USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
ROBERT WHITTAKER and WILLIAM RIDDLE
1 Mounce Keen, a descendant of Joran Kyn, founder of Upland, Pennsylvania, was the son of Maons Keen and his wife, Magdalen Hoffman. Both paternally and maternally Mounce was descended from the earliest Swedish settlers on the Dela- ware. The elder Keen was one of the most active vestrymen and wardens of the Swedish Lutheran (now Protestant Episcopal) Church in Swedesboro, having moved, with his father, to West New Jersey, from the paternal estate in Upland. Mounce Keen was born August 18th, 1715; resided both in Pilesgrove township, Salem county, and in Woolwich township, Gloucester county, and, like his father, was a vestryman in the Lutheran Church in Swedesboro. He died in October, 1790. Mounce Keen and his wife, Sarah, daughter of Benjamin and Christina Seeley, had eight children, one of whom, Benjamin, in 1783 was commissioned Lieutenant in Captain Platt's Company, Second Battalion Cumberland County Militia .- The De- scendants of Joran Kyn, by Gregory B. Keen, Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, III., page 447 .- F. B. L.
359
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1777]
FORTY DOLLARS REWARD.
Deserted from Captain Jacob Martin's Company, of the State of New-Jersey, the following men, viz. JAMES CARROL, 5 feet 6 inches high, 30 years of age, dark complexion, he deserted the twelfth of March last, has been seen in Sussex county : He says he was out with Col. Philip Johnston last Summer in the five months service. CHARLES HALL, about 5 feet, 6 inches high, well made, light complexion, and about 25 years of age ; by trade a sadler, is very fond of strong drink, and talks much when drunk. He deserted the first of March last, was out with Capt. O'Harry of the York forces, and it is thought is gone towards New-England. Whoever takes up the said deserters, and brings them to Head-Quarters, shall have the above reward for both, or TWENTY DOLLARS for each, and reasonable charges, paid by JACOB MARTIN.
N. B. Hall has a scar in his groin, by a musket ball which cut the flesh. April 1.
-The Pennsylvania Packet, May 6th, 1777.
PHILADELPHIA.
We hear from New Jersey that the Governor and Coun- cil of Safety of that state have recommended it to the Speaker to call their General Assembly (which stood ad- journed to the 21st of May inst.) to meet at Haddonfield, on the 7th, on the urgent necessity of convening before the time appointed .- The Pennsylvania Evening Post, May 6, 1777.
TWO HUNDRED POUNDS REWARD.
Was broke open the Desk of John Dickinson, Inn- holder, in the town of Salem, in the State of New-Jersey, on the night of the 21st of April, 1777, and taken out to
360
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1777
the amount of 1020 £. in continental currency ; whoever will apprehend the thief or thieves, so that they be con- victed of the robbery, and the money recovered, shall receive the above reward ; or any person returning the money to the subscriber, or the Printers hereof, within 20 days from the time of the said robbery, shall receive the above reward, and no questions asked.
As it is supposed the robbery was committed by some persons in needy circumstances, it is hoped that the public will take notice of persons of that character, that may now appear to have plenty of cash, and enquire by what means they came by it, which will much oblige, their humble servant.
EDWARD HOPPER.
Extract of a letter from Morristown, dated April 28.
" On Tuesday the 22d instant at night, a party of our men, under the command of Capt. Combs, went within the enemy's lines, and took two'centinels, from whom he extorted the countersign He then went to attack the picket guard, but one of his men deserting, the enemy were informed of his intention, and having prepared themselves, gave our people a very warm reception. But Combs, who is not to be surprised by trifles, advanced upon them with such spirit, that he drove them into the guard-house, from whence they fired through the door and windows. However, Combs ordered his men before the door, which they instantly obeyed, and rushed upon the enemy with charged bayonets who received us in the same manner, but were soon obliged to call for quarter, upon which, they were all taken prisoners. The picket guard consisted of two subalterns and thirty men ; both the officers and 14 men were killed, and sixteen were brought in prisoners.
361
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1777]
In the attack Combs was wounded in the foot, and both his subalterns in the body, but are like to do well. It is very remarkable he had not a man in the whole action killed, and only three wounded, none of them mortal."
TO BE SOLD.
A Tract of Woodland, containing upwards of sixty acres, lying in the county of Gloucester, New-Jersey, on Holly Run, a branch of Timber Creek, about 3 miles from a landing ; ten acres of meadow may be made, the upland good, and contains a great quantity of large timber, that may immediately be converted into boards, having several saw-mills in the neighbourhood ; the present high price of lumber, and fire-wood must there- fore make it very valuable. For further particulars, enquire of Peter Thompson, Conveyancer, in Race-street, or of the subscriber (the owner) adjoining the Upper Ferry on Schuylkill.
