USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time : including a brief historical account of the first discoveries and settlement of the country, Vol. II > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02247 7274
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyofnewjers02raum_0
670
THE
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY,
V. 2 FROM ITS
EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME.
INCLUDING
A BRIEF HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTRY,
BY JOHN O. RAUM, El
AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF TRENTON ; HISTORY OF TRENTON LODGE, NO. 5, A. F. A. M .; DIGEST OF NEW JERSEY, I. O O. F. ; MISSION OF ODD FELLOWSHIP, ETC., ETC., ETC.
IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. - 2
1
PHILADELPHIA: JOHN E. POTTER AND COMPANY, 617 SANSOM STREET.
670
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1764771
COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY, PRINCETON-NASSAU HALL.
TAevss
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Raum, John Otto.
The history of New Jersey, from its earliest settlement to the present time. Including a brief historical account of the first discoveries and settlement of the country, by John O. Raum ... Philadelphia, J. E. Potter and com- pany (1877]
2 v. fronts. 23°m.
CHILE CARD
1. New Jersey-Ilist.
Library of Congress
F134.R24 1-7751
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Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1877, by JOHN O. RAUM, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
2921
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XX. 1776-1777.
PAGE
British in Princeton, march to Trenton to pursue the Americans-Find- ing Washington had crossed the Delaware, return to Princeton-The hopes of the country revived-Washington recrosses the Delaware on the 30th-Council of war-Retreat to Princeton-Battle of Princeton -Death of General Mercer-Washington's victory. 9
CHAPTER XXI. 1776-1778.
Pardon offered to refugees who swore allegiance to the United States- General Putnam in Princeton-British at Sandy Hook-First Legisla- ture under Independence-Livingston chosen Governor-His first address to the Assembly-The State Government organized-Officers appointed-Campaign of 1776-Benedict Arnold-General Carlton- Battle of Monmouth-Retreat of Lee.
33
CHAPTER XXII. 1778-1779.
Battle of Monmouth continued-Advantages gained by the battle- Washington receives the thanks of Congress for his victory at Mon- mouth-Lee court-martialed- Sentenced to be suspended for one year .- Molly Pitcher-Her bravery - Atrocities by refugees -Captain Joshua Huddy-Retaliatory articles.
60
CHAPTER XXIII. 1779-1782.
Jersey Brigade at Elizabethtown-Meeting of Jersey officers-Regret manifested by Washington at the course pursued by them-Pennsyl- vania troops mutinied-Compelled to submission-Washington pro- posed for King-He rejects the idea with contempt-Last blood shed in the American cause-New Jersey officers.
3
85
---
4
CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXIV. 1776-1781.
PAGE
Maxwell's Brigade-Battle of Brandywine-Battle of Germantown --- Lord Stirling of New Jersey in command-Measures agreed upon for the protection of New Jersey-Jersey Line-New arrangement- Continental Troops-Fight at Springfield-Surrender of Yorktown- Cessation of hostilities-Jersey Line discharged. 115
CHAPTER XXV. 1781-1876.
Terrible condition of the country at the termination of the war- Without a government-Convention at Annapolis-Convention at Philadelphia-Constitution adopted and ratified by the different States -Amendments proposed and ratified-Washington elected President- Adams Vice-President-Inauguration-Washington's reception by the people-First newspaper-Princeton College-Rutgers College. 141
CHAPTER XXVI. 1776-1875.
Organization of the Council and Assembly-Great Seal of the State- Council of Safety-Kidnapping-Confiscation of Property-Relief of soldiers and their families-Punishment for treason-Rivingston's Ga- zette-United States Senators and Representatives chosen-Purchase from the Indians-Governors.
174
CHAPTER XXVII 1776-1876.
Formation of new counties-Convention to draft a new Constitution- Purchase of land and State-House built-Offices for Secretary of State and Clerk of Supreme Court authorized to be built-Mob in Trenton injures the State-House-Additions to the State- House- State Library.
CHAPTER XXVIII. 1797 -- 1876. 197
STATE INSTITUTIONS. State Prison-Prison Library established-State Arsenal-Residence for the Governor-State Lunatic Asylum- Northern Lunatic Asylum-Total cost of State Prison-Total cost of Lunatic Asylum.
223
.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXIX. 1861-1876.
