USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. IV > Part 33
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1 See Thacher's Military Journal, ed. 1823, p. 239.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
[1780
the saddle, a crack in one of her fore feet. Any person taking up said mare and thief, shall receive Two Hundred Dollars reward; or One Hundred for the mare.
SAMUEL HAINS.
June 16, 1780.
S TOLEN from the subscriber the 14th inst. twenty-five yards of three and a half linen, which was cut out of the loom. Whoever will discover the thief, and secure the linen, so that it may be had again, shall have One Hundred Dollars reward, paid by
JEPTHA MOREHOUSE.
Canoe Brook, June 20, 1780.
Two Hundred Dollars Reward.
L
OST at Springfield last Sunday, a worked POCKET BOOK, containing one forty dollar bill, and some Jersey ditto to the amount of seven or eight pounds, with a number of Q. M. certificates and receipts, and some notes of hand; one certificate is signed by Col. A. Dun- ham's Clerk, at Morris Town, for 3060 dollars, mentioned for butter; another is signed by Sidney Berry, Q. M. for between 1700 and 1800 dollars, taken out in the name of Jacob Lewis; and many other papers of consequence. Whoever returns the certificates, notes, &c. to Mr. Tucker, tavern keeper in Springfield, or Mr. Darling at Chatham, or the subscriber at Morris Town, shall be welcome to the pocket book and money, and shall have the above reward, paid by SAMUEL HAINS.
Morris Town, June 14, 1780.
-The New-Jersey Journal, Vol. II., Numb. LXXI., June 21, 1780.
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The loss sustained the first day1 by the Jersey brigade was 1 Ensign and 6 rank and file killed, 4 subalterns and 30 rank and file wounded, and 12 missing. A return of the killed and wounded of the militia we have not obtained. We have taken about fifty prisoners; and several deserters have come in .- They still remain at Elizabeth-Town and the Point.
TRENTON, JUNE 21.
Extract of a letter from New-Barbadoes, in Bergen county, dated May 27, 1780.
"We have received informaation from New York, that about 2000 of the enemy sailed from the Hook, on the 23d instant. Some say they are destined for Halifax, others that they are bound to Quebec.
"Twenty-nine negroes of both sexes have deserted within two weeks past; upwards of twenty went off in one com- pany."
Extract of a letter from a continental officer of rank at camp, dated June 13.
"The British troops are now on the Point below Eliza- beth-Town; their flanks are secured by the water, which at present makes them unattackable. They advanced, on their landing, to Connecticut-Farms, burning and pillag- ing; but on the appearance of our army, retreated under cover of a heavy shower of rain before midnight, and took their present position.' The distress occasioned by their devastations is too shocking to reflect on; an American who could have beheld the scene and not swore vengeance against these savage enemies, ought to have a mark set on him as a curse to the human species.
1 At Connecticut Farms and Springfield.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
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"On my arrival on the Farms, immediately after they left them, the first object that presented itself to my view was a handsome young country-girl in the most affecting distress and anguish of mind, who had the night before been forcibly subjected to the brutal violence of seven or eight different officers of that army. -- - When we ques- tioned her, she could only answer in broken accents of the most excessive grief - - - that she was ruin'd and wished never again to be spoken to .-
"We proceeded, and came where they had burnt Mr. Caldwell's house, after shooting his wife thro' a window as she was sitting on her bed, with a brace of balls; one entered her left breast, and the other her waist: I saw her corpse, and was informed by the neighbours, it was with infinite pains they obtained leave to bring her body from the house before they set fire to it.
"The situation of poor widows, and numberless other women flying almost naked for protection, having lost their houses and everything in them, was thought comparatively happy. If there is justice to be dispensed in this world from above, it must surely visit these sons of cruelty ere long, whose scarlet crimes are daily filling up the measure of their iniquities.
"I never saw soldiers pant for revenge more than ours do - -- not a deserter from us since we came to the ground, but all anxious for the happy hour when they shall receive orders to engage an enemy who has with coward violence only desolated the weak and unprotected.
"The militia universally flock in all parts, and behave to admiration."
On Monday evening last the Hon. the General Assembly of this state adjourned to Wednesday the 13th of Sep- tember next, then to meet at Trenton. During the sitting the following Acts were passed :
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1. An Act for altering the place of holding the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace in and for the county of Bergen, and for building a tem- porary gaol in the said county.1
2. An Act to alter the law directing the descent of real estates.
3. A supplement to the act, intitled, An Act for regulating con- stables.
4. An Act for building a courthouse and gaol in the county of Som- erset, and for other purposes therein mentioned.2
5. An Act to raise and embody, for a limited time, 624 men, for the defense of the frontiers of this state.
6. An Act for establishing a fund for sinking and redeeming the proportion of the bills of credit of the United States, assigned as the quota of this state.
7. An Act for more effectually preventing horse-stealing.
8. An Act more effectually to prevent the passing of counterfeit bills of credit.
9. An Act for expediting the settlement of the accounts of the Commissioners of forfeited estates, and for suspending part of an act, intitled, An Act for forfeiting to and vesting in the state of New-Jersey, the real estates of certain fugitives and offenders, and for directing the mode of determining and satisfying the lawful debts and demands which may be due from or made against such fugitives and offenders, and for other purposes therein mentioned.
10. A supplement to the act, intitled, An Act to provide for the clothing of the quota of the forces, raised or to be raised in this state, for the service of the United States, and to repeal the laws now in force for that end.
11. An Act to empower the Collectors to receive certain certificates in payment of taxes.
12. An Act to compleat the three regiments of this state, in the ser- vice of the United States, and to raise a company of volunteers for the defence of part of the county of Monmouth.