ROBERT WICKERSHAM.
A large sorrel Horse, with a blaze in his face, has lately kept about the above Ferry, and is now in the possession of the subscriber; the owner is desired to come, prove his property, pay charges and take him away.
R. WICKERSHAM. -The Pennsylvania Gazette, May 7, 1777.
All persons indebted to the estate of Dr. PETER VAN HORN, late of Cumberland county, in the state of New- Jersey, deceased, are hereby desired to pay their respective balances into the hands of Joseph Newcomb, Esq ; of the said county ; the Doctor's accounts being left in his hands to receive the said balances, which it is hoped all person concerned will comply with without delay, to pre-
362
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1777
vent further trouble : And all who have any just de- mands against the said estate, are desired to bring them in to Captain David Page, of the said county, properly attested, against the first day of June next, that they may be adjusted by the Administrator
PETER PETERSON VAN HORN.1 -The Pennsylvania Gazette, May 7, 1777.
Appendix to the Report of the Committee, containing proofs and illustrations.2
III. On the third head of the report, the savage butch- ery of those who had submitted and were incapable of resistance.
From a book of orders found in Trenton.
His Excellency the Commander in Chief orders that. all inhabitants that shall be found with arms, not having an officer with them, shall be immediately taken and hung up.
From another book found at Princeton,
Head-Quarters, Trenton, Dec. 12, 1776.
Small straggling parties, not dressed like soldiers and without officers, not being admissible in war, who pre- sume to molest or fire upon soldiers or peaceable inhabit- ants of the country, will be immediately hanged without trial, as assassins.
1 The Rev Peter Peterson Vanhorn (son of Dr. Peter Vanhorn) was born August 24th, 1719, at Middletown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and was bred a Lutheran, but joined the Baptists September 6th. 741. and was ordained to the ministry June 18th, 1747, and installed pastor of the church at Pennepek, near Philadelphia. He resigned this charge in 1762, and removed to Newmills, in Northampton township, Burlington county, N. J., where a Baptist church was organized on June 23d, 1761, of which he was one of the constituent members, and became pastor. He re- signed April 2d, 1768, and returned to Pennepek. Two years later (April 7th, 770) he was called to the pastorate of the Baptist church at Cape May, which he resigned in 1775. He was also pastor of the Baptist churches at Dividing Creek and Salem at various times. One of his sons, William Vanhorn, was pastor of the Scotch Plains Baptist Church, 1785-1807. See Morgan Edwards's History of the Baptists, passim ; Johnson's History of Salem ; Hatfield's Elizabeth, etc .- W. N.
2 See Report of the Congressional Committee, page 353, ante.
363
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1777]
Princeton, January 9, 1777.
Lieut. Yates, of Col. Read's regiment of Virginia. forces, being sworn upon the Holy Evangelists, declares, That after he was wounded in the battle of third Janu- ary, 1777, near Princeton, a British soldier came up to him, and said to him, "Oh, damn you, are you there," and snapped his musket at him, upon which Mr. Yates begged for quarters. The soldier loaded his musket de- liberately, and shot him through the breast, and after- wards stabbed him in thirteen places with his bayonet. Some time after this, either the same or another soldier came up to him, who perceiving some signs of life in him, struck him with the club of his musket.
Attested by Benjamin Rush,1 Anthony W. White.2
A true copy of the original in the hands of his Excel- lency. G. Johnston, A. D. C.3
.
1 Benjamin Rush was a signer of the Declaration of Independence He was gradu- ated from Princeton College in 1760, and studied medicine in the University of Edinburgh. In 1769 he began the practice of his profession in Philadelphia. He married Julia, daughter of Richard Stockton, who was also a signer of the Declara- tion of Independence. He was made Surgeon-General of the Middle Department of the Army in April, 1777, and was in attendance on the wounded at the battles of Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown and the sick soldiers at Valley Forge. During the yellow fever epidemic, 1793 he is said to have visited more than a hun- dred patients daily. From 1799 until his death he was Treasurer of the United States Mint.
