USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. III > Part 44
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This panic amongst them was occasioned by an inces- sant fire kept on them from a small redoubt into which Major Sutherland threw himself with a Captain, Sub- altern, and 25 gallant Hessians, on the first alarm. The rebels repeatedly challenged the redoubt to surrender, or they would bayonet them, to which they received a fire and No, for answer. About half after 8 o clock Major Sutherland was joined by one light infantry company of the guards, under command of Captain Dundass with which he immediately marched, and Captain Maynard was shortly after ordered to follow. Major Sutherland marched both companies, in order to succour Colonel Bus- kirk, and after going about fifteen miles, he found that Colonel Buskirk had a smart engagement with the rebels some time before, and had returned. There were a few prisoners made, amongst whom is a Capt. Meale, who was found asleep from the great fatigue. he underwent; and surely unless he had been a Livingston, Laurens, or Adams, he could not in that situation forfeit his claim to British valour and humanity .-
Major Sutherland finding one object of his march answered, by Colonel Buskirk's being safe, and 100 men not sufficient to answer his other intentions, returned ;
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this charming body of men, having made a march of about 30 miles in less than 10 hours .- The Royal Gazette, No. 303, August 25, 1779.
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, Esquire.
Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief in and over the State of New-Jersey, and Territories thereunto belonging, Chancellor and Ordinary in the same;
PROCLAMATION.
W HEREAS the United States of America in congress assembled did, on the ninth day of July last, resolve, "That the Execu- "tive Powers of each state be earnestly requested instantly "to make the strictest inquiry into the conduct of every per- "son within such state respectively, employed either in the Quarter- "master General's or Purchasing, or Issuing Commissary General's "department ; and in case of any kind of misbehaviour, or strong sus- "picion thereof, in any such person, not being an officer immediately "appointed by Congress, to remove or suspend every such person, order- "ing him at their discretion to be prosecuted at the expense of the "United States, and to appoint another in his place, if necessary ; and "so from time to time, as occasion may be, giving notice to the Board "of War, and also to the Quartermaster General or Commissary Gen- "eral in whose department such removal or suspension shall be, of the "change ; the person so appointed to have the same authority and pay "which the person removed had been vested with or intitled to, or such "pay as the said Executive Powers respectively shall agree for, to be "in like manner subject to the head of the department to which he "belongs, and to observe all the regulations for the government of "Deputy Quartermasters and Deputy Commissaries respectively ; and "that the Executive Powers of each state be in like manner requested "to inquire into the number of persons employed in the Quartermaster "General's or Commissarie's department, and immediately to discharge "such as shall be adjudged unnecessary." And whereas the said reso- lution of Congress will be more effectually carried into execution in this state, and the proceedings of the Executive Power in pursuance thereof greatly facilitated by the previous voluntary information of such credible persons under whose more immediate observation such misbehaviour or unnecessary number of officers in the said depart-
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ments may have fallen ; or who from their local situation, personal intercourse, or other circumstances, may at present be, or hereafter become acquainted therewith. And forasmuch as it is the duty of every citizen of America to disclose every kind of misbehaviour in the servants of the United States, and to prevent an unnecessary number of officers from being employed in the said departments. in order that such delinquents and supernumeraries may respectively be brought to justice or discharged : And it being more especially to be expected that all Magistrates and others invested with civil au- thority, will manifest their zeal for the common cause, and a becoming concern for the public interest, by every proper exertion for ac- complishing the important purposes by the said resolution of Congress intended. I HAVE THEREFORE TIIOUGHT FIT to issue this proclamation, earnestly to recommend it to every citizen of this state who now is, or hereafter may become acquainted with any kind of misbehaviour. or strong suspicion thereof, in any person employed in this state, in the Quartermaster General's or Purchasing or Issuing Commissary Gen- eral's department, or with the number of persons employed in the Quartermaster General's or Commissary's department in any partic- ular township or district in this state, to represent the same to some neighboring Justice of the Peace, and to declare such his knowledge upon oath or affirmation, together with his opinion respecting the supernumeraries, if any, employed in such township or district. with the reasons of such his opinion : And every Justice of the Peace to whom such representation shall be made is hereby requested to reduce the same to writing in the form of an affidavit ; and after having duly sworn or affirmed the informant thereto, to transmit the same to me, with such further intelligence as he the said Justice may himself of his own knowledge or observation be able to communicate respecting the premises : To the end, that if the information so transmitted shall appear 'to contain sufficient matter of accusation as to the misbe- haviour of any person so as aforesaid employed, or proper grounds for considering him as a supernumerary, the party thereby affected. (not being an officer immediately appointed by Congress) may be notified to attend, and be heard in his defence, and finally continued in. or removed, suspended or discharged from his office, as the case upon further examination shall require.
