USA > New Hampshire > The history of New Hampshire, from its discovery, in 1614, to the passage of the Toleration act, in 1819 > Part 18
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passed a vote of thanks to him, and promoted him CHAP. to the rank of a brigadier general. IX.
The colonies had long been depressed by dis- aster and defeat ; but the decisive victory of Ben- nington turned the tide of success, and diffused confidence and joy. The prospect of a more glo- rious victory burst upon the Americans, and crowds of militia flocked to the republican camp. It happened, at this time, that there was a change 1777. of officers, and General Gates had been appointed to the army of the north. Arnold, the thunder- bolt of war, whose path was always marked with carnage, was also there, and Morgan, already dis- tinguished for his brilliant achievements, with the patriot of Poland, the brave Kosciusko, were there. These several causes combined, produced a gen- eral rising of the people at the north, and it seemed that every man, who could bear arms, was rushing to the camp of Gates.
Thus General Gates found himself at the head of an army of five thousand men. On the 8th of September he left his encampment at the islands, proceeded to Stillwater, and occupied Bemus heights. On the twelfth, Burgoyne crossed the Hudson, and on the seventeenth, moved forward to Saratoga, and encamped within three miles of the American army. The next day occurred the first battle of Stillwater. It began by skirmishes be- tween the scouting parties. Each side sent rein- forcements to their combatants, respectively, until nearly the whole of both armies were engaged. The Americans took advantage of a dense wood, from which they poured a deadly fire. Unable to withstand it, the British lines broke, and the
Sept. 8.
Sept. 12. Sept. 17.
Sept. 18.
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CHAP. Americans, rushing from their coverts, pursued IX. them to an eminence, where, their flanks being supported, they rallied, and, charging in their turn, 1777. drove the Americans into the woods, from which they again poured a fire too deadly to be with- stood. Again the British fell back. At every charge their artillery fell into the hands of the Americans. Night put an end to the conflict. The Americans retired to their camp, having lost between three and four hundred. The British loss was five hundred. Both sides claimed the victory. The former gained the advantages of a victory, the latter reaped the worst consequences of defeat.
From this time to the seventh of October, fre- quent skirmishes occurred between the two armies. On that day a general battle was fought at Sara- Oct. 7. toga. It began by an attack of the Americans, under General Poor, on the left flank and front of the British. At the same time, Morgan made an onset upon their right. The action now be- came general. The efforts of the combatants on both sides were desperate, and both displayed equal valor. Burgoyne and his officers fought as if their all of reputation depended on the issue of the day ; while the Americans contested the field like men resolved to die rather than surrender their native soil to invaders. In fifty-two minutes the invading army gave way. The defenders of the Wil- lard's Repub- lic, 206. soil pursued them to their entrenchments, and forced the guard. Arnold was seen amongst the most furious, and seemed to court danger. Throughout the whole action, he fought like a lion, overturning with fierce slaughter all that opposed his progress. Putting himself at the
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head of a small band, he rushed into the thickest CHAP. of the enemy, and carried a portion of the works IX. by storm. His horse was shot under him, and he himself wounded. Mounting another, he plunged again into the thickest of the fight, but night com- ing on, Gates retired ; and the ruin of the British army was reserved to another day.
The Americans, that night, rested on their arms upon the field which they had so nobly won. Gates Hale, II., 36. now perceived that a bloodless victory was in his power. Burgoyne was completely surrounded and hemmed in on every side. His supplies were cut off, and all hope of succor from General Clinton 1777. had failed. In this distressed condition, he sum- moned a council of war. Their advice was unan- imous, and on the seventeenth, the whole army, Oct. 17. amounting to five thousand seven hundred and fifty- two, surrendered, prisoners of war. Their arms, thirty-five brass field-pieces and five thousand mus- kets, fell into the hands of the Americans. They marched out of their camp with the honors of war, and thus terminated the vaunted expedition of Burgoyne, from which so much was expected, and so much was feared. The news of this great vic- tory diffused everywhere the wildest joy. At the news of Burgoyne's downfall, Clinton dismantled the forts he had taken, and retreated, bearing with him the execrations of a people whom he had plundered, and a fame for having revived, in an age distinguished for civilization, atrocities which be- long to the most barbarous times .*
There no longer remained an army at the north, and the theatre of war changed to the south. In 1778.
