USA > New Hampshire > The history of New-Hampshire. Comprehending the events of one complete century and seventy-five years from the discovery of the River Pascataqua to the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety, Vol 2 > Part 21
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May 21.
The Congrefs having ordered feveral frig- ates to be built in different places ; one of thirty-two guns, called the Raleigh, was launched at Portfmouth, in fixty days from the time when her keel was laid; but for want of guns and ammunition, and other neceffaries, it was a long time before fhe was completely fitted for the fea. The making of falt-petre was encouraged by a bounty ; and many trials were made before it was pro-
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duced in purity. Powder mills were erect- 1776. ed, and the manufacture of gunpowder was, after fome time, eftablifhed ; but notwith- ftanding all our exertions, foreign fupplies were neceffary.
For the fervice of this year, two thoufand men were raifed, and formed into three regi- ments, under the fame commanders as in the former year. Three hundred men were poft- ed at the forts in the harbour. Supplies of fire arms and ammunition were fent to the weftern parts of the State, and a regiment was raifed in that quarter, under the com- mand of Col. Timothy Bedel, to be ready to march into Canada.
The three regiments went with the army under General Wafhington to New-York ; and thence were ordered up the Hudfon, and down the lakes into Canada, under the im- mediate command of Brigadier General Sul- livan. The defign of this movement was to fuccour and reinforce the army, which had been fent, the preceding year, againft Que- bec ; and which was now retreating before a fuperior force, which had arrived from Britain, as early as the navigation of the St. Lawrence was opened. Our troops having met the retreating army at the mouth of the Sorel, threw up fome flight works round their camp. General Thomas, who had command- ed the army after the fall of the brave Mont- gomery, was dead of the fmall-pox. Arnold was engaged in ftripping the merchants of Montreal, under pretence of fupplying the army ; and Thompfon was taken prifoner in an unfuccefsful attack on the village of Trois Rivieres. The command therefore devolved
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1776. on Sullivan, who, finding a retreat neceffary, conducted it with great prudence. At this time the American troops, and in particular the regiments of New-Hampfhire, had taken the infection of the fmall-pox. The fick were placed in batteaux, and with the cannon and ftores, were drawn againft the rapid current, by the ftrength of men on fhore, or wading in the water ; and fo clofe was the purfuit of the enemy, that they could fcarcely find time to kindle a fire to drefs their victuals, or dry their clothes. At St. John's the purfuit July I. ceafed. On the arrival of our army at Ti- conderoga, Sullivan, being fuperfeded by Gates, returned to the main army at New- York. The troops in the northern depart- ment being reinforced by the militia of the neighbouring States, fortified the pofts of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence. Be- fide the fmall-pox, a dyfentery and putrid fe- ver raged among them ; and it was compu- ted, that of the New-Hampfhire regiments, nearly one third part died this year by ficknefs.
December & January.
When the danger of an attack on Ticon- deroga for that feafon, was paffed, the re- maining part of the New-Hampfhire troops . marched by the way of the Minifinks, into Pennfylvania. There they joined General Wafhington, and affifted in the glorious cap- ture of the Heffians at Trenton, and after- ward in the battle of Princeton. Though worn down with fatigue, and almoft defti- tute of clothing, in that inclement feafon, they continued in the fervice fix weeks after the term of their enliftment had expired ; and two regiments of the militia which were fent to reinforce the army remained till March.
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By this time the inconvenience of main- 1777. taining an army, by annual enliftments and temporary levies, was feverely felt, and gen- erally reprobated ; and the Congrefs, though flow in liftening to remonftrances on this *head, were obliged to adopt a more perma- nent eftablifhment. In recruiting the army for the next year, the officers were appointed by Congrefs, during the war ; and the men enlifted either for that term, or for three years. The commanders of the three regiments of New-Hampshire, were the Colonels Jofeph Cil- ley, Nathan Hale and Alexander Scammell. Thefe regiments were fupplied with new French arms ; and their rendezvous was at Ticonderoga, under the immediate command of Brigadier General Poor. There they re- mained, till the approach of the British army July 6. under General Burgoyne, rendered it eligi- ble to abandon that poft. On the retreat, Col. Hale's battalion was ordered to cover the rear of the invalids, by which means, he was feven miles behind the main body. The next morning he was attacked, by an advan- ced party of the enemy at Hubberton. In this engagement, Major Titcomb of the New- Hampfhire troops, was wounded. Col. Hale, Captains Robertfon, Carr, and Norris, Adju- tant Elliot, and two other officers were taken prifoners, with about one hundred men. The main body of the army continued their retreat to Saratoga. On their way they had a fkirmifh with the enemy at Fort Anne, in which Captain Weare, fon of the Prefident, was mortally wounded, and died at Albany.
