USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > The history of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, from the settlement of the town in 1639 to 1818, Vol. II > Part 39
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The news of the attack on Danbury reached the Governor and Council on the 27th of April by express from General Wadsworth, "of troops landing at Fairfield & others going up the North River"; and from
* Connecticut Journal, May 14, 1777. Pennsylvania Journal, June 25, 1777. Moore's Diary, PP. 433, 434.
+ Appendix-Genealogical. Hist. Fairfield, I, 370.
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Colonel Jedediah Huntington of Norwich, while at Danbury. "of 18 ships & troops going up the North River to Peekskill; & the same night news that Danbury was on fire & our stores taken, etc." General Hun- tington was ordered to go westward. " & given full power to call forth & order as many militia as he might find necessary, draw up orders & hasten to the Continental troops, etc."*
On the 29th of April the Governor and Council ordered the officers of the eastern part of the State to call together their companies, and to be prepared for a sudden attack from the enemy.
Soon after General Meigs retaliated upon the attack on Danbury by crossing the Sound to Sag Harbor on the east end of Long Island and burning twelve British vessels, a large quantity of stores and taking ninety prisoners, without the loss of one man. +
On the 4th of May General Silliman was requested by the Governor and Council to order one-fourth of his brigade to the sea-coast for the defence of Fairfield County.+
The General Assembly met at Hartford May 8th. Captain Samuel Squire and Major Elijah Abel represented Fairfield.
A law was enacted by which the Governor or Commander-in-Chief should be called " His Excellency. "x
" The bills of credit on the State & the United States of America, together with the silver & gold passing within the State, having afforded a sufficient medium of trade. & the circulation of the paper money of other states having had a tendency to depreciate the Continental bills, it was made a law that after Aug. ist no person should receive any other paper money than that of the State & of the United States, under a penalty . not exceeding fifty pounds & not less than forty shillings.""I
An ecclesiastical law was passed: " That all such churches & congregations of separat- ists from the established Congregational Church should have full power to contribute to the support & maintenance of such churches: & be exempted from any tax for the support of the established churches in the State: but ' be disqualified to vote in any society meeting. save only for granting taxes for the support of schools & the education of children.'""
On May 26, 1777. slaves allowed to enlist in the army upon the fol- lowing conditions :
" They must procure & pay to their masters such sums as the selectmen judge reason- able & the masters shall be exempt from their future support.
2. They may only enlist under an apprisal from the selectmen, & their masters are
* Rec. State Conn .. I. 214.
* ++ . Rec. State of Conn .. I, 231.
t Hinman's War of American Revolution, p. 141.
Rec. State of Conn., I, 2IS.
Rec. State of Conp .. I. 229.
" Rec. State Conn., 1. 232.
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entitled to one-half of their bounty in wages. Referred in the lower house to the next session-negatived in the upper house.
Several laws were passed for preserving good order and discipline in the army.
Commissioned and non-commissioned officers, when safe to do so, were required to attend divine service at some place appointed for that purpose; to use no unlawful oaths or execrations under a penalty of being court-martialed, "& be deprived of their wages for one day." An officer or soldier guilty of speaking disrespectfully of a civil or military officer, or joining any meeting or sedition against his company or the military forces of the United States, strike or offer to draw any weapon of violence against an officer, or de- sert the army, should be court-martialed. Officers were required under a penalty of court- martial to quell riots. quarrels and frays. as well as challenges for duelists and seconds and those aiding therein. Non-commissioned officers or soldiers who should offer violence to any inhabitant, seize his goods, plunder any house or building, field, garden or lot. or should kill, wound or destroy cattle, sheep, hogs, fowls or any other creature belonging to the good people of the State, or should tempt them to loan, give or sell any horse. carriage, victuals, liquor, entertainment or any other thing, should be punished by a court-martial, and reparation be made to the injured party by the offender paying him out of his wages. or by delivering him over to the civil authorities for punishment. No non-commissioned officer or soldier found one mile from camp, or who should lie outside his camp quarters without leave of his commanding officer, failing to retire to their quarters at retreat- beating, or not to repair when summoned to the parade post of alarm or other place of rendezvous, were to be court-martialed. Any officer, guard or sentinel under arms found drunk or designedly make a false alarm and leave his division without permission to plun- der, should be court-martialed. An officer who should compel his commanding officer to give up his post or garrison to the enemy, should suffer death or punishment by a court- martial. An officer or soldier making known the parole or countersign, relieve the enemy knowingly with money, victuals, arms or ammunition, harbor or protect an enemy. traitor- ously decoy or betray a corps, party or detachment into the enemy's hands. abandon any post committed to his charge, or endeavor to induce others to do so. should suffer death by court-martial. Strict laws were made for forming a court-martial for the punishment of offenders.