* Willard's Republic, p. 207.
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CHAP. the battle of Monmouth, a part of the New Hamp- IX. shire troops, under Colonel Cilley and Lieutenant Colonel Dearborn, behaved with such distinguish- ed bravery as to receive the notice and approba- tion of the illustrious Washington. At the close of that campaign, they retired to huts at Reading. France had now become our ally in the struggle, and in July, congress received, with inexpressible Hale, II., 47. joy, a letter from Count D'Estaing, announcing the approach of a French fleet. On his arrival, in concert with General Sullivan, who had com- mand of the troops in that quarter, he planned a combined attack by land and sea, on the British forces at Newport in Rhode Island. A call upon the militia of New England, brought to the standard of Sullivan an army of ten thousand men. He took a position on the north end of Rhode Island, and then moved towards Newport. Admiral Howe, having received a reinforcement, appeared before the harbor ; but while preparing for battle, a storm dispersed both fleets. The ships being damaged, Count D'Estaing proceeded to Boston, and Sullivan, deserted by the fleet, and finding it unsafe to remain longer on the island, retreated to his first position. He was pursued and attacked. He gallantly resisted, and the British were repuls- ed with loss. Through the rest of the day he kept a bold face towards the foe ; and having deceived them into a belief that he was preparing to attack them, effected, in the ensuing night, his retreat across the narrow sheet of water which divides the island from the main. With great secrecy and without loss, this retreat was effected.
Whiton, p. 141.
The next morning the British discovered, from
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an eminence, several American officers at break- CHAP. fast, in the general's quarters. Immediately a cap- IX. tain of artillery was directed to point a cannon at the spot. It shattered the leg of John S. Sher- burne, at that time aid-de-camp to Gen. Sullivan.
The massacre at the beautiful settlement of Wyoming, now attracted the notice of congress; and General Sullivan was appointed to the com- mand of an army of four thousand men,* destined to carry terror to the savages. His route lay up the river Susquehannah, into the country of the Senecas. Into this unexplored region, no troops had ever penetrated before. General Sullivan had all the difficulties to encounter, which had so often proved fatal to the whites in the preceding Indian wars. With great judgment and sagacity his expe- dition was planned and conducted. The army, pro- ceeding in two divisions, one from the Mohawk, the other from Wyoming, formed a junction on the Sus- quehannah, and proceeded, on the twenty-second of August, towards the lower lake. The Indians, in connection with two hundred tories, were drawn up in an advantageous position, and had erected for- tifications to oppose their progress. These were vigorously assaulted by General Sullivan, and after a slight resistance, the enemy gave way, and disappeared in the woods. The army advanced into the western part of New York. The Indians deserted their towns, which had begun to assume an appearance of civilization, never before found in the wilds of North America.t The houses were commodious, the apple and peach trees numerous, the crops of corn abundant. These were all de-
* Hale, II.
+ Hale, II., p. 55.
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CHAP. IX. stroyed. Not a vestige was left of all that gave beauty to the wilderness, and distinguished the Senecas from the ruder tribes around them. Hav- 1779. ing accomplished this work of vengeance, Sullivan Oct. returned to Easton, in Pennsylvania. Capt. Cloyes and Lieutenant McAulay had fallen, and with them he had lost forty men, by sickness and in battle.
1780. F. Bel- knap, p. 377. Sept. 8.
In the following year the New Hampshire regi- ments were stationed at West Point. Afterwards they marched into New Jersey, where Gen. Poor died. He had accompanied the expedition of Sul- livan as far as the Genesee, and had defeated the savage enemy. Afterwards he commanded a brig- ade under Major General La Fayette. The win- ter of this year was passed by the New Hampshire troops in a hutted cantonment near the Hudson river, at a place called Soldier's Fortune. At the close of this year, the three regiments were reduc- ed to two, commanded by the colonels Scammell and George Reid. The next year a part of them went to Virginia, and were present at the capture of the second British army, under Earl Cornwallis. Here the brave and active Colonel Scammell fell. They were quartered at Saratoga and on the Mo- hawk river, until the decisive battle of Yorktown drew from the king of England an acknowledg- ment that his revolted colonies in North America were free and independent states.
