Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary war, 1629 to 1725, Part 15

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Ans. Every order comprised under the above question he gave, ex- cept rendezvousing back of Elizabeth Town, which I did not recol- lect. However I ordered the Troops to be halted there, and rode into Town to take his further Orders, from which it is probable he might have given such orders, notwithstanding I cannot remember it.

Quest. Was it not your opinion that if the Troops were moved towards Elizabeth Town, & halted, so as to proceed upon the attack on a subsequent day, that it would be likely to alarm the Enemy, & defeat our designs, & was not this the Reason why we determined to do the whole in a day & night & the next morning.

Ans. Ultimately it was, but I was of a different opinion when the design was first communicated, lest the men should be too much fatigued, & not act with that vigor & alacrity, which is necessary in all attacks of this nature, but for the reasons above suggested on this Quest" waved my opinion, and the attack was accordingly deter- mined.

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Quest. What time did your Troops arrive at Elizabeth Town

Ans. About ten O'Clock at night.

Quest. At what time did your Troops begin to Embark

Ans. As near as I can recollect between 2 & 3 O Clock in the morning.

Quest. Did Gen1 Sullivan immediately upon the arrival of the Troops at Elizabeth Town give orders, that they should sit down, Eat, & refresh themselves, & did not he leave them in that situation till you said it was time to move on. -

Ans. He did. -

Quest. Did General Sullivan exert himself in Embarking the Troops or not.

Ans. He did I think very much.

Quest. Did you hear him frequently give orders to Officers & Soldiers to keep together, to be silent, & attentive to the Com- mands of their superior officers. -

Ans. I did.

Quest. Did he endavour to Chear up the soldiers, & promise them success if they would be silent, keep together, and attend to the Commands of their officers.

Ans. He did.

Quest. Did he when your Brigade had Crossed, pass over the Marsh on to the high ground, give the word to be used, furnish you with a guide, give you your directions, and order you to march on, . and then return himself to bring up the other Brigade.

Ans. He did.

Quest. Was his arrangement on the Island agreeable to the Plan which he had consulted you upon.

Ans. As well as I can charge my memory it was in every instance, except his going with Gen1 Debories Brigade instead of mine, wch he at first proposed, but from his ill state of Health, informed me he could not stand the fatigue, & urging it was more necessary to be with Deborje -

Quest. Did your Guide deceive you & was not he in your opinion the sole means of your failure to entrap the Regmt at Deckers Ferry.

Ans. He did, and am well assured it was the sole cause of my not taking the British Regiment above Dongan's Mills, and the greatest part of Buskirks Regiments at the Dutch Church.

Quest. Did you send M' Armstrong to inform Gen1 Sullivan that

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the enemy were trying to get on your flanks, & you wished him to join you as soon as he conveniently could.

Ans. I directed Mr Armstrong to inform Gen1 Sullivan that the enemy were endeavouring to Flank & get below us, that I should re- treat in good order agreeable to the Plan concerted, that I should proceed to join him but if he chose to join me, we should be able to fight and give a good account of them.

Quest. When you met him did you tell him that the men were so much fatigued and the enemy had so much time to collect that it would be at least doubtful whether we should be an equal match for them without forming a Junction with Colo Ogden.

Ans. I did not as I remember, nor did I then, or have since thought such a measure would have been necessary.

Quest. Had Colo Ogden recrossed with most of his troops when we came to the Old Blazing Star.

Ans. I think (but can't be certain) he had crossed, but am sure most of his Troops had.

Quest. Was not the Original Plan to form a Junction with Ogden. Ans. It was.

Quest. Did the Gen1 form the troops in two "nes near Cuckolds Town, and halt them, & how long.

Ans. I do not remember the troops were formed, otherwise than in the order of march, at or near Cuckolds Town. I recollect they were halted to refresh in an orchard by the road between Cuckholds Town, and the Old Blazing Star.

Quest. Did the Gen1 immediately upon his arrival at the Ferry, order that no more Horses should Cross until the men were all over, and appoint an Officer to Superintend the Embarkation.

Ans. Such orders were repeatedly given, both by the General & myself.

Quest. Did the General when he discovered a boat forsaken by the Boatmen on the opposite shore, after the first Brigade had crossed, desire you to cross with him.

Ans. He did.

Quest. Did he and you put men in the boat and send her back. .

Ans. We did, and found some difficulty in getting her off.

Quest. Did he leave two of his Aid de Camps to Superintend the Return of the boats from the Jersey Shore.