These laws were ordered to be published in the several newspapers in the State, and one thousand copies of them printed, and read monthly in each town by the officers to their companies .*
A company of rangers was ordered to be raised for the State, with a bounty granted each man of three pounds for his necessary outfit.
Strong and liberal measures were taken for recruiting the army for a three years' campaign.
A tax of twelve pence on the pound was laid on the general list of taxable estates of 1776, with the additions, to be collected and paid into
* Rec. State Conn., 1, 235, 239. 249.
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the treasury on or before the 29th of December. The treasurer of the State was authorized to borrow or issue his note on interest for such sums for immediate occasion, not to exceed seventy-two thousand pounds, payable at his office in Continental or State bills at the end of one year from the date of such loans. No note was to be issued for a less sum than thirty pounds .*
Two battalions of seven hundred and twenty-eight men each were ordered to be raised for the defence of the sea-port towns and stationed along the coast until January of 1778.+
A great scarcity of salt caused the Assembly to make every effort for its manufacture in the State.
Officers holding commissions issued before the Declaration of Inde- pendence were directed to deliver their commissions to the colonels or chief commanding officers of the regiment to which they belonged, in order to receive new commissions from the authorities of the State of Connecticut.+
Mr. Thaddeus Burr was appointed one of a committee to furnish firearms and gun-locks for the army.
It was ordered that every officer and private soldier, as well as ma- rine officers or soldiers, who, by the misfortunes of war should become disabled from earning a living, should receive one-half his monthly pay for life. If disabled but still capable of earning a living, they were to receive such monthly sums as the Assembly might allow.
A State and Congressional Board of War Record was instituted, in which to enter the names of pensioners, and to receive the certificate of each from his superior officer. §
General Silliman reported to the Assembly that Daniel Ketchum and Andrew Bennet of Fairfield and Norwalk having deserted the American cause, had, under a flag of truce from General Howe, arrived at Nor- walk, "in order to convey their families & effects to other places, with those of Benjamin Jarvis, Samuel Hitchcock, James Ketchum & Na- thaniel Williams, who had also deserted their country." General Silli- man stated he had signified to the enemy that they ought to desist from sending persons of that character under the protection of a flag of truce, and now asked for instructions in the matter. The Assembly, " judging it unsafe to permit such deserters to pass & repass under the protection
* Rec. State Conn., I, 240, 242.
# Rec. State Conn., I, 243.
+ Rec. State Conn., I, 243.
§ Rec. State Conn., I, 246-249.
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of a flag of truce," ordered General Silliman " to make it known in the best & most effectual way by the return of said flag of truce, that for the future no such deserters shall be permitted to come into the State under colour or protection of a flag of truce, on pain & penalty of being de- tained & dealt with according to the laws of the State; that the families of the persons applied for, should not go over to their friends within the enemy's lines, unless an equal number of prisoners not under arms or carried off, be returned in exchange, & in that case no property, except necessary clothing, be supplied to carry with them; & no male person capable of bearing arms should be permitted to go-least the enemy be encouraged to make their inhuman incursions into the country, captivate & carry away families & persons not under arms, contrary to the cus- toms & usages of civilized nations."*
Severe measures were passed against robberies, which had taken place in the western part of the State.
Thaddeus Burr was appointed one of a Council of Committee of Safety to assist his Honor the Governor when the Assembly was not in session, and given full power to order and direct the militia and navy of the State, etc. t
A proclamation was ordered to be sent by the Governor of pardon to all persons who had absconded or deserted from the State, should they return before August I and take the oath of allegiance to the State before an Assistant or Justice of the Peace. #
Stephen Thorp of Fairfield was appointed captain in one of the two battalions to be raised.