In the moment of victory, and while possessing a boundless influence over the army, the incorrupt- ible Washington returned his sword to his country and retired to his plantation at Mount Vernon, where his ashes now repose. Ambition will for- ever be awed and admonished by such an example.
CHAPTER X.
DEPRECIATION of continental money-Efforts of Congress to prevent the depreciation-Proscription of persons and confiscation of estates-Con- stitution proposed-rejected by the people-Another proposed-Revolt of sixteen towns-Monetary distress-Insurrection-the insurgents made prisoners-Union of the states-Convention of delegates at Philadel- phia-The Federal Constitution-submitted to the people-Convention assembles at Exeter to ratify the Federal Constitution-Conflicting opin- ions-Joshua Atherton's speech against the adoption of the Constitution- It is finally ratified-Washington chosen President of the United States -- John Langdon elected President of New Hampshire-Washington visits New Hampshire-Progress of settlements-Increase of population-Sup- port of common schools-Education-Establishment of post offices-State debts-Revision of the State Constitution-Josiah Bartlett-Formation of parties-Republicans-Federalists-Depreciation of paper money-The privateer ship M'Clary-Case of the prize ship Susanna-Remonstrances against the acts of the general government-Jay's treaty-Progress of settlements-Lake Winnipiseogee-A medical school established- Troubles with France-Laws for the observance of the Sabbath-Death of Washington-Administration of John Adams-Organization of parties- Manufactures-Coos county-Scenery around the mountains.
To provide the "sinews of war," congress CHAP. was compelled, after finding itself wholly cut off X. 1776. from every other resource, to issue continental bills of credit, based, not on specie, but on distant and problematical taxation. The patriotism of the people-the same self-sacrificing spirit that caused them to shed their blood for the sacred cause of liberty-for a short period sustained the credit of these worthless emissions. The colonies were soon flooded with them : they were the only currency in circulation. Those who had specie carefully hoarded it up. As the government, how-
34
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CHAP. ever, became more settled and stable, and the X. people withdrew their attention from public affairs to their own private interests, these bills fell into gradual but fatal discredit. The authorities of the several states attempted to revive public con- fidence. Laws were enacted in New Hampshire making them legal tender, and if they were refused by a creditor, that refusal discharged the debt. Such an enactment, it may be readily supposed, increased rather than alleviated the general dis- tress. Creditors, by fraud or legal subterfuge, avoided it. In the meantime increasing effort was made by congress to stop the depreciation. 1777. Among other things, they issued a circular, which they ordered to be read to the congregations, throughout the states, assembled for religious worship. The circular was an ingenious and elab- orate argument in favor of a paper currency, which it called " the only kind of money which could not make to itself wings and fly away."
The distress became so alarming that a conven- tion was held at Springfield, composed of delegates from the New England states and New York. The convention memorialized congress, praying that body, for the relief of the public difficulties, to establish a system of taxation, and open loan offices in the several states. Congress, in answer, recommended a plan of confiscation, which by seve- ral states was followed.
1778.
New Hampshire proscribed seventy-six persons, who had for various causes left the state, and for- bade their return. The property of twenty-eight of them was confiscated, and all previous attach- ments thereby dissolved. This measure, doubtfully
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justified by extreme necessity, did not result so CHAP. beneficially as was anticipated to the treasury of X. the state, as the net profit was comparatively un- important.
While these estates were in process of settle- ment, the continental bills continued to fluctuate, - occasionally rising slightly in nominal value, but always followed by a rapid depreciation, until, as by common consent, they disappeared, and spe- cie, from the public mint, took their place.
