The history of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Part 35

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton
Number of Pages: 956

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Arnold's detachment marched from Cambridge on the 13th of September, 1775, and embarking at Newburyport on eleven transports, set sail for the mouth of the Kennebec River. At Gardiner they found 200 batteaux awaiting them, and in these

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they pushed on to Norridgewock Falls. Here began the perils and toils of a march which has no parallel in the history of our Revolutionary struggle. The hardy voyageurs were obliged to carry all their batteaux, provisions and storcs around the falls, into navigable water, a mile and a quarter above. This scvere labor consumed seven days, and had to be repeated at Carrem- tuc Falls. At length, however, in spite of a current so rapid that the men waded through the stream, pushing their boats before them, the little band reached the great carrying-place, twelve miles below the junction of the Dead River with the Kennebec. By this time their number had been reduced by sickness and desertion, to about 950, yet their spirits were cheerful and their courage unshaken. Twenty-five days' pro- visions still remained, and Arnold determined to push on to the French settlements on the Chaudiere, estimated at ten days' distance. "The great carrying-place was a portage of fifteen miles, broken by three ponds. Oxen dragged the batteaux part of the way on sleds, and the baggage and stores were carried on the shoulders of the men. Over craggy knolls and tangled ravines, through deep morasses, creeks and ponds, they pursued their journey, sometimes carrying their vessels, and the vessels sometimes bearing them, until they reached the Dead River. The ponds afforded an abundance of delicious salmon-trout, and want of food had not yet been among their privations. The surface of the Dead River was smooth, and the waters flowed on in a gentle current in the midst of the magnificent forest, now rendered gorgeous by the brilliant hues imparted to foliage by early frost. Occasional falls interrupted their progress, but the labors of the men were far less severc than hitherto. Sud- denly the monotony of the vast forest was broken by the ap- pearance of a lofty mountain covered with snow, at the foot of which Arnold encamped three days, raising the Continental flag over his tent.

When the expedition moved forward, a heavy rain set in, which sent down such heavy torrents from the hills that the river arose eight feet in one night, overflowing its banks and filling its channels with rafts of drift-wood. So suddenly did this freshet occur, that the water camc roaring down the valley

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where the soldiers were encamped, so unexpectedly and power- fully, that they had barely time to retreat to their batteaux before the whole plain was overflowed. Seven boats were over- turned and their provisions lost, and others were in imminent peril in the midst of the flood. They were yet thirty miles from the head of the Chaudiere, and but about twelve days' pro- visions remained. The storm and exposure made many sick, and despondency supplanted cheerfulness, for the future seemed pregnant with misery. A council of war was held, and it was decided to send the sick and feeble back, and to press forward with the healthy. Arnold wrote to Greene and Enos, who were in the rear, to select as many of their best men as they could supply with fifteen days' provisions, and come on with them, leaving the others to return to Norridgewock. Enos, either through a false construction of the order, or wilful disobedience, returned to Cambridge with his whole division. His appear- ance excited the greatest indignation in the Continental camp, and Enos was looked upon as a traitor for thus deserting his companions and endangering the whole expedition. He was tried by a court martial, and it being proved that he was short of provisions, and that none could be procured in the wilder- ness, he was acquitted. He never was restored in public esti- mation, however, and soon afterwards left the army.

In the meanwhile Arnold, with the rest of the troops, pressed onward. The rain changed to snow, and ice formed upon the water in which the men waded to push the batteaux as they passed the numerous ponds and marshes near the sources of the Dead River. Seventeen falls were passed, and on a bleak day, marching through snow two inches deep, they reached the Highlands which separated the waters of New England from Canada."

Soon they came to Lake Megantic, on whose eastern shore the little army encamped to recruit from their fatiguing march, while Arnold with thirteen men in batteaux and canoes, and Capt. Hanchet with a party of fifty-five men on shore, pro- ceeded down the Chaudiere to the French settlements, to pro- cure provisions. The voyage was frightful in the extreme. The rapid current boiled and foamed over a rocky bottom, and

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they were without guides, but they lashed themselves to the batteaux, and embarked upon the stream. Soon they were among the rapids. Three boats were broken to pieces, their contents upset, and the hapless voyageurs left struggling with the waters, but no lives were lost. For seventy miles there was a constant succession of falls and rapids, with their accompa- nying dangers. At last they reached Sartigan, where the hos- pitable French furnished them with provisions, which were im- mediately sent back to the approaching army. They reached the troops at an opportune moment, for they had slaughtered their last ox some days before, and had even been reduced to the extremity of using dog's flesh, sand-roots, and the leather of their shoes and moccasins, for food.

