprian Collins, whose name will be found among the volunteers under General Wolcott, arrived at the battle ground in the evening of this day and immediately com- menced to search for his son. Not finding him among the living he continued his search among the dead. He found a body which he thought might be his son's, and procured a torch light with which he might make a more careful exam- ination. He concluded it was Ambrose, and with such feelings
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as only a father can know, was in the act of removing it, when Ambrose came up to him, having heard of the arrival of his father. It would be useless to attempt any description of the feelings of the parties. Ambrose had been in the hot- test of the battle all the afternoon and was unhurt.
Captain Jonathan Buel was in General Wolcott's detach- ment and reports of his experience that, in the hard fought battle of October 7th, they were posted one mile away, but were ordered up at the first fire and marched directly to the battle ground. We were ordered to march to the left of the enemy with a view to surround him by this flank movement. We had scarcely reached a point opposite the line of the enemy when they retreated to their breast works, three-fourths of a mile distant, and the Hessians got in. They were driven from the breastworks and the Americans took possession and kept it. The British retreated about 80 rods down a steep hill and up an ascent to their strong camp. They were not followed at the time. At the taking of this breastwork we were follow- ing the enemy closely and marched up to the mouths of their cannon. It was here that General Arnold had his horse killed and his leg broken by a cannon ball. Our volunteers put him upon a little bunk of boards and carried him back to the camp. He suffered much, but was silent. Wagons were im- mediately sent to bring in our wounded, as our camp was one and one-half miles from where the action terminated.
That night I was quartered with a few comrades in a little hovel a short distance from the main army. We had a fire and some of us lay down in our blankets but got no rest. It had been a terrible day to the British army, their loss, not counting that of the Hessians, had been nearly 1200 in killed and wounded.
Early the next morning in our camp, I saw the bodies of sixteen of our wounded who had died during the night. They were laid side by side, in a row, on the ground. During the morning as I passed over the battle-ground of the previous day,
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I saw the British dead lying scattered and mostly stripped of their clothes. This practice of stripping the dead of the enemy seems to have been considered proper at that time. The Ameri- can dead were not stripped. They lay where they had fallen, and were buried with their clothes on near the place where they were found, two or three in the same hole, not very deep. The burial took place the day after the battle.
The day after this battle the British camp was cannonaded, and the fire returned by them with but little effect. The British general offered battle, but General Gage felt sure of ultimate success without the risk of a further engagement. Our volunteers and militia were ordered out, but there was no fighting that day, except the cannonade. Two of our men were killed by a cannon ball. I was present when one of them was buried. A shallow grave was dug, a little grass thrown in, then the body, cut almost in two by a cannon ball, was laid in, all bloody as he fell, then a little grass and the earth thrown in to fill up the grave.
On the night of the 9th, the enemy retreated to the north, six or seven miles, and the day following the American army followed.
The strong camp which the British left contained the officers' marquees, with their wounded, whom they could not carry away. These men were lying on straw, on the ground. There were about 40 or 50, terribly mangled, and under the care of British surgeons, who had been left to dress their wounds. They were cutting off limbs and taking out bullets, the whole presenting a scene of distress not to be described.
After a few days, negotiations for a surrender were en- tered upon, when after some delay it was declared by General Gates that he should allow but two hours for further consid- eration before he would again open fire upon them. The articles of capitulation were signed by General Burgoyne be- fore the expiration of that time, and on October 17th the whole British army, amounting at that time to nearly seven thousand
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men, marched out and laid down their arms. Our men from Goshen witnessed the surrender of General Burgoyne. He came forward approaching General Gates, to surrender to the latter his sword, at the same time holding his hat in his hand. While in the act of presenting his sword, General Gates said to him, "Put on your hat, general, I've been a boy my- self."
After the surrender of Burgoyne our volunteers and others from Goshen returned home, every man as he could. Many who went up on horseback had turned out their horses in meadows, and found them very convenient in returning home.
THE HOUSEHOLD COMPANY.
Such a company was organized, composed of officers and men who were by law exempt from military duty. The mem- bers of the company were volunteers, and held themselves ready for active service when needed. The officers were Cap- tain Asaph Hall; Lieutenant Isaac Pratt, and Ensign Cyprian Collins.
From the records of the town it appears that a committee was appointed and continued until the close of the war to pro- vide for the families of absent soldiers.
At a town meeting held January 6, 1778, the record says:
"This meeting having taken into serious consideration the Articles of Confederation published and recommended to the thir- teen United States of America, by the Honorable Continental Con- gress of said States, and which are recommended to the several towns of the State of Connecticut for their consideration; and that their sense therein may be known by His Excellency Governor Trumbull, - Resolved by said meeting, that they do approve said Articles of Confederation: and their representatives are directed and desired to do and act in the General Assembly whatsoever is neces- sary and proper to be done, in order to carry said Confederation into full execution."
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