PAGE
Provision made by the State for the maintenance of the families of soldiers-Soldiers Children's Home-Amount paid to families and to deceased and discharged volunteers-Reform Farm School for Boys- State Industrial School for Girls-Institution for the blind, deaf and dumb-Training School for Feeble Minded Children. 247
CHAPTER XXX. 1683-1876.
Education in New Jersey in advance of any other State in America- College of New Jersey incorporated-Theological Seminary-Rutgers College-Public Schools-Normal, Model, and Farnam Schools- State Board of Education-Normal School Boarding-House Associa- tion-Riparian rights. 284
CHAPTER XXXI. 1781-1876.
Education continued-Trenton Academy-Lawrenceville Classical and Commercial High School-Edgehill Military School-Freehold In- stitute-Burlington College and St. Mary's Hall-Seton Hall College -Brainard Institute-Drew Theological Seminary-Montrose Military and Classical School-Hopewell Young Ladies' Seminary. 304
CHAPTER XXXII. 1834-1876.
Education continued-Lawrenceville Female Seminary-Pennington Seminary-St. Benedict's College-Bordentown Female Institute- Young Ladies' Seminary at Hightstown-Pennington Institute- Neshanic Institute-German Theological School-Peddie Institute- Centenary Collegiate Institute-Newton Collegiate Institute-Newark Latin School-Trenton Business College-New Jersey Business Col- lege-Gregory's Practical Business College-Bryant and Stratton Business College-Business College and Jefferson Park Academy. 315
CHAPTER XXXIII. 1676-1876.
Roads, travelling, etc .- First Post-offices-First Railroad chartered in America-New Jersey Railroad-Morris and Essex-First Canal-
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Delaware and Raritan Canal-Camden and Amboy Railroad-Central -Raritan and Delaware Bay-Camden and Atlantic-Warren-West Jersey-Cape May and Millville -- Delaware and Boundbrook, etc. 326
CHAPTER XXXIV. 1664-1875.
New Jersey the market garden for New York and Philadelphia-Slavery unpopular in New Jersey-Ship building-Saw and grist mills-Paper mills and steel works-Printing-Manufactories-Mineral products- Mining-Marl beds. 344
CHAPTER XXXV. 1769-1834.
Steamboat of John Fitch, the first run in the world-Value of Conti- nental currency-Copper coin issued by individuals and States- Sessions of the two Houses conducted with closed doors-Robbery of the Treasury-Partition line between East and West Jersey. 363
CHAPTER XXXVI. 1805-1848.
War of 1812-Proclamation of war by President Monroe-Battle between the Chesapeake and Leopard-The Leander fires upon a coasting vessel-Commodore Barron cashiered-Indignation of the people-Treaty of Peace-Day of Thanksgiving recommended-New Jersey Broad Seal War-War with Mexico-General Phil. Kearney. 383
CHAPTER XXXVII. 1820-1869.
Causes which led to the rebellion of 1861-First companies in the field -First regiments three months' militia-Early arrival of New Jersey troops at the Capitol-First Regiments three years' volunteers-Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Regiments-Hexamer's and Beam's Batteries. 406
CHAPTER XXXVIII. 1862-1872.
Location of camps for recruiting-Eleventh to the Fifteenth Regi- ments-Premiums to volunteers-Draft ordered-Quota filled without draft-Sixteenth to the Thirty-first Regiments-Harrisburg threatened
-
1 1
CONTENTS.
7-8
1
PAGE
-New Jersey troops fly to their rescue-Thirty-second Regiment (Second Cavalry)-Battery D-Thirty-third to the Thirty-sixth Regi- ments-Batteries C and E-Thirty-seventh to the Fortieth Regiments -National Guard law. 426
CHAPTER XXXIX. 1870-1876.
Centennial Exhibition-Appropriations-State Centennial Board-Co- operation of the women of the State-Individual subscriptions-State buildings-State days-Governor Bedle's reception by New Jersey residents of Philadelphia-Address of E. C. Knight-Address of Hon. Abram Browning-Number of exhibits from New Jersey-Agricul- tural exhibits-Geological-Educational-Awards for exhibits. 447
APPENDIX.
Table I. Counties in New Jersey, Census 467
Table II. Electoral vote from 1789 to 1876. 491
Table III. United States Senators
· 492
Table IV. Table of Governors of the Colonies, of the Provinces, and of the State . 493
Table V. Legislature of 1776.
495
Table VI. New townships. 496
History of New Jersey
CHAPTER XX
1776-1777.