Given under my Hand and Scal at Arms, at Bridgewater, the seven- teenth Day of August, in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, and in the fourth year of the Independence of America.
By His Excellency's Command,
WIL. LIVINGSTON.
Wm. Livingston, jun. D. Sec. GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE.
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BY HIS EXCELLENCY
WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, Esquire.
Governor, Captain-General and Commander in Chief in and over the State of New-Jersey, and Territories thereunto belonging, Chancellor and Ordinary in the same;
PROCLAMATION.
W HEREAS it has been duly represented to me, in council, by the oaths of credible witnesses, that in the night of the thirty- first of July last, Thomas Far and his wife were most bar- barously murdered in the house of the said Far, in the county of Monmouth, by a number of persons unknown; and also that in the night of the twenty-first of June last, the house of a certain Andrews, in the said county, was violently and feloniously broke open and plun- dered by one Lewis Fenton, and a number of other persons unknown, and other felonious outrage and violence committed upon the persons then in the said house, being the good subjects of this state; which said Fenton is also suspected to have headed the gang of those who murdered the said Far and his wife .- I HAVE THEREFORE THOUGHT FIT, by and with the advice and consent of the Honour- able Privy Council, to issue this Proclamation, hereby promising the reward of Five Hundred Pounds to any person who shall apprehend and secure the said Lewis Fenton, and Three Hundred Pounds for apprehending and securing any of the persons concerned with him in perpetrating the said murders, or either of them; and Two Hundred and Fifty-Pounds for apprehending and securing any of the persons concerned in breaking open and plundering the house of the said Andrews, and committing the outrages and violences aforesaid, so as the said criminals that shall be apprehended be legally convicted of the crimes wherewith they stand respectively charged.
Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms, at Millstone, the eighteenth day of August, in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, and in the 4th Year of the Independence of America. WIL. LIVINGSTON.
By His Excellency's Command.
William Livingston, jun. D. Sec.
TRENTON, AUGUST 25.
"The militia of this state are directed to hold them- "selves in readiness to assemble on the shortest notice, and "to be attentive to the signals; and the person's appointed
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"to fire the beacons, are to have everything in readiness to "give the alarm on a moment's warning."
Extract of a letter from Mr. James Abeel, D. I. M. G. to His Excellency Governor Livingston, dated Morris- town, Aug. 21, 1779.
"I congratulate your Excellency on the success of our arms - - - Lord Stirling has taken Paulus-Hook, and made 160 British prisoners, with the loss of five men on our side. It is said the party that attacked the fort was commanded by Major Lee, and [that it] was carried without firing a gun."
Yesterday about 150 of Col. Baylor's regiment of light- dragoons arrived here from Philadelphia, on their way to camp, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Wash- ington.
By a letter from Tioga, dated the 15th instant, we learn, that General Sullivan with the army had arrived at that place the 11th instant, without molestation. On his way he burnt an Indian town called New Kittanning. On the 12th at night the whole army moved to Chemung, 12 miles distant, in order to surprize a number of Indians there, but they having previous notice, evacuated the town, which our army destroyed, with all the corn, &c., in its vicinity. While the town was on fire a detachment of light infantry were ordered to move forward, who were fired on by the savages, by which 6 were killed and 9 wounded. Our men bravely returned the fire, and then rushed on with fixed bayonets, which immediately put the enemy to flight. A party of our troops who were ordered to cut up the corn, were fired upon, by which one man was killed and five wounded. The enemy's loss in these skirmishes was not known. Our army, having compleated their business at Chemung, returned to Tioga.
Thursday morning last Major Lee, with his corps of light dragoons, and a detachment of light infantry, sur- prized the enemy's post at Paulus-Hook, and brought off 160 prisoners.
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TIMOLEON's answer to Mr. Dunham was received in the beginning of July last, but because of its length, and a continual croud of other important matter, it has been deferred.
The TRUE PATRIOT is also received, and shall have a place as soon as possible.