2 Anthony Walton White was born July 7th, 1750, near New Brunswick. New Jer- sey. He was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the Third New Jersey Continental Line January 18th, 1776 ; became commandant of the First Continental Dragoons in December 1779. He had many successful skirmishes with Tarleton in Virginia. In 1793 he was Adjutant-General of New Jersey, and led a detachment of cavalry in the Pennsylvania Insurrection of 1794. He was commissioned Brigadier-General in the United States Army July 19th, 1798, and served as such nearly a year. He. died February 10th, 1803. See 2 New Jersey Historical Society Proceedings, Vol. VII., page 107.
3 Lieutenant-Colonel George Johnston, formerly Major of Fifth Virginia Conti- nental Regiment, appointed Aide to General Washington January 20th, 1777, and. served as such until October 1st, 1777.
364
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1777
Here follows a copy of the letter from Brigadier Gen- eral Stephen' to Sir William Erskine, and Sir William's answer.
Sir,
It is told us that Sir William Erskine commanded the British troops covering the foraging party at Drake's farm, on Saturday the first instant. Is it possible that a gentleman, an officer so eminently distinguished for his bravery and experience, should allow the troops under his command to murder the wounded after the manner of Savages! Until this time it was universally allowed that humanity was a certain concomitant of valour. It now appears that Britons, unhappily divested of many excellent qualities peculiar to their ancestors, are become strangers to humanity, and deaf to the intreaties of the brave, after the misfortune of having fallen wounded into their power. Mr. Kelly2 a brave officer in my bri- gade, and five other Virginians slightly wounded in the muscular parts, were murdered, had their bodies mangled, and their brains beat out, by the troops of his Britannic Majesty on Saturday the first instant.
The cruelties exercised on the worthy General Mercer, near to Princeton, on the third of January, were equally barbarous. It gives pain to a generous mind, Sir Wil- liam, to see you tarnish the laurels so honorably obtained last war, by permitting such savage barbarity in the troops under your command.
Such conduct, Sir William, inspires the Americans ·
with a hatred to Britons so inveterate and insurmount-
1 Adam Stephen was born in Virginia about 1780; joined the expedition to the Ohio in 1754 ; was made a Lieutenant-Colonel and commanded the forces at Win- chester in the absence of Washington. He was made a Brigadier-General of the Continental Army September, 1776; fought well at the battle of Trenton; was pro- moted Major-General February 19th, 1777 ; led one of the columns at the battle of Brandywine ; was held responsible for a blunder at the battle of Germantown, and was dismissed November 20th, 1777.
2 Major John Kelly, of Colonel James Potter's Second Regiment, Northumberland ·County Militia.
365
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1777]
able, that they never will form an alliance or the least connexion with then.
I can assure you, Sir, that the Savages, after General Braddock's' defeat, notwithstanding the great influence of the French over them, could not be prevailed on to butcher the wounded, in the manner your troops have done, until they were made drunk. I do not know, Sir William, that your troops gave you that trouble. So far does British cruelty, now a days, surpass that of Savages ! In spite of all the British agents sent among the different nations, we have beat the Indians into good humour, and they offer their service.
It is their custom in war, to scalp, take out the hearts, and mangle the bodies of their enemies. This is shock- ing to the humanity natural to the white inhabitants of America. However, if the British officers do not restrain their soldiers from glutting their cruelties, with the wan- ton destruction of the wounded, the United States, con- trary to their natural disposition, will be compelled to employ a body of furious Savages, who can, with an un- relenting heart, eat the flesh, and drink the blood, of their enemies.
I well remember that in the year 1763, Lieut. Gordon of the Royal Americans2 and eight more of the British soldiers, were roasted alive, and eat up, by the fierce Sav- ages, that now offer their services.
The Americans have hitherto treated the wounded and prisoners of the British troops, with that civility and tenderness natural to a brave and generous people, but should the inhuman cruelty of your men compel the American army to retaliate, let it be remembered that the
1 Edward Braddock was born in Scotland about 1695. For about forty years he performed military service in the British Guards, and was then made a Major-Gen- eral and sent to the American Colonies, in 1755, in chief command of the British forces. His army was defeated at Fort Duquesne, July 9th, 1755, and he was mor- tally wounded, and died July 13th.
2 The Sixtieth British Regiment.
366
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1777
British officers stand answerable to the world, and to pos- terity, for the many dreadful consequences, I am, &c. - -, B. G. U. S.
The ANSWER.