British in Princeton, march to Trenton to pursue the Americans -Finding Washington had crossed the Delaware, return to Princeton-The hopes of the country revived-Washington re- crosses the Delaware on the 30th-Council of war-Retreat to Princeton-Battle of Princeton-Death of General Mercer- Washington's victory.
T HE following account of the battle of Trenton is copied from the Pennsylvania Journal of 1781 :
"About eight o'clock in the morning, an attack was made on the picket-guard of the enemy. It was commenced by a youth of eighteen, who fell in his retreat to the main body.
"At about half-past eight o'clock the town was nearly sur- rounded, and all the avenues to it were seized, except the one left for General Ewing to occupy. An accident here liked to have deprived the American army of the object of the enterprise. The commanding officer of one of the divisions sent word to General Washington just before they reached the town, that his anmunition had been wet by a shower of rain that had fallen that morning, and desired to know what he must do. Wash- ington sent him word, 'to advance with fixed bayonets. This laconic answer inspired the division with the firmness and courage of their leader.
" The whole body moved onward in sight of the enemy. An awful silence reigned in every platoon. Each soldier stepped as if he carried the liberty of his country upon his single musket.
9
IO
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
"The moment was a critical one. The attack was begun with artillery, under command of Captain (afterwards General Knox). The infantry supported the artillery with firmness.
"The enemy were thrown into confusion at every quarter. One regiment attempted to form in an orchard, but was soon forced to fall back upon the main body. A company of them entered a stone house,* which they defended with a field-piece, judiciously posted in the entry. Captain (afterwards Colonel) Washington, ; advanced to dislodge them with a field-piece, but, finding his men exposed to a close and steady fire, he suddenly leaped from them, rushed into the house, seized the officer who had command of the gun, and claimed him as a prisoner. His men followed him, and the whole company were made prisoners. The captain received a ball in his hand in entering the house.
"In the meanwhile, victory declared itself everywhere in favor of the American arms.
"The Philadelphia Light Horse distinguished themselves upon this occasion by their bravery .. They were the more admired for their conduct, as it was the first time they had ever been in action.
" An anecdote is mentioned of Captain Samuel Morris, of this corps, which, though it discovered his inexperience of war, did honor to his humanity. In advancing towards the town, he came up to the lieutenant. who had commanded the picket guard. He lay mortally wounded and weltering in his blood, in the great road. The captain was touched with the sight, and called to General Greene to know if anything could be done for him. The general bade him push on and not notice him. The captain was as much agitated with the order as he was affected by the scene before him ; and it was not until after the fortunate
* This was a double stone house in State street, one story high, with hipped roof, and stood fronting the street, on the spot where the residence of Chief- Justice Beasley now is. It was built by John Rickey in the year 1752. The orchard above mentioned was between the Presbyterian church and the old iron works, and occupied all the grounds between those two places and the Assanpink Creek and Friends' meeting-house.
t A nephew of General Washington.
3
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
events of the morning were over that he was convinced that his sympathy for a bleeding enemy was ill-timed.
" After having refreshed themselves and rested a few hours in Trenton, the American army returned with their prisoners and other trophies of victory, to the Pennsylvania side of the river, by the same way they came, with the loss of only three men, who perished by cold in recrossing the river-an event not to be wondered at when we consider that many of them were half naked, and most of them barefooted.
"The next day the British that were in Princeton marched to Trenton in pursuit of the American army, and went up the Scotch road as far as Mr. Benjamin Clark's, and inquired which route General Washington had taken, and being informed that he had gone with his prisoners up the river road, they compelled John Clark, their son, a lad of about twelve years of age, to guide them across to Birmingham. Some of the American soldiers were at this time in Clark's house. His mother, with true Spartan courage, unwilling to trust her son with the enemy, pursued the British and prevailed upon them to give him up.
"Soon after, the British finding Washington had crossed the Delaware, returned to Princeton.
" The situation of the American army in the autumn of 1776 was peculiarly trying, and the prospects of their righteous cause very gloomy. They had been obliged to retire before the enemy and cross to the west side of the Delaware. General Washing- ton believing it probable that General Howe, the commander of the British, would make an attempt upon Philadelphia as soon as the ice would enable them to cross, or before, had taken the . precaution to have all the vessels and boats removed from the Jersey shore, from Philadelphia up to New Hope .*
"Writing to his brother, from the camp above the falls at Trenton, December 18th, 1776, he said in view of the numbers, discipline and position of the British army, contrasted with his own : ' You can form no idea of the perplexity of my situation. No man, I believe, ever had a greater choice of difficulties and
* New Hope is about' thirty miles from Philadelphia, and sixteen from Trenton.