The Proceedings of the Brunswick and Raritan Com- mittees are deferred till our next, for want of room.
T HE subscriber having engaged to furnish the Quarter- master-General's department with a large quantity
of cord-wood the ensuing winter, will give good wages to as many wood-cutters as will offer, to be paid a part in money, and part in salt, if they chuse it, at the regulated price.
ARCHIBALD M'ELROY.
TO BE SOLD.
A Valuable tract of land, adjoining Barnegat Bay, near Tom's river, in the town of Dover, Monmouth county, containing about 1000 acres, about 280 acres of, salt meadow, 30 acres of cedar swamp, (part of which is very good) about 50 acres of upland cleared, and fenced with cedar; a new framed dwelling-house thereon, 20 feet by 26, with two fire-places on the first floor, and a stone cellar under the same, also a kitchen adjoining, of 16 feet square, with a brick oven and a well at the door: The remainder wood-land. The land is good for rye, Indian corn, and for raising stock, and as well situated for manufacturing salt as almost any in New-Jersey. It will be sold together or be divided as shall suit the purchaser. For terms apply to Abiel Akin, Esquire, at Tom's river, or the subscriber on the premises.
JAMES MOTT, jun.
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0 N Monday the 30th inst. at the house of Andrew Steelman, in Gloucester county, will be sold at vendue, the hull, sails and rigging, of the Schooner Lawrence, lately stranded on Absecon Beach .- Also her cargo consisting of about 20 hogsheads of rum, 80 pieces of linen, some salt, sugar, &c.
By order of the court of admiralty, Jos. POTTS, Marshal. New-Jersey, Aug. 20.
TO BE SOLD,
A Likely MARE, six years old, with a sucking Colt; they are at Mr. John Stevens's, near Trenton.
W HEREAS inquisitions have been found, and final judgment entered thereon, in favour of the state, against Thomas Russell, John Demun, Miles Shearbrook of Middlesex county, and William Burton, late of Somerset county,-Notice is hereby given, that the lands and tenements, and all the estates, real and per- sonal, lately belonging to the above offenders, will be exposed to sale, as follows, to wit, Miles Shearbrook, one third of a valuable estate at Spottswood, consisting of forges, grist-mills, dwelling houses, carriages, stock, negroes, &c. The sales to begin on the premises, at nine o'clock on Monday the 27th of September next .- On Tuesday the 28th of September, at ten o'clock, will be sold at Brunswick, a piece of land, late the property of William Burton; and a brew-house and other property, late belonging to John Demun, now in the possession of Wm. V. Dusen .- On the 30th of September, at three o'clock, a house and lot near Princeton, late the property of Thomas Russell, to be sold at Col. Hyer's.
WILLIAM SCUDDER, Į Commis- JOHN LLOYD sioners.
Middlesex County, Aug. 21, 1779.
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For Sale at publick Vendue,
On Thursday the ninth day of September,
A Plantation containing 135 acres of land, in the county of Middlesex, and state of New-Jersey, and has on it a good two story house, four rooms on a floor, a cellar under it, a good-barn, and other buildings, a good well of water near the door, and plenty of orchards and meadow, with 30 acres of excellent timber, all lying but two miles from Cranberry town and mills, on the north side of the mill brook, which serves for a good fence for near 50 chains, and is but 7 miles from Princeton college, being near the great road that leads from thence to Mon- mouth courthouse: The land is good for grass or grain, and may be seen by applying to the subscriber on the premises, who will give a good title to the purchaser. Also, will be sold the same day, cattle, sheep, swine, bees, household furniture of various sorts, and farmers utensils.
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The vendue to begin at ten o'clock of the above-said day, on the premises, when due attendance will be given, and the conditions made known by me,
JOHN SKINNER.
To all whom it may concern.
New- Jersey, ss N OTICE is hereby given, that a court of ad- miralty will be held at the courthouse in the city of Burlington, on Monday the 13th day of September next, at ten o'clock in the fore- noon of the same day, then and there to try the truth of the facts alledged in the bill of Samuel Ingersoll, (who as well, &c.) against the following negro slaves lately cap- tured by him, to wit, Edward M'Cuffe, William Bristol, John Coleman, Joseph, Cato, and Richard, to the end and intent, that the owner or owners of the said negro slaves
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or either of them, or any person or persons concerned in them, may appear and shew cause, if any they have, why the said negro slaves should not be condemned, as forfeited to the use of the captors, according to the prayer of the said bill.