Ans. I heard him give orders, at least to one, if not two of his Aid de Camps to that purpose.

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Quest. Did he send a third Aid de Camp to order the boats to be double mann'd.

Ans. I understood he did, but dont recollect I was present at the delivery of such an order, but I well remember that an officer or two besides the Aid de Camps &c were sent on this Express purpose.

Quest. Do you know, or even suspect that Gen' Sullivan gave Liberty to the Soldiers to straggle over the Island, or to Plunder.

Ans. I neither knew or suspected either.

Quest. Did you on the contrary hear him Exhort the soldiers to keep together & tell them they would soon come to action with the Enemy.

Ans. I heard him Exhort, and Order, the soldiers to be kept in their ranks, but dont recollect his telling them they would soon come to action.

Quest. Do you think it would have been safe to have lost time in Endeavouring to bring the Enemy to Action which kept off your left flank, or could your troops fatigued as they were have compelled them to an Action, if they chose to avoid it.

Ans. I do not think it would have been advisable to have lost time in endeavour'g to bring ye Enemy to Action, nor do I think our troops could have brot them to it witht being much exposed for I ap- prehend they would have retreated to gain advantage &c.

[p. 145.]

Quest. Was not the Rear Guard composed of a Party selected in the night, & put under the Command of Capt Chambers, & Capt Heron, to take Gen1 Skinner.

Ans. Cap Heron's Compy I believe composed a part, and Cham- bers might, but he is an Officer. I dont know, & therefore can't be certain whether it was his Compy or not.

Quest. If Captain Heron, & the other Officers taken, or killed near Duckers ferry had obeyed your orders, and marched with the Brigade, would there been any probability of their being taken.

Ans. I am certain they would not have been taken, and it is prob- able not killed.

Quest. Was it not thought advisable by yourself & the other offi- cers, when the enemy appeared in sight, to march a Party down to the water side, to annoy the Enemy in Flank by firing across the River.

Ans I thought it might have a good effect, tho' I did not expect it would annoy them much.

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REVOLUTIONARY WAR ROLLS AND DOCUMENTS.

Quest. If you had Cannon with you would not the Marsh on the Jersey side, & the superiority of the Ground the Enemy were pos- sessed of on the other side, have prevented your using your Cannon to Effect, to Cover the Embarkation of the Party engaged with the Enemy.

Ans. I think in a great measure it would - as the distance would have been too great.

Quest. Is it your opinion that any of the misfortunes that hap- pened to your Troops on Staten Island, were owing to the Careless- ness, Inattention or Misconduct of General Sullivan.

Ans. It is not though I believe could the Design have been ex- ecuted on a subsequent day without the risque of alarming the Enemy, when the men would have been fresh we should not have been subject to have lost so many.

N. B. When you communicated your design of making a Descent on the Island, my first question was, whether you could depend on your Intelligence, and having boats, you answered affirmatively, I then conceded with you, that it was practicable, and advisable, and as well as I can recollect, proposed carrying our Cannon, & giving the men one nights respite, and making the Descent the next night, which opinions I readily waved upon your acquainting me that such was the Enemys communication at, and in the neighborhood of Eliz- abeth Town, that they must inevitably discover our design, by delay- ing the Execution, and that Cannon would not avail, on an Expedi- tion of such secrecy, and Dispatch, in short it was proposed to do everything by surprise and Bayonet. I am confident we should have got every man safe over with his Baggage & a number of Cattle & Horses, which were drove to the Landing, had the boats come down Point Halseys Ferry, as they had been ordered, and I have under- stood they were prevented by a sloop which was taken, and in which the Prisoners were sent over to Elizabeth Town, upon a sup- position she was one of the Enemys Tenders.

Many have and may suppose we had a force sufficient to have resisted them, without Artillery ; Would not the Event been Haz- ardous, even though we had been pretty sure of this, when there was a fresh and fair wind, which might have brought a Tender, or two into the sound which must have prevented our Passage over -

Harford County ss. Swan Creek September 17th 1777.

I do hereby certifie that Brigadier General Smallwood read over, and made Oath to the truth of the above answers, annexed to each of the foregoing Questions, given the date above written.

Joseph Cromwell.