Immediately after the evacuation of Ti- conderoga, the committee of the New-Hamp-
old
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HISTORY OF
July 8. Original
letters in .
files.
July 17.
1777. fhire Grants (who had now formed them- felves into a new State) wrote in the moft preffing terms, to the committee of Safety at Exeter for affiftance, and faid that if none fhould be afforded to them, they fhould be obliged to retreat to the New-England States for fafety. When the news of this affair reached New-Hampshire, the Affembly had finithed their fpring feffion and returned home. A fummons from the committee brought them together again ; and in a fhort feffion of three days only, they took the moft effectual and decifive fteps for the defence of the conntry. They formed the whole militia of the State into two Brigades ; of the firft they gave the command to William Whipple, and of the fecond to John Stark. They order- ed one fourth part of Stark's brigade, and one fourth of three regiments of the other brig- ade, to march immediately under his com- mand, ' to ftop the progrefs of the enemy on 'our weftern frontiers.' They ordered the militia officers, to take away arms, from all perfons, who fcrupled or refufed to affift, in defending the country ; and appointed a day of fafting and prayer, which was obferved with great folemnity.
The appointment of Stark, to this com- mand, with the fame pay as a Brigadier in the Continental fervice, was peculiarly grateful to the people as well as to himfelf. In an arrangement of general officers, in the prece- ding year, Poor a junior officer had been pro- moted, whilft he was neglected. He had written on this fubject to Congrefs, and his letters were laid on the table. He therefore quitted the army, and retired to his own
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ftate. He was now by the unanimous voice 1777. of his fellow citizens, invefted with a feparate command, and received orders to 'repair 'to Charleftown on Connecticut river ; there of orders on MS. copy ' to confult with a committee of New-Hamp-1 file. 'fhire Grants, refpecting his future operations ' and the fupply of his men with provifions ; 'to take the command of the militia and ' march into the Grants to act in conjunction ' with the troops of that new State, or any other 'of the States, or of the United States, or ' feparately, as it fhould appear expedient to ' him ; for the protection of the people and ' the annoyance of the enemy.'
In a few days he proceeded to Charleftown, and as faft as his men arrived, he fent them forward, to join the forces of the new State, under Col. Warner, who had taken poft at Manchefter, twenty miles northward of Ben- letter. nington. Here Stark joined him, and met with General Lincoln, who had been fent from Stillwater, by General Schuyler, com- mander of the northern department, to con- duct the militia to the weft fide of Hud- fon's river. Stark informed him of his or- ders, and of the danger which the inhabitants of the Grants apprehended from the enemy, and from their difaffected neighbours ; that he had confulted with the committee, and that it was the determination of the people, in cafe he fhould join the Continental army and leave them expofed, that they would retire to the eaft of Connecticut river ; in which cafe New- Hampfhire would be a frontier. He there- fore determined to remain on the flank of the enemy, and to watch their motions. For Aug. y. this purpofe he collected his force at Ben-
Aug 17.
MS. copy of Lincoln's
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HISTORY OF
1777. nington, and left Warner with his regiment at Manchefter. A report of this determina- tion was tranfmitted to Congrefs, and the or- ders on which it was founded were by them difapproved ; but the propriety of it was evinced by the fubfequent facts.
Aug. 9. MS. copy of Bur- ders.
General Burgoyne, with the main body of the British army lay at fort Edward. Thence he detached Lieut. Col. Baum, with about fifteen hundred of his German troops, and one hundred Indians, to pervade the grants as goyne's or- far as Connecticut river, with a view to col- lect horfes to mount the dragoons, and cattle, both for labour and provifions ; and to re- turn to the army with his booty. He was to perfuade the people among whom he fhould pafs, that his detachment was the advanced guard of the Britifh army, which was march- ing to Bofton. He was accompanied by Co- lonel Skeene, who was well acquainted with the country ; and he was ordered to fecure his camp by night.
Aug. 13. Stark's MS letters in the files.
Aug. 14.