Stephen Thorp had at this time allowed his house at " Mill River, opposite Sasco Hill in Fairfield, to be used by persons who had been inoculated with the smallpox, which proved a source of danger to a guard-house nearby." The Assembly ordered the infected persons to be removed to some place of safety in the northern part of the town.
An appeal was made by about thirty-eight Continental prisoners who had been detained on Long Island since September without money to meet their actual necessities, stating that continental money would not pay them, and that they could not procure coin. The Assembly ordered the Committee of the Pay Table to allow them in full or in part in hard money their full pay, from the time they had been captured by the enemy,
* Rec. State Conn., I, 251. + Rec. State Conn., I, 253.
# Rec. State Conn., I, 254.
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to charge this sum to the United States and transmit the same to General Washington. Among the prisoners was Captain John Couch of Fair- field and several neighboring officers .*
Captain Elijah Abel of Fairfield was appointed one of a committee to examine into the conduct of several military officers and companies in the County of Fairfield, against whom complaints had been made to the Assembly.+
Major Jonathan Dimon of Greenfield was promoted lieutenant-colonel in the place of Lieutenant-Colonel Abraham Gould, deceased; Elijah Abel was promoted major in Major Dimon's place; } Seth Silliman was commissioned captain; Andrew Wakeman lieutenant, and Ebenezer Os- born ensign of the first company in the Fourth Regiment.§ Ebenezer Hill of Greenfield was appointed captain, Lewis Goodsell lieutenant, and Daniel Banks ensign of the eighth company in the Fourth Regiment. | Peter Penfield was appointed captain, Gideon Beardsley lieutenant, and Bille Trowbridge ensign of the sixth company in the Sixteenth Regi- ment. T Jonathan Silliman was commissioned cornet and Deodate Silli- man quartermaster in the third troop of light horse in the Third Regi- ment .**
The Assembly continued in several sessions until the 7th of June. Meantime the Governor and Council of Safety held frequent sessions during the adjournments. On the 23d of May Captain Samuel Squire, as commissary at Fairfield, was ordered by the Governor, etc., to con- vey all clothing for the soldiers in his care to some convenient and safe place near the Continental army; to purchase one good wagon with horses for each battalion, loading them with provision and clothing for the army; to employ one trustworthy man for the care of each wagon, horse and cattle; to impress, if necessary, boats, teams, etc., as might be necessary to convey these stores, and to secure from the principal officers in each town necessary guards and protection. Mr. Squire was provided with an assistant to assist the other commissaries of the army, and he was to direct " what quantity of rum & how often it should be delivered to each soldier at a time. He was also required to keep an exact ac- count of disbursements, as well as moneys received. As the troops at Peekskill were in need of supplies, his first attention was to be given
* Rec. State Conn., I, 257, 258. + Rec. State Conn., I, 261.
Į Rec. State Conn., I, 263.
§ Rec. State Conn., I, 266.
TT Rec. State Conn., I, 268.
| Rec. State Conn., I, 266. ** Rec. State Conn., I, 277.
1777]
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349
to their immediate relief, and to see that the new recruits were properly furnished with necessities as they took the field .*
On May 29th the stores on board the schooner " Mifflin " were or- dered to be delivered over to Brigadier-General Silliman or wherever he should order.t At the same time Captain Smedley, who had received his commission and sailing orders April 25th, was given liberty " to con- sort with other privateers or not as he pleased-with three blank com- missions to fill up for subaltern officers. "+
In June of 1777 a committee was appointed by Congress to design a national flag for the United States as follows: " Resolved, that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white ; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." General Washington accompanied this committee to the house of Mrs. Bettie Ross of Philadelphia, and from a pencil draw- ing submitted to her his design of our first really independent national flag, from which the British union of crosses gave place to the constel- lation of stars. It is believed, and with good reason, that this flag was designed from General Washington's coat of arms. It was adopted by Congress June 14, 1777.
Samuel Elliott, Jr., of Boston, agent for Connecticut, was " ordered to sell a large supply of provisions taken on the prize ships now at Plymouth by the brig ' Defence,' " at lawful prices.s.