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[Ibid. p. 146.] Revd MY Armstrongs Testimony. F. Nº 9-

Camp near New Port Sept' 6, 1777

On Thursday the 20th of August Gen1 Sullivan's division marched from Hanover at 12 at Noon & halted between the hour of 9 & 10 at Night half a mile west of Elizabeth Town - About 12 at night Gen1 Sullivan having Previously ordered his Troops to join him at Hal- stead's Point, left his quarters and went to Eliz. Town in order to see that a suffcient number of Boats were provided to transport his. troops in an intended expedition against the British forces upon Staten Island - Near two in the morning the troops arrived at Hal- stead's point and immediately after began to embark. The Gen1 showed the utmost attention to the good order & activity in embark- ing & silence of the Troops, often telling them, by observing these he would insure them success. Brigadier Smallwoods Brigade in the rear of which the Generals Sullivan & Smallwood crossed, made the upland of the Island about 3 after 3 in the morning, & were immedi- ately detached by Gen1 Sullivan with certain Capt Dickey as Guide, to attack Lieut Colo Buskarks Regt of Jersey Volunteers Posted at the Dutch Church, Deckers Ferry. I accompanied Gen1 Smallwood as a volunteer, and nothing could have prevented this detachment from being as successful as the plan of the expedition entitled us, but the stupidity of our Guide, who instead of fulfilling the orders given him, by leading us between the enemy & their Forts so as to cut off their retreat & throw them between us and the troops immediately commanded by Gen1 Sullivan, led in front, where at the short distance of between a ¿ & } of a } of a mile, we were exposed to the full view of the enemy. - by this means Buskskarks Regt & a Regime of British whose Colours we took : had just time to make a precipitate retreat towards their forts which lay 1} miles distant. Gen1 Smallwood took possession of their encampment, and while we were delay'd by burn- ing some small vessells & destroying the stores & Forage which they left, the enemy appeared in a pretty numerous line of march evidently intending to surround us on the right. General Smallwood immediately ordered a retreat, and dispatched me on Horseback to Gen1 Sullivan requesting that he would Join him, as the enemy appeared numerous and were endeavouring to surround him - I found Gen1 Sullivan near the New Star after Surprising Lieut Colo Barton, and taking him & some of his Regiment Prisoners - upon Delivering Brigadier Small- woods message Gen1 Sullivan ordered his troops to march for the road leading from Deckers ferry to Cuckolds Town in order to meet Gen1 Smallwood ; telling the Soldiers as he rode along the line of march, Now my lads we shall have some fun, the enemy are advancing & we

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must give them a drubbing. - Gen1 Sullivan & Gen1 Smallwood met near the fork of the aforementioned road, & after halting a few min- utes the division marched for Cuckolds Town where the troops halted a considerable time to refresh - we then made the old Star - I crossed with the last of Gen1 Smallwoods Brigade, leaving the Gen- erals upon the Island.

T. F. Armstrong Volunteer in the expedition against Staten Island

Quest. What do you suppose the distance to be between the Fork of the road, where the troops made the small halt, to where they made the second halt near Cuckolds Town.

Ans. I have not enquired but think it about 4 or 5 miles.

Quest. Did you discover that Gen1 Sullivan shew any signs of fear or confusion through the whole of the Expedition.

Ans. Upon my honour I did not.

Quest. Did you tell Gen1 Sullivan that you had seen the enemy & there appeared to be a prodigious long string of them.

Ans. I did.

Quest. Did the General to your knowledge give liberty to the Soldiers to straggle & Plunder.

Ans. To my knowledge he did not, and when a poor woman made complaint to the General he promised her Redress if either the per- son or things could be found.

Quest .. Did you hear him desire the officers to keep the men to- gether & in order to receive the enemy.

Ans. Yes.

Quest. Did you hear him often speak to the soldiers & request them to keep together & hold themselves in readiness to receive the enemy.

Ans. I often heard the Gen1 tell his troops to keep themselves in readiness, the enemy were advancing and we must fight them.

Quest. If the officers & soldiers of Gen1 Smallwood had obeyed the orders he gave them at Deckers ferry & came off with the Party would there have been any Probability of any of his Party falling into the hands of the enemy.

Ans. No.

T. F. Armstrong.

[Rev. Dr. Armstrong acted as a volunteer brigade major on Gen- eral Smallwood's staff, on the expedition. - ED. ]

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[Ibid. p. 147.] Major Morriss Testimony. G. Nº 10.

Camp near New Port Sept 6th, 1777.