The Indians who preceded this detachment, being difcovered about twelve miles from Ben- nington ; Stark detached Col. Greg, with two hundred men, to ftop their march. Inthe even- ing of the fame day, he was informed that a body of regular troops, with a train of artil- lery, was in full march for Bennington. The next morning he marched with his whole brigade, and fome of the militia of the Grants, to fupport Greg, who found himfelf unable to withftand the fuperior number of the en- emy. Having proceeded about four miles, he met Greg retreating, and the main body of the enemy purfuing, within half a mile of his rear. When they difcovered Stark's col-
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umn, they halted in an advantageous pofition; and he drew up his men on an eminence in open view ; but could not bring them to an engagement. He then marched back, about a mile, and encamped; leaving a few men to fkir- mith with them ; who killed thirty of the ene- my and two of the indian chiefs. The next day was rainy. Stark kept his pofition, and fent out parties to harrafs the enemy. Many of the Indians took this opportunity to defert; be- caufe, as they faid, 'the woods were full of yankees.'
On the following morning Stark was join- ed by a company of militia from the Grants, and another from the county of Berkfhire in Maffachufetts. His whole force amounted to about fixteen hundred. , He fent Colonel Nichols, with two hundred and fifty men, to the rear of the enemy's left wing ; and Colonel Hendrick, with three hundred, to the rear of their right. He placed three hundred to oppofe their front and draw their attention. Then fending Colonels Hubbard and Stickney, with two hundred to attack the right wing, and one hundred more to reinforce Nichols in the rear of their left, the attack began in that quarter precifely at three of the clock in the af- ternoon. It was immediately feconded by the other detachments; and at the fame time Stark himfelf advanced with the main body. The engagement lafted two hours ; at the end of which he forced their breaftworks, took two pieces of brafs cannon and a number of prif- oners ; the reft retreated.
Juft at this inftant, he received intelligence that another body of the enemy was within two miles of him. This was a reinforce-
1777.
Ang. 15.
Ang. 16.
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HISTORY OF
1777. ment for which Baum had fent, when he firft knew the force which he was to oppofe. It was commanded by Col. Breyman. Happily Warner's regiment from Manchefter came up with them and ftopped them. Stark rallied his men and renewed the action ; it was warm and defperate ; he ufed, with fuccefs, the can- non which he had taken ; and at funfet obliged the enemy to retreat. He purfued them till night, and then halted, to prevent his own men from killing each other, in the dark. He took from the enemy two other pieces of cannon, with all their baggage, wag- gons and horfes. Two hundred and twenty- fix men were found dead on the field. Their commander, Baum, was taken and died of his wounds ; befide whom, thirty-three officers, and above feven hundred privates, were made prifoners. Of Stark's brigade four officers and ten privates were killed and forty-two were wounded.
Ang 18.
In the account of this battle, which Stark fent to the committee of New-Hampthire, he faid, 'our people behaved with the greatett 'fpirit and bravery imaginable. Had every ' man been an Alexander, or a Charles of ' Sweden, they could not have behaved bet- 'ter.' He was fenfible of the advantage of keeping on the flank of the enemy's main body ; and therefore fent for one choufand men to replace thofe whofe time had expired ; but intimated to the committee that he him- felf thould return with the brigade. They cordially thanked him ' for the very effential ' fervice which he had done to the country,' but earneftly preffed him to continue in the command ; and fent him a reinforcement.
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' affuring the men that they were to ferve 1777. ' under General Stark.' "This argument pre- vailed with the men to march, and with Stark to remain.
The prifoners taken in this battle were fent to Bofton. The trophies were divided between New-Hampfhire and Maffachufetts. But Congrefs heard of this victory by acci- dent. Having waited fome time in expec- tation of letters, and none arriving ; inquiry was made why Stark had not written to Con- grefs ? He anfwered, that his correfpondence with them' was clofed, as they had not at- tended to his laft letters. They took the hint ; and though they had but a few days before refolved, that the inftructions which he had received were deftructive of military fubordination, and prejudicial to the com- mon caufe ; yet they prefented their thanks to him, and to the officers and troops under his command, and promoted him to the rank of a Brigadier General, in the army of the United States.