Pushing on with renewed strength, the army reunited at Sartigan, and on the 9th of November, after this terrible march of thirty-two days through gloomy forests, emerged at Point Levi, opposite Quebec.

Their sudden appearance, mysterious and unheralded, gave rise to the most exaggerated rumors of their numbers, and the Canadians were in a tumult of alarm. Arnold's intention was to have taken advantage of this, and strike a bold and decisive blow. But a heavy storm of wind and sleet prevented him from crossing the River St. Lawrence until the evening of the 13th. Then, under the very guns of a frigate which had been placed in the stream to intercept him, Arnold safely landed his forces at Wolf's cove, and scaling the heights where Wolfe had ascended sixteen years before, stood at dawn upon the Plains of Abraham. And as the little band of patriots mustered there, before the grim battlements looming fearfully through the gray light of morn, it is not strange that their hearts sank within them, and that for the first time they realized the full extent of their own hardihood. They numbered but 750 men, without artillery, and half of their muskets were spoiled and useless. They learned also that new reinforcements had added to the enemy's strength. Arnold, however, made a feint of attack hoping to draw out the English, and relying on the French.

The French, however, were deterred by fear of the English garrison, who in turn were too wary to place the city at the

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power of enemies within, by issuing forth against the incon- siderable force which menaced them without. Consequently, after indulging in some ineffectual bravado, Arnold finding himself deficient in stores and ammunition, and learning that .

further reinforcements to the enemies were approaching, hastily retired to Point aux Trembles, twenty miles above Quebec, there to await the arrival of Montgomery's army. On the 1st of December Montgomery appeared with a most welcome sup- ply of clothing for Arnold's half-naked troops, and taking the chief command, the combined forces, of less than 1000 men, again set out, in the face of a severe snow-storm, for Quebec. Reaching that place on the 5th, they invested the city as well as they could with so insignificant a force, and three weeks were spent in fruitless endeavors to intimidate the British commander to surrender, or to batter down an entrance with the light guns which they possessed. Now, mutiny and dissatisfaction began to develope themselves, and the small-pox broke out in the camp. In the face of all these fearful dangers, a council of war determined upon a regular assault. At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 31st of December, in the midst of a driving storm of snow which the winds were whirling into almost im- passable drifts, the attack was commenced by three columns, commanded respectively by Montgomery, Arnold, Livingston and Brown, which approaching the town by different routes, were to meet at a certain point. Slowly and cautiously Montgomery's command crept up to the lower town by the road, under Cape Diamond. Stealing upon the little, and as they hoped, unprepared battery, they were suddenly met by a terrific storm of iron hail, which for ten minutes belched forth death, and then ceased, for there was none to slay. The gallant Montgomery and his aids lay dead, and the few who lived fled in dismay from the terrible havoc. Meantime Arnold, at the head of his division, was struggling through the heavy snow- drifts in the Sault au Matelot, when he received a wound which obliged him to retire, and the command devolved on Morgan, under whom the brave troops stood battling in the narrow pass for three long hours. And just as they had succeeded in storm- ing the battery, they were surprised by an overwhelming force

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of the enemy, to whom they were obliged to surrender. Thus ended this rashest of all rash attempts to take Quebec : 160 of the American forces were killed and wounded, and 426 surren- dered, while less than 800 escaped and retired to a short dis- tance from the town, where under Arnold's command they re- mained till the following spring. Gen. Wooster then came from Montreal with a large force, and took the chief command. An attempt was made to beleaguer and occupy the city, which however proved futile, and the patriot arms were obliged to leave Canada without anything to boast of except their intre- pidity in a good cause.

Those who had surrendered themselves were kindly treated, and finally sent home to their anxious friends and families.

It may be thought, by somne, that we have devoted more space to this expedition than is proper in a local history. We have, however, chosen to dwell upon it, because as one of the most remarkable exploits of modern history, it must always be inter- esting to those who love to recall the brave deeds of our revo- lutionary struggle; and because WINDSOR men shared the toils of that wonderful wilderness march; faced the fury of the elements, and the wilder storm of British artillery, and lan- guished in the gloomy depths of a British prison.