Major General Sullivan having plann'd an Expedition against Staten Island, Ordered his Division, on the 20th Augt last, to march to Elizabeth Town by Regiments. The General went forward him- self, to make the necessary preparations for the Embarkation and procure proper Guides, about 10 OClock in the Evening, the Divi- sion came into Town, and moved down to Halsteads Point where they remained 'till 2 O Clock in the morning, when General Small- wood's Brigade began to Embark, and by daylight the whole Division had compleatly crossed. during the Embarkation, the Gen' was ex- tremely active; every Person must do him the Justice to acknowledge that he was much more so than they could have expected from an Invalid, which the Gen1 certainly was at that time. - After Gen1 Smallwood's Brigade had gained the upland, Gen1 Sullivan ordered Gen1 Smallwood to proceed with his Brigade to Deckers Ferry, and attack Colo Bushierts Regim abt the same time, the Gen1 ordered Capt Heron & Chambers with a Party of L' Infantry which was at- tached the night before, from Colo Hazens Regim' to proceed to Gen1 Skinner's Quarts & endeavour to take him Prisoner. This business being completed, the Gen1 sent me down to the shore to bring up Gen1 De Borres Brigade, and returned part of the way himself. When he gained the upland, and the dispositions made, The Gen1 took the Command himself of it in Person & moved on to attack Colo Bartons Regimt at the New Blazing Star. In our march for that place, the Gen' frequently ordered the soldiers to observe the strictest silence, & spirited them on to the attack. Gen1 Smallwood, who undoubtedly would have succeeded to our most sanguine Expec- tation, if his Guide had not brought him in full front of the Enemy instead of conducting him to the rear, this mistake gave them an opportunity to retreat to their Lines, upon the Nº East point of the Island, Gen1 Smallwood took four Prisoners, burnt seven of their small armed vessels, & a Bagage of Forage: The Gen1 understanding that the Enemy from the Lines were endcavouring to head him, thought it most prudent to form a Junction with Gen' Sullivan, which he effected near the New Star. Gen1 Sullivan having compleated his business in that Quarter, took Colo Barton & about 30 of his men Prisoners, ordered the Division to march for the Old Star. The line of march being very irregular, The Gen' sent me forward to halt the front that he might put the line in some kind of order. The Gen' between the New Star & Cuckolds Town was several times applied to, to halt their Division, but from the information the Gen1

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received of the Enemy's Intentions to head him, did not think it prudent to make a halt, 'till he had passed Cuckolds Town about half a mile where the Division halted. One Brigade advanced a little before the others. The troops being rested about an hour, The Gen1 ordered the Division to move on ; upon their Arrival at the Old Star, the Embarkation of the troops took place, and was nearly com- pleted when the Enemy advanced upon our Rear, consisting of about one hundred men, and took most of them Prisoners -

Lewis Morris A. D. C.

Quest. When the Gen1 arrived at the Ferry did he appoint an officer to superintend the Embarkation of the Troops, & give positive orders that no Horses or Cattle should be carried across till the Troops were over.

Ans. I did not hear those orders given, but from the Concurrent Testimonies of many, I have no doubt of its being the case.

Quest. When the Gen1 crossed over himself, did he in Person put a proper crew of hands into the boats, send them over & leave you & Major Eustace to superintend the return of the boats.

Ans. The crews were put in by himself. Major Eustace was ap- pointed to superintend the Embarkation, & I staid to assist him.

Quest. Could Cannon have been placed on the Jersey shore to advantage to cover the crossing the Troops.

Ans. The Marsh was so extensive, that they could not have an- swered that Purpose.

Quest. Was General Sullivan in the rear of the Division when he sent you forward to slacken the march of the Troops.

Ans. To the best of my knowledge, I think he was.

Quest. Did you when you went forward by his directions, desire the officers & soldiers to march in order.

Ans. I did.

Quest. Did he forbid the soldiers stragling & plundering.

Ans. I recollect that he did.

Quest. - What is the distance from the place where he sent you forward to Cuckolds Town.

Ans. Three & half miles

Quest. When Gen1 Smallwood formed a Junction with Gen' Sul- livan did you hear Gen1 Smallwood tell him that the Enemy were nearly up to the Fork of the road by that time.

Ans. I recollect to have heard him say, that the Enemy were en- deavouring to head him.

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REVOLUTIONARY WAR ROLLS AND DOCUMENTS.

Quest. What reply did Gen1 Sullivan make.

Ans. We must fight them.

Quest. Did you hear Gen1 Smallwood then tell him, that the Enemy had had so much time to collect, & our Troops were so much fatigued that it would be at least doubtful whither we should drub them.

I recollect something of this, and clearly remember that the Gen1 replied, that this Neck (meaning the Neck that the new Blazing Star stands upon,) was not a Post for him to maintain & immediately ordered the Division to march to the Old Star. -

Lewis Morris A. D. C.