A large convention of delegates assembled for 1779. the purpose of framing and recommending to the people a state constitution; but it was deficient in so many respects that it was rejected by the popular vote almost unanimously. Another con- 1781. vention was afterwards called, which occupied two years. The first plan proposed by that body was rejected, but the second was generally approved and adopted. The present constitution partakes of all the general features of that, but has received such modifications as the growing importance of the state and increase of population have demanded.
To this convention sixteen towns, on the east- 1782. ern side of the Connecticut river, refused to send delegates, on the ground that the war had dis- severed all colonial ties and responsibilities, that the inhabitants reverted to a " state of nature," and that each town had the entire right to govern itself as an independent municipal community. The people on the western side of the river, having adopted the same doctrine, had cut themselves loose from New York, and formed an independent state, which was called Vermont. These sixteen recusant towns immediately desired to be admitted
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CHAP. into the confederacy, which was granted by the X. legislative body of the new state. New Hamp- shire refused to resign its claim, or to acknowl- edge the novel doctrines upon which the secession was based; and the consequence was a long and bitter controversy, which soon involved so many collateral questions that New York and Mas- sachusetts were brought into the contest. After much discussion, the controversy was closed by the decision of congress. Vermont demanded admission into the Union, and threatened to make terms with the British government if that admis- sion was withheld. Congress required, as an indis- pensable preliminary, that the revolted towns should be restored to New Hampshire; to which Vermont consented. The assembly of that state, during the absence of a portion of its members, passed an act drawing its eastern boundary by the western bank of the Connecticut, and relinquishing all claim to jurisdiction without that limit. After some slight opposition, and a manifestation of dis- content, the people returned to their allegiance to New Hampshire. Thus happily was settled a controversy which, at one period, threatened to renew the bloody scenes of the revolution.
At the close of the war congress found itself burthened with a heavy debt, and with no imme- diate means of discharging it. But the creditors of the government were suffering and clamorous, and must be relieved. The debt might have been speedily cancelled by the adoption of a system of imposts ; but the powers of that body were confined within the narrowest limits, and they had no au- thority to adopt that course. They were, therefore,
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compelled to put a tax on polls and estates. The CHAP. result was most disastrous to the people, and to X. none more than to those of New Hampshire. The courts of law were thronged with unhappy debtors and importunate creditors-business stagnated- and distress was general.
To meet the evil, conventions, composed of the 1785. discontented, were held, and the assembly urged to emit large issues of paper money, based on real estate, and drawing interest. The assembly did all in their power to relieve the public suffering. They passed an act to call in all treasury notes issued by the states, "and give certificates for the interest and fifteen per cent. of the principal annually; which certificates were to be received by the treasurer for taxes, in lieu of, and equal to silver and gold." But farther than this they re- fused to proceed. They exhorted the people to industry and economy, as the only sure remedy for the public evils. They assured them that their true wealth was in the soil; that attention to agri- culture would soon alleviate the monetary troubles of the state ; and that the granting of their petition would aggravate rather than cure their embar- rassments.
Massachusetts, about this period, passed an act providing that cattle, and other articles enu- merated, should be a legal tender on executions, and be received at an appraisement of impartial men under oath. In compliance with a petition from certain parts of the state, the assembly of New Hampshire enacted a law somewhat similar. The import of it was that the debtor might tender to his creditor, on an execution, real or personal
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CHAP. estate sufficient, at a fair valuation, made by three X. sworn appraisers, to cancel the debt, and if it were refused, the body of the debtor was to be ever after exempted from arrest. The tender, however, if re- fused, did not discharge the debt. The creditor could keep it alive by taking out an alias within one year after the return of any former execution, and might levy on any estate that he could find, the debt in the meanwhile drawing six per cent. interest. This act continued in force five years, although it was justly complained of as unconstitutional and as a direct violation of the obligation of contracts. Its indirect effect was to secure the insolvent debtor in the actual, though not always nominal, posses- sion of property which, by right, belonged to his creditors. But there was another and still more general result produced by it ;- those who had specie refused to give it circulation while the 1786. tender-act was in force. And though the legisla- ture, to encourage its importation into the coun- try, exempted from port duties those vessels that should bring only gold and silver, and one half the duties where one half the value of the whole cargo was gold and silver, yet it tended in no manner to relieve the monetary distress.