In the escalade which was made by Arnold's division, Capt. SETH HANCHETT of Suffield, and ELIJAH MARSHALL of Windsor, were the first to mount the barrier. And clear above the rattle of musketry was heard the encouraging voice of the former: " Walk up, Marshall, our mothers are at home praying for us, and the enemy can't hurt us." Aye - that was the secret of America's success in the Revolution - her cause was just, her Washington a praying general, and her brave sons, amid the temptations of camp life, and the danger of battle, never forgot that mothers, wives and daughters at home were praying for them.

THEOPHILUS HIDE was killed in the assault.

Among the prisoners we find the names of ELIJAH MARSHALL, before mentioned, DANIEL RICE1 and STEPHEN FOSBURY (of Wby),

1 A Journal of the Expedition, published in New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Regis- ter, VI, 129.

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who died in Canada, January 1, 1776, with small-pox, during his imprisonment, aged 20.1

Although these and other reverses tended to depress the hearts of America's patriotic defenders, yet the energy of Washington triumphed over every obstacle. He vigorously pushed forward his preparations for the seige of Boston, and having secretly fortified Dorchester Heights, commenced the bombardment of the city on the 3d and 4th of March. In the darkness of the night, the American army had done its work well, and the sun as it rose on the morn of the 5th, revealed to the astonished foe, the adjacent heights bristling with cannon and men. Howe was astounded and chagrined. " I know not what I shall do," he exclaimed, " the rebels have done more in one night than my whole army would have done in a month." The tables were indeed turned, the British army in the city and the fleet in the bay were in an extremely critical situation. Esteeming "prudence the better part of valor," Howe aban- doned the town, and on the 18th, the American army entered it in triumph.

Quite a number of Windsor men were present at this scene, but we have been able to get but few of their names. Sgt. THOMAS HAYDEN, before mentioned, was at Roxbury when the fortifications there were thrown up, and is said to have con- structed some of them, a duty for which his business of carpen- ter and architect peculiarly fitted him. HEZEKIAH HAYDEN, 2

1 This, with other Wintonbury names from the manuscripts of the Rev. Hez. Bissell.

2 We make the following extract from one of his letters addressed to his father, Dea. Nathaniel Hayden, dated " Camp at Roxbury, Jan'y 30, 1776." " Honored Sir * *

* * * It is a sick time in the camp, several been carried to the hospital to-day, and a day or two past. Six I hear, are broke out with the Small-pox to-day & carried to Cambridge hospital (sup- posed) to be catched of the Deserters which come in daily. We are in some fear from the enemy, our regiments are but about half full. Number is so small and duty is so hard & weather is so cold that we are in great danger of being sick. One John Gilman died last night in Capt. Bissell's company - one Indian man died this morning in the hospital - 12 unfit for duty in our company - Windsor men are tolerably well. But I blessed be God am remarkable hearty. Provisions is plenty and good."

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LEMUEL WELCH, NATHANIEL LAMBERTON and INCREASE MATHER were also there. EZRA HAYDEN was at Dorchester.

After the evacuation of Boston by the British, they concen- trated their forces near New York City. This caused Gen. Washington to call upon Gov. Trumbull to order the whole of the standing militia of this state west of the Connecticut River. His urgent request was promptly responded to by the governor, and there were not less than 10,000 Connecticut militia in the service near New York, among whom were very many "Wind- sor boys."

In the disastrous battle of Long Island, Angust 27, 1776, the affair at White Plains and the retreats through Westchester County, the Connecticut troops suffered terribly. Many fell at their posts, and many, less fortunate, were imprisoned within the gloomy walls of the Old Sugar House, or suffered the ter- rors of those floating charnels, the prison ships.

HEZEKIAH HAYDEN enlisted into the army about the 1st of January, 1776, and served as a private soldier. He was taken prisoner on the 27th August, 1776, at the battle of Long Island, and died on board the prison-ship, of starvation, after having disposed of every thing in his possession, even to his sleeve buttons, to purchase of his keeper food enough to sustain life. He was a native of Windsor, and much respected and esteemed by his neighbors.

NATHANIEL LAMBERTON died on board the prison ship, Nov. 9th. WILLIAM PARSONS died Nov. 9th, in captivity, at New York. ELIHU DENSLOW died Sept. 9th, in camp, at New York.