This victory gave a fevere check to the hopes of the enemy, and raifed the fpirits of the people after long depreffion. It wholly changed the face of affairs in the northern department. Inftead of difappointment and retreat, and the lofs of men by hard labor and ficknefs ; we now were convinced, not only that our militia could fight without be- ing covered by intrenchments ; but that they were able, even without artillery, to cope with regular troops in their intrenchments. The fuccefs thus gained was regarded as a good omen of farther advantages. ' Let us get ' them into the woods,' was the language of
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HISTORY OF
1777. the whole country. Burgoyne was daily putting his army into a more hazardous fitu- ation ; and we determined that no exertion fhould be wanting on our part to complete the ruin of his boafted enterprife. The northern army was reinforced by the militia of all the neighbouring States. Brigadier Whipple marched with a great part of his brigade ; befides which, volunteers in abun- dance from every part of New-Hampfhire flew to the northern army now command- ed by General Gates. Two defperate bat- tles were fought, the one at Stillwater and the other at Saratoga; in both of which, the troops of New-Hampfhire had a large fhare of the honor due to the American army. In the former action, two Lieutenant Colonels, Adams and Colburne, and Lieuten- ant Thomas, were flain in the field ; and fe- veral other brave officers were wounded, one of whom, Capt. Bell, died in the hofpital. In the latter, Lieut. Col. Conner and Lieut. McClary were killed, with a great number of their men ; and Col. Scammel was wounded. The confequence of thefe battles was the fur- render of Burgoyne's army. This grand object being attained, the New-Hampfhire regiments performed a march of forty miles, and forded the Mohawk river, below the falls, in the fpace of fourteen hours. The defign of this rapid movement was to check the progrefs of a detachment, commanded by the Britifh General Clinton ; who threatened Albany with the fame deftruction which he had fpread in the country below ; but on hearing the fate of Burgoyne, he returned quietly to New-York. The regir nts then
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marched into Pennfylvania and paffed the 1777. winter in huts at Valley-forge. Befide thofe officers flain at the northward, we fuftained a lofs in the death of Major Edward Sherburne, Aid de Camp to General Sullivan, who was killed in a bold, but unfuccefsful action at Germantown.
After the capture of Burgoyne's army, all danger of invafion from Canada ceafed ; and the theatre of the war was removed to the fouthward. The troops of New-Hampfhire, being formed into a diftinct brigade, partook of all the fervices and fufferings, to which their brethren were expofed. In the battle of Monmouth, a part of them were clofely engaged, under the conduct of Col. Cilley and Lieut. Col. Dearborn ; and behaved with fuch bravery as to merit the particular ap- probation of their illuftrious General. They continued with the main body, all that cam- paign, and were hutted, in the following winter, at Reading.
In the fummer of 1778, when a French fleet appeared on our coaft, to aid us in the conteft with Britain ; an invafion of Rhode- Ifland, then poffeffed by the Britifh, was pro- jected, and General Sullivan had the com- mand. Detachments of militia and volun- teers, from Maffachufetts and New-Hamp- fhire, formed a part of his troops. But a violent ftorm, having prevented the co-ope- ration of the French fleet, and driven them to fea ; the army, after a few fkirmifhes, was under the difagreeable neceffity of quitting the ifland ; and the retreat was conducted by Sul- livan with the greateft caution and prudence.
When an expedition into the Indian coun- 1779.
1778.
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HISTORY OF
1779. try was determined on, General Sullivan was appointed to the command, and the New- Hampfhire brigade made a part of his force. His route was up the river Sufquehanna into the country of the Senekas ; a tract imperfect- ly known, and into which no troops had ever penetrated. The order of his march was planned with great judgment, and executed : with much regularity and perfeverance. In feveral engagements with the Savages, the troops of New-Hampfhire behaved with their ufual intrepidity. Capt. Cloyes and Lieut. McAulay were killed, and Major Titcomb was again badly wounded. The provifions of the army falling fhort, before the object of the expedition was completed, the troops generoufly agreed to fubfift on fuch as could be found in the Indian country. After their return, they rejoined the main army, and paffed a third winter in huts, at Newtown in Connecticut. In the latter end of this year Sullivan refigned his command and retired.
1780.
In the following year, the New-Hampfhire regiments did duty at the important poft of Weft-Point, and afterward marched into New- Jerfey, where General Poor died. Three regi- ments of militia were employed in the fer- vice of this year. The fourth winter was paffed in a hutted cantonment, at a place called Soldier's Fortune, near Hudfon's river. In the clofe of this year, the three regiments were reduced to two, which were commanded by the Colonels Scammel and George Reid.
1781.