Sir,
I Received your letter of the fourth instant. I am extremely obliged to you for the good opinion you seem to have of my past character, but as much hurt at the unmerited charge you lay against me at present. It is unnecessary for me to answer minutely every paragraph of your letter, which is wrote in a stile and language I have not been accustomed to. I only beg leave to inform you, that I never countenanced an act of barbarity in my life time, nor can I think any gentleman in the British army equal to it. We, on the contrary, wish to treat prisoners with lenity, and to take all possible care of the wounded, who fall into our hands, as humanity will always meet with the approbation of every officer in an army.
However, I may mention that it is not to be wondered at if our soldiers are a little exasperated, considering the many cruelties that have been of late committed on them, and their officers, even unarmed, passing singly from quarter to quarter.
I am, Sir, with respect, your most obedient humble servant, William Erskine, B. & Q. M. G.
A copy of the affidavit inclosed in said letter by Gen. Stephen to Sir William Erskine.
Adjutant Kelly, of Col. Scott's party, was slightly wounded in the thigh, on the first of Feb. at Drake's farm; he walked two hundred yards from the place where he received his wound ; being unable to keep up with the party, he lay down by a large tree ; on return-
367
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1777]
ing after the action to dress his wound, I found his body much mangled, his brains beat out, with two broken muskets lying by him.
RD. ROSE, Surgeon.
N. B. Mr. Kelly had no arms with him.
New-Jersey, Feb. 17, 1777, this day came before me, one of the Justices of the Peace for the state of New- Jersey, and swore to the truth of the above report.
HENRY FREEMAN. In presence of Adam Stephen, Theoderick Bland.1 -The Pennsylvania Evening Post, May 10, 1777.
Whitehall, February 25, 1777. Extract of a letter from Gen. Sir William Howe to Lord George Germain,2 dated New-York, December 20, 1776.
"In Jersey, upon the approach of the van of Lord Cornwallis's corps to Brunswick by a forced march, on the Ist instant, the enemy went off most precipitately to Princetown; and had they not prevented the passage of the Rariton, by breaking a part of Brunswick bridge, so great was the con- fusion among them, that their army must have inevitably been cut to pieces.
My first design extending no further than to get and keep possession of East-Jersey, Lord Cornwallis had orders not to advance beyond Bruns- wick, which occasioned him to discontinue his pursuit; but finding the advantages that might be gained by pushing on to the Delaware, and the possibility of getting to Philadelphia, the communication leading to Brunswick was reinforced, and on the 6th I joined his Lordship with the 4th brigade of British under the command of Major-general Grant. On the 7th Lord Cornwallis's corps, the guards excepted, who were left at Brunswick, marched to Princetown, which the enemy had quitted on the same day. This corps marched in two divisions on the 8th, the first ad- vancing to Trenton reached the Delaware soon after the enemy's rear guard had crossed. Their main army having passed the preceding day and night, took post on the other side of the river.
Lord Cornwallis, with the rear division, halted at Maidenhead,3 six
I Theodorick Bland began his military services during the Revolutionary War as a Captain of a company of Virginia Light Dragoons, June 14th, 1776 ; was promoted Major December 4th, 1776, and commissioned Colonel of the First Continental Dra- goons March 31st, 1777. He resigned this commission December 10th, 1779, and died June 1st, 1790.
2 Lord George Germain, Colonial Secretary of State of King George III.
3 Maidenhead, now Lawrenceville, re-named in honor of Captain James Law- rence after his brilliant action in Massachusetts Bay, 1813.
368
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1777
miles from 'T'renton, and marched next morning at one o'clock to Corriel's Ferry,1 thirteen miles higher up the Delaware, in some expectation of finding boats there, and in the neighbourhood, sufficient to pass the river ; but in this he was disappointed, the enemy having taken the precaution to destroy or to secure on the south side, all the boats that could possibly be employed for this purpose
The passage of the Delaware being thus rendered impracticable, his Lordship took post at Pennington, in which place and Trenton the two divisions remained until the 14tli, when the weather having become too severe to keep the field, and the winter cantonments being arranged, the troops marched from bothi places to their respective stations. The chain, I own, is rather too extensive, but I was induced to occupy Burlington, to cover the county of Monmouth, in which there are many loyal inhabitants, and trusting to the almost general submission of the country to the south- ward of this chain, and to the strength of the corps placed in the advanced posts, I conclude the troops will be in perfect security. Lord Cornwallis having desired to return to Britain, the command in Jersey is given to Major-general Grant, in whose approved good conduct I place the greatest confidence.
I cannot too much commend Lord Cornwallis's good services during this campaign, and particularly the ability and conduct he displayed in the pursuit of the enemy from Fort Lee to Trenton, a distance exceeding eighty miles, in which he was well supported by the ardour of his corps, who chearfully quitted their tents and heavy baggage, as impediments to their march.