Capt. EBENEZER FITCH BISSELL, Sr., was one of those who endured the horrible cruelties of the imprisonment in the Jersey prison ship. He was accustomed to relate with much feeling the sufferings which he witnessed and experienced at that time. He sent home to his family for money. Silver was extremely scarce, and by dint of hard scraping, borrowing and pledging, they succeeded in sending him some. But it never reached him, having probably found its way to the pocket of some greedy British official. " His wife (whose maiden name was Esther Hayden), was vigilant in her endeavors to send articles for his

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comfort and relief, and once succeeded in visiting him in his captivity."1

SAMUEL WING and his son MosEs were present at the retreat from New York, as was also JABEZ HASKELL, who was then act- ing as nurse to the sick soldiers. Having through some neglect received no orders to retreat, they were left behind, and finally escaped in the very face of the advancing British.

JONATHAN BIDWELL (Wby), DANIEL GILLET, JERIJAH BARBER. OBA- DIAH FULLER, ELISHA MOORE, WATSON LOOMIS, were drafted and served in New York and Westchester in August and September.

FREDERICK (son of Ezekiel) CASE (Wby), died July 26th, at camp, at New York, in his 15th year.

OLIVER CASE (Wby), died October, near New York, aged about 30.

SAMUEL ANDRUS (Wby), died Oct. 5th, on return from camp, near New York.

JOSEPH MARSH died August 15th, at Meriden, coming from camp at New York.

The great number, as well as the length of the drafts, had seriously interfered with the agricultural interests of the town, and the crops were scanty and insufficient for the winter's sup- ply. Nearly all the able-bodied men of Windsor were absent in the army, and labor was so scarce that the harvests of 1776 were literally gathered by the women and children. The tra- dition2 which preserves this fact, also mentions that not a clock in the whole town marked the flight of time, their weights having been melted down and run into bullets. 3

1 MSS. of Mrs. Fanny L. Bissell, in whose possession is still preserved the sword of this gallant officer.

2 This tradition is well authenticated, both in the case of this and of the surrounding towns.

3 Corroborative of this fact we have found, in looking over some Revolu- tionary papers of the town, several memoranda, of which this will serve as a specimen, of "lead delivered to the townsmen, 1776, clock weight lead." Captain Stoughton, 18 pounds. David Ellsworth, Jr., 24 pounds.

Captain Ellsworth, 30 66

- Daniel Hayden, 24 16 Rev. Mr. Hinsdale, 13 66 Josiah Allyn, 28 66

John Allyn, 14

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1777.

Early this year, enlistments for three years, or during the war, were called for, and the quota established for each town. This new levy was a severe test of their patriotism, but bur- dened and overstrained as they were, it was cheerfully and promptly met by Windsor and the other towns of the state. Large bounties were offered to those who would enlist, and those who, from any cause, werc not liable to be engaged in military duty, were heavily taxed to pay the expenses thus in- curred.

The following appcars on the town books:

" At a town meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Wind- sor, lawfully named and held in Windsor, the 22d of April, 1777, for the purpose of doing the following business, viz: 1st, To see what method the town will take to encourage the proportion of soldiers assigned to the town of Windsor to enlist into the Continental Army, to supply the quota assigned to this town.

2d, To choose a committec to provide necessaries for the fami- lies of all those persons belonging to the town of Windsor that shall enlist into the Continental Army at the price as stated by Law, and at said meeting Doct. Alex. Wolcott chosen Moderator for said meeting.

Voted, To raise a Ratc or tax upon the list of the poles and rateable estate of the inhabitants of the town of Windsor, made and computed for August 20, 1776, of so much money upon the Pound as Will raise Thirty pound Lawful money for each able bodied effective man that belongs to the town of Windsor that has already enlisted into the Eight Battalions, including what they have already received as private encouragement for enlisting, and arc now actually in service in the Continental Army, or that shall enlist into cither of the Eight Battalions, ordered to be raised in the State of Connecticut for Continental Service on or before the 30th day of April instant, at 12 of the clock on said day. Provided that not a larger number than 79 soldiers shall enlist including the number already enlisted, the first 79 soldiers that shall enlist shall reccive said sum, which said sum shall be paid to each soldier that has already cnlisted or that shall enlist before said 30th day of April, inst. at 12 of the clock on said day, until said number be made up."