On June 30th an order was given to Nathaniel Shaw of New London, to draw on General Silliman and Thaddeus Burr for five ton of flax.
The first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was held July 4th in all the principal cities and towns of the Union throughout the thirteen United States; and our own beloved national flag floated from the flag-staffs of the country, and at the head of each United States regiment.
General Silliman was sent a letter on the 7th of July from the Gov- ernor and Council approving the measures he had taken touching the marching of the militia, " & advising him of orders sent that day to Colonel Enos of the First Regiment." He was also directed " to procure an exchange of some of our prisoners taken in Middlesex in March, for some of the enemy's prisoners taken at Danbury." |
* Rec. State Conn., 1, 317. + Rec. State Conn., I, 313. § Rec. State Conn., I, 320.
# Rec. State Conn., 1, 319.
| Rec. State Conn., I, 344.
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Colonel Enos of the First Regiment was also ordered to station com- panies in all the Sound towns. Captain Stephen Thorp was ordered to collect and march his company to the town of Fairfield .*
The next day, July 8th, Mr. Thaddeus Burr was directed to purchase a quantity of tow-shirts and trowsers, to be sent to the Connecticut prisoners in New York, to be delivered to the most needy.t
One Alexander Clark, detained as a prisoner, was sent to the care of General Silliman.
The selectmen of Milford were ordered to apply to General Silliman for guns and flints.
A company from New Haven under the command of Colonel Roger Enos was ordered to be posted at Norwich to defend the sea-coast of that place, and to obey such orders as General Silliman or his superior might direct.
On the 25th of July, "Peter Buckley & other church wardens, & Jonathan Sturges, Thaddeus Burr, &c., at the request of the civil au- thority, selectmen and committee of inspection at Fairfield, that the Rev. John Sayer may be released from his confinement at Farmington & return to Fairfield to his cure, &c." The Governor and Council granted this application, and Mr. Sayer " was permitted to return to Fairfield, & there remain within the limits of the town of the first so- ciety of Fairfield, under a bond given by Jonathan Sturges and Thad- deus Burr."
On the 2d of August Job Bartram was commissioned captain, David Wheeler lieutenant, and Samuel Silliman ensign of the first company of alarm list in the Fourth Regiment.S
During the spring months General Washington had given his ut- most attention towards strengthening and disciplining his army; and having left his winter quarters at Morristown, took up a strong posi- tion at Middlebrook, N. J., where General Howe endeavored to draw him into an engagement, which Washington was too cautious to risk. Not succeeding in his scheme, General Howe reimbarked his army on his vessels, and avoiding the strong fortifications of the Americans on the Delaware, sailed round to the head of the Chesapeake. Washington, hoping to save Philadelphia, where the Continental Congress held its headquarters, marched rapidly to interrupt him; but after attempting to
+ Rec. State Conn., I, 344. # Rec. State Conn., I, 358.
+ Rec. State Conn., I, 345. § Rec. State Conn., I, 361.
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check the advance of the British at Brandywine Creek, and having his army attack in front and on the flank, some of his men fled, while the remainder were forced to retreat. In this engagement Count Pulaski, a brave Polish officer who had espoused the American cause, fought with such gallantry that Congress made him a brigadier-general. Five days after, having rested his troops and inspired them with his own courageous spirit, Washington again offered battle with the enemy, but a violent storm set in and arrested the engagement at the onset; and again his troops were forced to retreat.
After leaving the greater part of his army at Germantown, General Howe entered Philadelphia on the 25th of July. In the meantime Con- gress adjourned to Lancaster. Washington now resolved to attack the enemy at Germantown under cover of night, but in the darkness his troops became separated and fled in a disorderly retreat.
Flushed with success, General Howe attacked the forts on the Dela- ware. Twelve hundred Hessians under Count Donop attacked the post at Red Bank on the New Jersey side, but he was killed, his men fell in numbers; his ships attacked Fort Mifflin, on an island in the Delaware: one was blown up, a frigate burned and the others so much injured as to be forced to retire. Land batteries were erected by the British, and by a constant fire on the fortifications they were soon destroyed and the garrison obliged to retreat. Thus the Delaware was opened to the British.