[Ibid. p. 148.] Major Eustaces Testimony. H. Nº II.

Camp near Newport Sept 6, 1777

Orders being issued by Major General Sullivan on the 20th of August for the Division to march at 12 the next day for Elizabeth Town & to avoid any suspicion arising of our intention of landing on the Island it was generally supposed & indeed reported that we were going to the southward, nor did the General make his own family acquainted with it till the next evening. The Division arrived at Eliza between ten & eleven after the General supposed they were refreshed (for which he had given orders on their arrival) He marched them down to Halsteads Point & began to embark : This was nearly compleated by day break. Gen1 Smallwoods Brigade being first in the line of march were consequently first on the Island : Gen1 Sullivan having given the necessary orders & instructions to Gen1 Smallwood, (after he had reached the high ground) he with the Guide (one Dickey) who was provided for him at Elizabeth Town, Pursued the nearest rout for Deckers ferry & the Dutch Church, where Colº Buskarks Regt was stationed ; Gen1 Sullivan then dispached his aid Major Morris to superintend the embarkation of Deborres Brigade this was shortly after accomplished : when DeBorres Brigade had crossed the marsh, the Gen' making such disposition as he thought proper marched in Person with them to the forks of the Road, the left of which lead to the Dutch Church, and Deckers & was the road Gen1 Smallwood had taken, the right to the new Star where Bartons Regiment was sta- tioned when the Gen' had nearly reached this, he was informed that the Greens were making their escape along the river side, I was im- mediately sent with orders to Colo Price whose Regt formed the rear of the Brigade to file off to the right & interrupt their retreat ;

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which he partly effected & took a few prisoners ; on our arrival at Mr Barton Qr we found him as we expected with his Regt ready to give us a warm reception. When Major Taylor with the advance Guard which he commanded were within three hundred Paces, they in the most Precipitate manner quitted the fence at which they were drawn up, without firing a shot at them. Their brave Colo finding the probability of securing a retreat rather against him surrendered himself a Prisoner of war. the Green coated party consisted of about 50 a few of them were taken in the marsh, thro' which they endeavoured to make their escape the others took to the boats that were laying at the ferry stairs to which our men pursued them. The Gen1 then dispached a Canoe with orders to the Person who had the care of the Boats at Halsteads to send them immediately upon the old Star, when we had gone about half a mile from the ferry, the Gen1 sent me back to the river with orders to Colo Ogden to join him immediately, but I was not able to procure a boat for that pur- pose, Doctor Armstrong (who had attended Gen1 Smallwood that day as an extra Brigade Major) came to Gen1 Sullivan with an account that the enemy (who from the stupidity of Dickey took the alarm as he brought them in full view at such a distance as gave them full time to prepare,) & were endeavouring to surround him, & added that there was a very long string of them & begged Gen1 Sullivan to join him as soon as possible : De Borres Brigade was immediately formed & with the Gen1 marchd to the assistance of Smallwood ; whom we met about a mile and a half on the road leading from the N. Star to Deckers ferry, the whole Division then marched a little beyond Cuckolds Town & halted in two lines on two advantageous heights for more than an hour : we then proceeded on to the Old Star Ferry where we arrived at 12 o'clock and found Colo M. Ogden & M' Barber Lieut Colo of Daytons Corps whose regiments had just crossed the river. - we immediately began to cross, (to superintend which Major Worden was appointed on that shore) Gen1 Sullivan, Gen1 Smallwood & Gen1 De Borre crossed in the rear of Smallwoods Brigade. I was ordered to superintend the Boats on this side the river in which Major Morris was polite enough to assist me: till it was Com- pleated except the rear Guard and stragglers that were attacked by the Enemy.

Quest. Did Gen1 Sullivan halt at the forks of that Road leading from the New Blazing Star into the main road till the Division had passed him except the rear Guard.

Ans. I remember perfectly he did.

Quest. What was the distance from the fork to where the van Guard then stood.

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Ans. Not more than three hundred or four hundred Paces.

Quest. What was the distance from the fork to where the Troops halted near Cuckolds Town.

Ans. One of the Inhabitants of whom I then enquired told me between four and five miles.

Quest. Did the Gen1 send you forward between those places to inform the front they marched too fast & to desire to march slow & in good order.

Ans. Twice.

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Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary war, 1629 to 1725, Part 15

Author: None Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 860

Author: None
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 860