At the next meeting, held May 2d, 1777, this encouragement was renewed to all who should enlist before the 9th of May, inst .; also

" Voted, That the families of all such soldiers, being lawful inhabitants of the town of Windsor, who have or shall en- gagc and go into any of the Continental Battalions to be

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raised in this State, shall be supplied with necessaries in their absence by a Committee appointed for that purpose, at the price affixed by Law on his or their lodging or remitting money to said Committee appointed for that purpose, the additional cost to be paid by said town agreeable to his Honor's recommenda- tion in the aforesaid Proclamation."

Voted, that Henry Allyn, Noah Griswold, Solomon Allyn, Samuel Denslow, George Griswold, and Josiah Gillet be a Com- mittee agreeable to the above vote, and to execute the same.

" At a town meeting held by adjournment on the 9th of May, 1777, and opened at 3 of the clock afternoon, according to ad- journment, the Moderator of the former meeting not being pre- sent, Capt. Nath1 Loomis was chosen Moderator," " at said meeting, Voted, that each able bodied effective man, that is an inhabitant of the town of Windsor, that shall enlist into either of the Eight Battalions of Continental Troops belonging to the State of Connecticut, or that has enlisted since the 22d day of April last, shall receive of the Selectmen of the town of Windsor an order upon the Treasurer for the town of Windsor for the sum of Thirty pounds Lawful money, agreeable to the vote of this town at their meeting holden on the 22d day of April last. Provided that each soldier so enlisted shall be able to secure the Selectmen, that in case such soldier shall not pass muster that he will repay the said sum into the town treasury with the lawful interest for the same, from the time of receiving said money out of said treasury, until the same be repaid into said Treasurer, and the said order to be drawn upon said Treasurer to pay the same within two days after sight thereof, and if not then paid to pay the lawful interest for the same after the said two days till such time as the Treasurer shall receive the money for the pur- pose of paying said order and lay the same by for that purpose."

The encouragement of £30 was again renewed at town meet- of May 27, and it was also

Voted; that Capt. Caleb Phelps, Col Roger Eno, Mr. Alex. Allin, Capt. Nath'l Hayden, Capt. Isaac Pinney, Capt. Edward Barnard, Peletiah Mills and Capt. Jonah Gillet be a Committee to prepare a Subscription and present the same to the inhabit- ants of this town in order to raise money by voluntary sub- scription for the purpose of paying the encouragement voted by this town, to give to those inhabitants of this town that shall enlist into the Continental Army."

In addition to this subscription, a rate or tax of eighteen pence upon the pound was self-imposed for the same purpose, by a vote of the town, June 10th, 1777.

And at a town meeting in September, Capt. Caleb Phelps being Moderator, it was

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Voted; that the Selectmen of this town purchase or procure, as soon as may be, upon the best terms they can, the sundry articles of clothing as requested by the Governor and Council of Safety at their meeting at Lebanon upon the 12th day of Sept. inst., for the Non-commissioned officers and soldiers raised for the Quota of soldiers assigned for the town of Windsor, and that actually enlisted into the Continental Army for the term of the War or for three years, and forward the same to the Com- inissaries as requested, and bring in their accounts which shall be allowed and paid by this towu, including such sum or sums as shall or may be received from the Colony Treasury or other way by order of the General Assembly in October next.

Dec. 1777 .- Capt. Caleb Phelps, Solomon Allyn, Sam'l Dens- low and Noah Griswold were appointed a Committee to provide necessaries for soldier's families.

Captain ABNER PRIOR, belonging to the 4th Conn. Regiment, and Lt. SETH PHELPS of Col. Durkee's Regiment, spent some time in Windsor during May, 1777, as recruiting officers; and the work of enrollment bravely on. Capt. Prior seems to have enlisted the largest number. The original certificates of enlist- ments, bearing on their backs the owners' endorsements of £30 bounty received from the selectmen, are yet preserved (?) in an old barrel(!) at the clerk's office. From these we have been enabled to rescue the names and fame of many of Windsor's revolutionary heroes, which otherwise would have been lost to posterity.

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The history of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Part 35

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909 Publication date: 1859 Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton Number of Pages: 956

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: New York : C. B. Norton
Number of Pages: 956