By pressing the rebels so close, they had not time to destroy the coun- try, as they intended, or to remove their stores; by which a large quantity of provisions, and plenty of forage, have been secured.
During Lord Cornwallis's stay at Pennington, a patrole of thirty dra- goons from the 16th regiment, was sent out to gain intelligence of a corps under the command of General Lee, reported to be in Morris county, on their way to cross the Delaware at Alexandria. Lieutenant-colonel Har- court desired the direction of this detachment, and learning, as he pro- ceeded, the situation of this corps, consisting of two thousand men, and of General Lee's head quarters, he contrived by infinite address and gal- lantry, to get to his house undiscovered by the guard, surrounded it, and overcome all their resistance, made the General prisoner.2
The time of service for which most of the enemy's troops were engaged, being expired, their present strength from a review of the latest intelli-
1 Coryell's Ferry, now Lambertville.
2 Major-General Charles Lee was captured December 13th, 1776, at White's Tavern, near Basking Ridge. De Fonblanque, in his Life of General Burgoyne, says that the Sixteenth Regiment was commanded by Lee during the Spanish War in Portugal, 1762. Lee was largely a soldier of fortune, and trusted as little by Whigs as by Tories ; was held as a prisoner of war by the British for many months. Proceedings N. J. Hist. Soc., 2d series, XI., 166 ; 3d series, I., 48 ; The Battles of Trenton and Princeton, Stryker, page 56 .- F. B. L.
369
NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1777]
gence received is about 8000 on the south side of the Delaware, and in Philadelphia; 500 militia embodied in Morris County, New Jersey, and about 3000 at Peek's Kill, North Castle, and the smaller posts in this pro- vince "
Extract of a Letter from General Sir Will Howe to Lord George Ger- maine, dated New York, December 29, 1776.
"On the 25th instant, in the evening, a party of the enemy attacked an out-guard from the Post of Trenton, where Col. Rall commanded with three battalions of Hessians, 50 chasseurs, and 20 light dragoons, having with them 6 field pieces; which party was beaten back. On the succeed- ing morning at 6 o'clock, the rebels appeared in force with cannon, evi- dently intending to attack the post. Colonel Rall having received intelli- gence of their design, had the troops under arms, and detached his own regiment to support an advanced picket. This picket being forced, and falling back upon the regiment, threw it into some disorder, which occa- sioned them to retire upon the other battalions ; no advantage being taken of this, they recovered themselves, and the whole formed in front of the village
The rebels, without advancing, cannonaded them in this situation, and Col. Rall moved forward to attack them with the regiments of Losberg and Rall ; in which attack Col. Rall was wounded, and the regiments were made prisoners. The rebels then advanced, to the regiment of Knyphau- sen, and also made that corps prisoners.
The rebels recrossed the river Delaware immediately with the troops and cannon that they had taken. This misfortune seems to have pro- ceeded from Col. Rall's quitting his post, and advancing to the attack, in- stead of defending the village. Some few officers and about 200 men of the brigade, with the chasseurs, and a party of dragoons, retreated to Col. Donop's corps at Burdentown, 6 miles distant. Several officers were wounded, and about 40 men killed and wounded."
Extract of a letter from General Sir William Howe, to Lord George Germaine, dated New-York, January 5, 1777.
"In consequence of the advantage gained by the enemy at Trenton, on the 26th of last month, and the necessity of an alteration in the canton- ments, Lord Cornwallis deferring his going to England by this opportunity, went from hence to Jersey on the 1st instant, and reached Princeton that night, to which place General Grant had advanced, with a body of troops from Brunswick and Hillsborough, upon gaining intelligence that the enemy, on receiving reinforcements from Virginia, Maryland, and the militia of Pennsylvania, had repassed the Delaware into Jersey.
On the 2d Lord Cornwallis having received accounts of the rebel army being posted at Trenton, advanced thither, leaving the 4th brigade under the command of Lieutenant colonel Mawhood, at Princetown, and the 2d brigade with Brigadier-general Leslie at Maidenhead. On the approach
24
370
NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1777
of the British troops, the enemy's forward posts were driven back upon their army, which was formed in a strong position, behind a creek running through Trenton. During the night of the 2d, the enemy quitted this situation, and marching by Allen's Town; and from thence to Princetown, fel in on the morning of the 3d, with the 17th and 55th regiments, on their march to join Brigadier-general Leslie at Maidenhead.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.