The demand for paper money still continued, and became increasingly clamorous. A large por- tion of the press united with political demagogues to keep the public excitement upon this subject to its highest tension. The most extravagant argu- ments were urged by the zealots of that period. It was said that the people had a right to require their representatives to stamp value upon any- thing that was impressible, and that by passing
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an act of outlawry upon any person who should CHAP refuse to receive it, depreciation would be forever X. prevented. As the confidence of this party in its numerical strength increased, a portion of them extended their demands. They required the abo- lition of the inferior courts, an equal distribution of property, and a release from all debts.
To test the real sentiments of the people, the assembly proposed, for the public consideration, a plan for the emission of paper currency to the amount of fifty thousand pounds, to be loaned at four per cent., on real estate, and to be a tender in payment of taxes ; and desired a return of the votes of each town at the ensuing session.
The leaders of the excitement were not satisfied with this proposition. They considered it, or pro- fessed to consider it, merely a manœuvre to calm the public ferment. Stirred by the wild and vague rumors of Shay's rebellion in the sister state of Massachusetts, which was then at its height, about two hundred persons, principally from the western part of Rockingham county, assembled at Kingston, about six miles from Exeter, the seat of government. Armed with swords, clubs, scythes, and muskets, they marched, to the beat of a drum, into the meeting-house where the assembly were in session. The president, Gen. John Sullivan, with great moderation stated the reasons why their petitions could not be granted, and that the assembly could accede to nothing while threatened by an armed body. After some unimportant de- monstrations on the part of the insurgents, they were struck with panic at the cry, " Bring out the artillery !" and retired for the night. In the morn-
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CHAP. ing, a numerous body of militia and a company of X. horse entered Exeter, and, when the insurgents appeared, rushed upon them, took about forty prisoners, without bloodshed, and dispersed the others.
The assembly deemed mildness the wiser policy, and therefore dismissed all but six. These were required to recognise for their appearance at the next superior court, and their bonds were dis- charged.
The firm and prudent course of the government thus crushed a political movement which in time might have swept away all law, and introduced a popular despotism far worse than that which had been fastened upon the state by a foreign power.
The plan for a paper emission, proposed by the assembly, was rejected by the popular vote, and thus the whole question put at rest.
The commencement of the year 1788 presented one of the most important periods in our history. Having passed through the flames of a revolution, and obtained from Great Britain, at. vast expense of blood and treasure, a recognition of their rights as an independent people, the next care of our forefathers was the establishment of a constitu- tion for the common government. Bound together during the war by a consciousness of the common danger and the necessity of mutual aid, the states were enabled, even under the imperfect govern- ment they had formed at the commencement of the revolution, to act harmoniously together in the great contest which led to its consummation. But no sooner had the common enemy relinquished his foothold on our soil, a treaty of peace been ·con-
1787. 1788.
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cluded with the power of which we had so recently CHAP. been unprivileged subjects, and the necessities of war ceased to operate upon our national councils, than the people began to discover the necessity of a more perfect system of government. The con- federacy of 1778 was calculated only for a tem- porary existence. It neither defined with sufficient clearness the rights of the citizen, nor traced with the necessary precision the dividing line which separated the powers of the individual states and the confederacy itself. The necessity of a gov- ernment based upon more fixed and enduring principles, was admitted by general consent ; and there was scarcely a dissenting opinion in relation to the propriety of establishing a permanent union of the states, secured and protected by a general government, strong enough to protect our rights and our territories from the encroachments of for- eign powers, and liberal enough in its provisions to compensate the people for the hardships and dangers they had endured in their struggle for independence.
The credit of making the first movement towards the accomplishment of this object, belongs to Vir- ginia. As early as 1786 that state formally proposed a convention of commissioners from the several states, "to take into consideration the trade and commerce of the United States; to con- sider how far a uniform system, in their com- mercial intercourse and regulations, might be necessary to their common interest and permanent harmony; and report to the several states such an act relative to this great object, as, when unani- mously ratified by them, should enable the United
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