The next year, a part of them remained in the State of New-York, and another part marched to Virginia, and were prefent at the capture of the fecond Britifh army, under
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Karl Cornwallis. Here the brave and active Col. Scammel was killed. In the winter, the firft regiment, commanded by Lieut. Col. Dear- born, was quartered at Saratoga, and the fe- cond on Mohawk river ; in which places they were ftationed, till the clofe of the following year ; when the approach of peace relaxed the operations of war. In a few months, the negotiations were fo far advanced, that a trea- ty was made ; and the fame royal lips, which from the throne had pronounced us 'revolted ' fubjects,' now acknowledged us as 'FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES.'
1782.
3
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HISTORY OF
CHAP. XXVI.
Paper-money. Confifcations. State Conflitution. Controverfy
with Vermont.
THE war in which we became in- volved with Britain, found uš not deftitute of refources, but unfkilled in the art of fi- nance. Former wars had been maintained by a paper currency ; which, though it de- preciated in fome meafure, yet was finally redeemed by the reimburfements which we received from the Britifh Treafury. We had been alfo ufed to iffue bills on loan, and re- ceive landed property as fecurity for its re- demption. To the fame mode we had re- courfe on this occafion, without either of the foundations on which our former currencies had been fupported. Bills of credit were emitted with no other fund for their redemp- tion than taxation, and that deferred to dif- tant periods. It was imagined that the juf- tice of our caufe, and the united ardor and patriotifm of the people, would preferve the value of thefe bills during the conteft which we were very fanguine would be fhort ; and in fact the circulation of them for the firft year was fupported by no other means. But being counterfeited, they began to depreciate, and then it was thought neceffary to enact a law againft forging them, and to make them a legal tender in all payments. In fome of the States, thefe bills were made a tender for the intereft, but not for the principal of for- mer debts ; but in New-Hampfhire, if the creditor fhould refufe them when offered in
1776.
Guy 3.
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payment, the whole debt was cancelled. Had this law regarded future contracts only, every man would have known on what terms to make his engagements ; but to declare it le- gal to pay debts, already contracted, with money of an inferior value, was altogether unjuft. It was not in human power to. pre- vent a depreciation of the bills ; and the en- forcing of their currency accelerated the def- truction of their value. The fraudulent debtor took advantage of this law to cheat his creditor, under colour of juftice ; whilft the creditor had no other refuge, than in fome cafes privately to transfer the written ob- ligation ; and in other cafes to refufe the ten- der, at the rifque indeed of lofing the debt ; but in hope that juftice would at fome future time have its courfe. Hufbandmen, who lived remote from the fcene of hoftilities, and who had the produce of the earth at their command, were able to keep their property good. Hawkers and monopolifers, who crept from obfcurity and affumed the name of mer- chants, could even increafe their fubftance in thefe perilous times. But thofe perfons whofe property was in other men's hands ; or whofe living depended on ftated falaries ; or whofe honeft minds could not defcend to practife knavery, though eftablifhed by law, were doomed to fuffer.
To palliate thefe evils, at one time, a law was enacted againft monopoly and extortion ; and when found impracticable, it was repeal- ed. At other times, the prices of different articles were ftated under fevere penalties ; but ways were foon found to evade thefe ef- tablifhments ; and when found ineffectual,
1776.
1777%
Times alans
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HISTORY OF
Circular letter of Sept. 13, I779.
july and Auguft. MS mi- mutes of Conven- tion.
1777. the laws were repealed. It is not confiftent with the nature of commerce to bear fuch reftrictions ; and the laws increafed the evils which they pretended to cure. At another time public fales by auction were prohib- ited, becaufe it was faid that they were the means of depreciating the currency ; but in fact they ferved only to demonftrate its real value. There was a difpofition in the governing part of the people to keep out of fight the true caufe of this growing mifchief. Even the general Congrefs, in a public ad- drefs which they ordered to be read in the congregations, affembled for religious wor- fhip, after faying much in praife of paper money, told us, that it was ' the only kind of ' money which could not make to itfelf wings ' and fly away.' Had this been intended as the language of burlefque, it might have been received with a fmile; in any other fenfe, it was an infult to the feelings of honeft men.
In the midft of thefe diftreffes, frequent meetings of different bodies of men were held, to confult on fome practicable modes of relief. Committees of counties, and of dif- ferent States, at various times, formed pro- jects, and iffucd public addreffes ; but palli- atives in this, as in all other cafes, foon loft their efficacy. From one of thefe Conventions, holden at Springfield, and compofed of dele- gates from the New-England States and New .. York ; a letter was addreffed to the general Congrefs, which put them on devifing means to furmount the exifting difficulties. Among other expedients they recommended effectual taxation, the opening of loan-offices, and that the States individually fhould emit no more
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