12
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
less means to extricate himself from them. However, under a full persuasion of the justice of our cause, I cannot entertain an idea that it will finally sink, though it may remain for some time . under a cloud.'
"Soon after this his plan was laid for recrossing the Dela- ware at several points, to surprise and capture the enemy posted in different places along the Jersey shore.
" But, owing to the ice, no part of the plan but that which referred to Trenton was carried into effect, and his success here showed the practicability of the whole, if the American troops had been able to cross the Delaware.
" But although they were providentially prevented from carry- ing out their plans in this respect, yet, in another way, was Providence preparing for their success and the triumph of their arms.
"The success of the American army on the 26th of Decem- ber, 1776, revived the hopes of the country. The dark cloud which hung over the nation began to disperse, and Providence was pointing to the path which ultimately led to a bright and peaceful day.".
On the 29th of the same month, General Washington, writing to Congress from Newtown, Pennsylvania, says: "I am just setting out to attempt a second passage over the Delaware, with the troops that were with me.on the morning of the 26th. Gen- eral Cadwalader crossed over on the 27th, and is at Bordentown with about one thousand eight hundred men. General Mifflin will be to-day at Bordentown, with about one thousand six hun- dred more." And he adds, " in view of the measures proposed to be pursued, I think a fair opportunity is offered of driving the enemy entirely from Jersey, or, at least, to the extremity of · the province." Although the battle of Trenton was an almost bloodless affair, it was one of the most important during that eventful struggle for independence. Disaster and defeat had followed our patriotic army wherever they had went, until they arrived at Trenton, when, by this skillful manœuvre of the Com- mander-in-Chief, the whole tide of the war was changed, and the encouragement met at Trenton finally culminated in achiev- ing that independence which had been promulgated from In-
13
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
dependence Hall, in the City of Philadelphia, on the ever- memorable Fourth of July, 1776.
On Monday morning, December 30th, 1776, General Wash- ington recrossed the Delaware himself; but, owing to the great quantity of drifting ice, his troops did not all reach Trenton till the evening of the 3Ist ; and at this critical moment the army was likely to be diminished to a mere handful, as the time of service of the Continental troops expired that evening. But, after much persuasion and the receipt of ten dollars bounty by each, about one thousand four hundred of them reënlisted for six weeks.
These, with about three thousand six hundred Pennsylvania militia, under Generals Cadwalader and Mifflin, composed Washington's army at this time.
On the 31st of December, a foraging party of the enemy was surprised and captured by a small company of dragoons under the command of Colonel Joseph Read. From these prisoners General Washington learned the strength of the British army which lay at Princeton, and also their intention to advance upon the American army at Trenton.
When the Hessians were captured at Trenton, the several detachments of the British troops which were stationed at Bur- lington, Mount Holly, etc., immediately repaired to Princeton, where they were shortly after joined by a large reinforcement from New York under Lord Cornwallis. On Wednesday, the Ist of January, 1777, General Washington ordered forward on the Maidenhead road* leading to Princeton, a small detach- ment as far as Smith's Hill, Five Mile Run, where they awaited the advance of the British; but the advance guard of the Americans was at the village of Maidenhead. f
The advance guard of the British on the same night were at the Eight Mile Run, about a mile and a half from the above village.
Early the next morning, the main army of the enemy moved on from Princeton, meeting with but little opposition until they reached Smith's Hill, where a little skirmishing took place with the companies under Major Miller and Colonel Hand, after
* Now Lawrence.
+ Lawrenceville.
14
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
which our troops retired before the enemy to a piece of woods at the Shabbakonk Creek, where as the enemy approached, they poured a deadly fire upon them for a few moments, which caused the British to form themselves in order for battle. By this suc- cessful manœuvre of the Americans, the British were detained two or three hours.
A detachment had been stationed that day by General Wash- ington at the northern extremity of Trenton, where they had thrown up some works, in order that they might retard the progress of the British as much as possible, and when they came up there was a brisk cannonading for about twenty minutes, when the Americans fell back into Trenton, and crossed over the Assanpink Bridge at Trent's Mill, taking up the planks of the bridge after them.