By order of the Judge,
Jos. BLOOMFIELD, Reg. Aug. 17, 1779.
To all whom it may concern.
New-
Jersey, ss. Nº OTICE is hereby given that a court of admiralty will be held at the court- house in Burlington, on Monday the 13th day of September next, at three o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, then and there to try the truth of the facts alledged in the bill of Frederick Steelman, (who as well, &c.) against the schooner or vessel called the Lawrence, to the end and intent, that the owner or owners of the said vessel, or any person or persons con- cerned therein, may appear and shew cause, if any they have, why the said vessel and her cargo should not be con- demned, according to the prayer of the said bill. By order of the Judge.
Jos. BLOOMFIELD, Reg. Aug. 21, 1779.
TRAYED or stolen, out of Capt. Porter's pasture at the Cross Roads near Pluckemin, on the night of the 13th inst. a bay mare about 14 hands high, 4 years old, black mane and tail, and a black streak down her back, a little hurt with the saddle, shod all round, and a little lame in the off fore foot; she also has a star in her face, trots and canters freely, full half blooded. Whoever secures the said mare, so that the owner may have her
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again, shall have One Hundred Dollars reward, and for the mare and thief, Two Hundred Dollars, and all reason- able charges.
JAMES NUGENT, Express-rider. Pitt's Town, Aug. 16, 1779.
T THE Person to whom a Bundle of Laws of last Sitting was delivered, to be conveyed to the Hon. John Stevens, Esq. is requested either to deliver the same to him, or inform him where it is, without delay. 1
Thomas M'Gee, Fuller.
B EGS leave to inform the publick, that he has lately taken Wall's Fulling Mill, near Allentown, where those who will be pleased to favour him with cus- tom, may depend on having their work well done. -The New Jersey Gazette, Vol. II., No. 87, Aug. 25, 1779.
We are favoured with the following account of the late affair at Minisinck, which, as it is received from the best authority, may be depended on.
On the twenty first ult. a party of Savages and Tories, supposed to be about 150 in number, under the command of Brandt, appeared at Minisink. The country being quickly alarmed, a body of the militia from Orange county, under the command of col. Hathorn, joined by a small number from New Jersey, under major Meeker, in the whole amounting to 120 men, officers included, arrived 'at Minisink the next day; where they were informed by a spy that the enemy lay at Mongaup, a place about six miles distant: Our troops immediately marched with an intention either to fall upon them by surprise, or to gain their front and ambush them; but soon received intelli- gence that they were posted on such strong ground, as
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would render it impossible to attack them with a proba- bility of success; this induced our men to change their route. They proceeded along the old Kasheghton path, and at midnight encamped at Skinner's saw-mill, eighteen miles from Minisink and three miles and a half from the enemy, who then lay at the mouth of Halfway Brook. It being exceeding difficult to pass the mountains at night, the troops lay bye till the morning, and at daylight, of the 23d.,1 after leaving their horses, and disengaging them- selves of every thing that might impede their march, they proceeded and came up with the enemy, (who had received information of their advancing) at Legheway,2 twenty seven miles from Minisink; here they found the enemy transporting their provisions, cattle, and plunder, across the Delaware, which they had nearly effected. It was determined immediately to attack them; our men accord- ingly formed into three divisions, the main body under the immediate command of col. Hathorn, with small par- ties on the right and left; by the accidental discharge of a musquet the enemy discovered their approach before they were properly posted, this instantly brought the men on to action, they advanced with fixed bayonets, put the enemy in confusion ; some were driven into the river, and many fell by the well directed fire of our musquetry.
The troops in the rear of col. Hathorn having got into disorder, some of them only joined him. The enemy rallied in force on his right, and recrossed the river, having, from the best accounts, received a reinforcement from Kasheghton ; a constant bush-firing then commenced, in which capt. Tyler, a brave and enterprizing officer, was killed, and several privates wounded. Col. Hathorn, with only forty five men, was now obliged to possess himself of an eminence advantageously situated, which the enemy repeatedly approached, and were as often repulsed. Our men, notwithstanding their fatigue, the want of water to