Meanwhile General Schuyler, by his own express, had sent for troops on the 2d of August to join the Continental army at Peekskill, in order to prevent General Burgoyne, who had set out with an army of ten thousand men from Canada, from advancing on Albany and Peekskill. He thus hoped to form a junction with the Southern army by cutting off Washington's line of communication with the eastern States.
The Governor of Connecticut and his Council, then in session at Lebanon, sent a letter to General Schuyler that they had agreed to for- ward troops to Peekskill: but that the army at the northward would be " reinforced from the continental troops at Peekskill, which appeared much better than to reinforce the northern army with militia on account of the facility of the march & the steadiness of the continental troops inured to service, which rendered them preferable to the militia, who were impatient of a lengthy campaign."*
* Rec. State Conn., I, 361.
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Ticonderoga had been abandoned in July. General Burgoyne reached Fort Edward about July 27th.
Job Bartram was commissioned captain, David Wheeler lieutenant, and Samuel Silliman ensign of the first company of alarm list in the Fourth Regiment of the State militia .*
Intelligence reached the Governor, etc., on August 4th "that the enemy had reached Fort Edward, & their fleet at the westward had ar- rived within the capes of Delaware, which called for their most speedy and vigorous efforts to prevent the mischief designed."+
On the 6th of August General Silliman sent to the Governor and Council copies of letters from General Parsons and Colonel Root with a copy of a letter from General Washington to General Putnam, “in- forming them that the enemy had sailed out of the Delawares on an eastern course," and requested the militia of General Silliman's brigade. An express from Peekskill also reached them that the army at Peekskill had reason to expect an attack at the Highlands. General Silliman in- formed the Governor " that he had sent two northern regiments of his brigade to march immediately to Peekskill; also a detachment of Colonel Enos' regiment in Fairfield County; one company of horse from the 3d regiment, & the whole of the 5th "; which was approved by letter to General Silliman. One thousand pounds were placed in the hands of General Silliman, "to be delivered to the commanding officers of his marching militia towards Peekskill," for the purpose of advancing eigh- teen shillings to each non-commissioned officer and soldier, and the remainder for the contingent expenses of the march. A large sum of money was granted to forward troops from other parts of the State to Peekskill. Flints, guns, ammunition, clothing and provisions were for- warded with all possible speed.+
A General Assembly was held at Hartford by order of the Governor, August 13th. No person guilty of high treason or other atrocious crimes against the State was allowed bail, but held in prison until after trial.§
Assessors were appointed with the selectmen of each town to assess all kinds of business on their annual profits, at the rate of six per cent .. to be added to their poll and taxable estates. Distilling brandy from cider was forbidden until May next. I
. * Rec. State Conn., I, 361. + Rec. State Conn., I, 362.
# Rec. State Conn., I, 362, 363. | Rec. State Conn., I, 365.
§ Rec. State Conn., I, 365.
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It was resolved that the Declaration of the Independence of the thirteen United Colonies assembled at Philadelphia on the fourth of July, 1776, declaring the " said Colonies to be Free & Independent States, be recorded at length in the records of this Assembly that the memory of them be preserved to posterity."*
Two battalions of militia were ordered to be raised from the several brigades, to consist of seven hundred and twenty-eight men each, in- cluding commissioned officers, to assist the northern army. One half of the troops of light horse not in actual service were ordered to be de- tached and held in readiness to march at the shortest notice. A regi- ment of volunteers of seven hundred men, including officers, was ordered to be raised for the State.t
General Putnam's request was granted, that the troops be sent on horseback to Peekskill, the horses to be returned by suitable persons to assist on their march.
A tax of one shilling on the pound to supply the State treasury was levied on all polls and taxable estates on the list of 1776.
Ezekiel Hull was commissioned captain, Deodate Silliman lieutenant. Moses Sherwood cornet, and Thomas Wheeler, Jr., quartermaster of the second troop of light horse in the Third Regiment.#
General Silliman was instructed by the Governor and Council, held at Hartford August 14th, " to inquire into a suspected forgery of a permit from General Jones of the sloop . Sally ' to pass from New York to Ryc, to carry off some Tory people & their effects from thence to New York."
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