General Washington had that day planted his artillery on the high bank on the south side of the Assanpink Creek, and had thrown up a breastwork across the road leading south of this bridge.
From the bridge to the Delaware River (about one hundred rods in a westerly direction) the Assanpink was fordable ; and from the bridge the pond extended a quarter of a mile or more. Guards were placed along the line, from the Delaware eastward, on the south side of the creek.
The British passed down Queen street toward the bridge, and when they had reached Tucker's corner,* some well-directed shots from the artillery on the south side of the bridge caused them to wheel about and retire to the high ground at the north of the town, where they encamped for the night.
Several attempts were made by the British to cross the creek, but the fords were so well guarded that they were unsuccessful ; they then drew up in solid column, in order to force the bridge, which they attempted to do with great vigor at three several times, and were as often broken by our artillery, and obliged to retreat and give over the attempt, after suffering great loss, sup- posed to be at least one hundred and fifty killed.
During this cannonading a few British were in a room in the old court-house (now the Trenton Bank) which commanded a
* State and Greene streets.
15
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
view of the American position at the Assanpink Bridge, and some of them were killed by a cannon shot fired by the Ameri- cans, which knocked down a part of the wall.
Washington's army was drawn up on the south side of the Assanpink Creek, with its left on the Delaware River, and its right, extending a considerable distance up the mill-pond, along the face of the hills. The troops were placed one above the other, so that they appeared to cover the whole face of the hill, from bottom to top; which brought a great many muskets within shot of the bridge. Within seventy or eighty yards of the bridge, and directly in front of it and in the road, as many pieces of artillery as could be managed were stationed.
The British did not delay the attack. They were formed in two columns, the one marching down Greene street to carry the bridge, and the other down Warren street to ford the creek.
The attack from Warren street was simultaneous with the one at the bridge in Green street.
It was repelled, and with such force, that the creek was nearly filled with the dead of the enemy
The American army then poured upon them from musketry and artillery a perfect shower of bullets, under which, however, they continued to advance, though their speed was diminished ; and as the column reached the bridge it moved slower and slower until the head of it was gradually pressed nearly over, when our fire became so destructive that they broke their ranks and fled. At that time our army raised a shout, which rever- berated through the hills beyond, and an eye-witness of the battle says, " such a shout was never heard." The line was more than a mile in length, and from the nature of the ground, the . extremes were not in sight of each other, yet they shouted as one man.
The British column halted instantly ; the officers restored the ranks, and again they rushed to the bridge; and again was the shower of bullets poured upon them with redoubled fury. This time the column broke before it reached the centre of the bridge, and the retreat was again followed by the same hearty shout from our line.
They returned a third time to the charge, but it was in vain. We shouted after them again, but they had enough of it.
16
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY.
A crisis of the most fearful character had now arrived. Owing to the state of the river-the ice being rotten-to retreat across the Delaware was impracticable ; to engage with an army so superior in numbers, in discipline, and in everything but true courage and right, would seem to be sacrificing all. It was truly a season of suspense. "But," as a late writer observes, "the Lord maintained the right. He directed the councils of that eventful night ; guided in the right way, and led the few, but valiant, to victory."
" Although General Cadwalader had not been able to pass the Delaware at the appointed time, yet, believing that Washington was still on the Jersey side, on the 27th he crossed the Dela- ware with fifteen hundred men, about two miles above Bristol; and even after he was informed that the Commander-in-Chief had passed into Pennsylvania, he proceeded to Burlington, and the next day marched to Bordentown, the enemy hastily retiring as he advanced. The spirit of the people was again fully aroused in Pennsylvania, and considerable numbers of the militia re- paired to the standard of Washington, and when he again crossed the Delaware on the 29th, he found himself at the head of five thousand men.
"'The alarm was now spread throughout the British army. A strong detachment under General Grant marched to Princeton; and Lord Cornwallis, who was on the point of sailing for England, was ordered to resume his command in the Jerseys. Corn- wallis joining Grant, pressed forward expeditiously to Trenton.
"It was a critical moment for Washington and his troops. To await the attack would be temerity ; to attempt escape by crossing the Delaware, would be even more hazardous."*
On the evening of the 2d of January, 1777, General Washing- ton with his officers held a council of war at the house of Capt. Alexander Douglass, in Broad street, Trenton, now in the occupation of the pastor of the German Lutheran Evangelical church, as a parsonage.
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