1 The 22d.
2 Lackawack, or Lackawaxen.
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allay their thirst, and smallness of their number, retained their spirits and defended the ground near three hours and a half, a constant firing being kept up on both sides during the whole time; here we had three men killed and nine wounded; among the wounded were Col. Hathorn, in his head, leg and thigh; lieut. col. Tusten, adj. Finch, capt. James, and ensign Wood.1
Their ammunition being nearly expended, col. Hathorn ordered that no person should fire without having his object sure. The ceasing of our fire encouraged the enemy, who advanced upon our people, when they, being intirely destitute of ammunition, were obliged to retire down the hill towards the river, and every one separately consult his own safety. Twenty one officers and privates are missing, among whom are lieut. col. Tusten, and some other very valuable officers. During the engagement the officers and soldiers behaved with the utmost bravery and perseverance; and there is every reason to believe (though inferior in numbers) if their ammunition had not failed them, the enterprize would have been attended with com- plete success. Since the action several of our wounded have come in, and we have reason to expect that more are on their way to us. By our spies we are informed that the enemy, the night following, moved off their wounded in canoes, and from the blood appearing on the ground where they encamped, and other circumstances, there is the best reasons to conclude that they suffered considerably in the action. Col. Seaward, of New Jersey, with ninety three men, was during the engagement, about six miles distant from the place of action, but did not hear the firing. On the following evening he laid near the Indians, and from their cries and groans concluded that they had been lately engaged and suffered much,-
1 Heitman's Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army says Ensign John Wood, N. Y. Militia, was killed at Minisink, July 22, 1779, and that Col. John Wood, N. Y. Militia, was taken prisoner, and remained a prisoner until July, 1783; also, that Nathaniel Finch, lieutenant and adjutant of Hathorne's N. Y. Militia Regiment, was killed in this affair. "Capt. James" is probably an error for Captain Samuel Jones.
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he would have attacked them round their fires, but was by some accident unfortunately prevented. Brandt, who commanded the Indians, is either killed or dangerously wounded. The enemy have killed and scalped four men, made some prisoners (chiefly children) destroyed one church, eight dwelling houses, eight barns, one or two mills, and have taken off a number of horses, cattle, and other plunder; some of which, however, our people have retaken and delivered to the proper owners .- The Penn- sylvania Evening Post, August 28, 1779.1
1 The Battle of Minisink, fought July 22, 1779, occurred so near the New Jersey border, and was participated in by so many Jerseymen, and, moreover, had such an influence in checking the advance of the Indians upon the unprotected settlements of New Jersey, that it has a decided local interest. The Indians under the noted Captain Joseph Brandt at- tacked the settlement at Minisink, on July 20, 1779, killing and plundering on all sides. News of this raid reached Goshen on the evening of the same day. Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Tusten, commander of the local militia in the Goshen neighborhood, summoned the officers of his regi- ment to assemble the next morning with as many volunteers as they could raise. Word was also sent to Colonel John Hathorn, commander of the Warwick regiment of militia, to meet him at the lower neighborhood in Minisink. On the morning of July 21, one hundred and forty-nine men assembled at Minisink, and placed themselves under the command of Colonel Tusten. Among the volunteers thus gathered were Major Meeker and Captain Harker, of Sussex county, with a considerable number of men under their command. Colonel Tusten advised that they should all wait where they were for reinforcements and ammunition, which would be with them in a short time, and reminded his men that the enemy far outnumbered them. Major Meeker, however, mounted his horse and waving a sword cried out : "Let the brave men follow me: the cowards may stay behind." This act of bravado carried the day against reason and common sense, and the party set out on its march on the trail of the retreating savages. The next morning, July 22, they were joined by Colonel Hathorn of the Warwick regiment, with a small reinforcement, and he being the senior officer took the command. They then marched a few miles to Halfway Brook, where they came upon an encampment which the Indians had occupied the night before. Another council was held, and again Colonel Tusten showed them that they were outnum- bered, but the same spirit of bravado prevailed and the march was re- sumed. Captain Bezaleel Tyler, Junior, of the Coshecton company of the Second or South End regiment of Ulster county militia, an ex- perienced hunter, was sent ahead with a small scouting party, but had gone only a little way before he fell into an ambuscade and was killed. Notwithstanding this disaster the pursuers persisted in rushing forward. The Americans reached the fording-place on the Delaware river. opposite the Lackawaxen, about ten o'clock, and discovered some of Brandt's men crossing the Delaware with the plunder. Brandt himself appeared and demanded the surrender of the settlers, telling them his force far out- numbered theirs. This was declined, and about eleven o'clock the action
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