13. An Act to provide for the more effectual defence of the state, in case of invasions or incursions of the enemy.
14. An Act more effectually to prevent desertion, and for the pun- ishment of persons harbouring prisoners of war, or purchasing the clothing and accoutrements of the soldiers of the army, and for the repeal of a certain act therein mentioned.
15. An Act to suspend the act declaring the value of the Continental currency, and also the act making the same a legal tender, and the supplement thereto.
1 Under this act the county seat was removed from Hackensack to Yawpaw, or the Ponds, now Oakland. There it remained until about 1785. 2 The court house at Millstone having been burnt by Col. Simcoe, in 1779, the county seat was removed by this act to Somerville, where it has since remained. A splendid new court house was completed in the spring of 1909.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1780
16. An Act to declare the effect of the reversal of judgment of Jus- tices of the Peace in prosecution for the forfeiture of goods, wares and merchandize, as being brought from within the enemy's lines, for error in the proceeding, and to enable the Supreme Courts to award new trials in such causes.
17. An Act to revive and continue the act, intitled, An Act to pro- hibit the exportation of provisions from the state of New-Jersey.
18. An Act to provide for the security, support and exchange of pris- oners of war, and to repeal the act, intitled, An Act for appoint- ing a Commissary of Prisoners, and vesting him with certain powers.
19. An Act for suspending the sale of the lands mortgaged to the Commissioners of the loan-office, of the several counties of this state.
20. An Act for defraying sundry incidental charges.
At a joint meeting of the Council and Assembly on Saturday last, Mr. Israel Morris, of Gloucester county,. was appointed state clothier, in the room of Enos Kelsey, Esq. who hath resigned.
Extract of a letter from Camp at Springfield, June 15.
"The enemy still remain at the Point; we have con- tinual skirmishes; last night they attacked our picket, were beat back with loss, and one Hetfield their pilot badly wounded. We are well assured the enemy's loss is near 300 men in their attack at the bridge, numbers of them are daily found in the woods. Yesterday 13 were found dead in a rye-field. Gen. Stirling's wound is thought to be mortal, as his thigh must come off. They are very angry at being deceived by the tories, who assured them the militia would not fight, but join them. Count Donop's son was wounded in the action on Wednesday last. The Iris frigate has got into New-York much disabled by an engagement she has had with the Hermoine French frigate. A large ship, said to belong to Bristol, mounting 24 9- pounders, is also arrived there, almost torn to pieces in an engagement with some of our cruizers, (they say the Trum- bull ;) she had 90 men kill'd & wounded."
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NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
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By a letter from an officer of rank dated the 15th inst. at Springfield, we learn, that the enemy are fortifying on both sides the water at Elizabeth-Town Point, and have nearly compleated their bridge --- that by taking this position, they meant to try the complexion of the country, and the temper of our army, in both of which they have been doubtless greatly deceived - - - the militia behaved to a charm, and but very few desertions from the continental army --- that the enemy intend to penetrate further into the country as soon as their works are finished, to secure a retreat - - - that Sir John Johnson has returned to Canada with his banditti, after having narrowly escaped being taken by Governor Clinton - -- that General Stirling of the British is reported to be dead of the wound in his thigh - that a Captain of the Queen's Rangers has deserted - and that our army were in the highest health and spirits.
Mrs. WASHINGTON passed through this place, since our last, on her way to Philadelphia.
We hear that a fleet of upwards of one hundred sail, arrived a few days ago at the Hook, supposed to be from Charles-Town, South-Carolina, with a reinforcement.
We are sorry to inform our readers that the garrison of Charles-Town, consisting of 2571 continental troops, in- cluding officers of every rank, surrendered prisoners of war on the 12th ult. but the particulars coming late to hand, and being very lengthy, are deferred till our next.
Yesterday thirty-six British and four Hessian prisoners were brought to town under guard.
29
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1780
From a LONDON MAGAZINE.
Return of the killed and wounded, and taken of the British army, in America.
Kil.
Wo. Tak.
L exington and Concord, Bunker-Hill
43
70
746
1150
Ticonderoga, St. John's & Que- bec,
61
110
350
The Lake by Gen. Arnold,
53
64
Sullivan's Island,
191
260
The Ceadars,
40
70
Norfolk, (Virginia)
129
175
40
Different. actions on Long-Island,
840
1660
65
Hærlem and Hell-Gate,
236
174
49
Time of landing at New-York,
57
100
White Plains,
450
470
270
Fort Washington,
900
1500
Fort Lee,
20
35
Trenton,
35
60
948
Princeton,
74
100
Boston road, by Capt. Harding,
52
20
750
In different transports,
390
Danbury
260
350
Iron-Hill, near Elk,
59
80
20
Brandywine,
800
1170
Reading Road, by Gen. Maxwell,
40
60
Staten-Island, by Gen. Sullivan,
94
150
278
Beninngton,
900
1300
300
Fort Montgomery by G. Clinton
500
. 700
Fort Mifflin,
320
53
84
Gen. Burgoyne's army,
2000
1126
5572
Total
8900 11008
9116
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NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
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JOSEPH INSLEE,
In Pennington, has for SALE on the lowest terms for cash or country produce, the following articles, viz.
S uperfine scarlet and buff broadcloths, with trimmings; callicoes, cambricks, lawns, muslins, gauzes, mellonet, catgut, modes, pelong, sarsenet, India Persian, black silk handkerchiefs, cross-barr'd ditto, pocket romal ditto, Kenting aprons, fine stamped linen handkerchiefs, nan- keens, men's thread hose, black laces, ribbons, kidd gloves, silk twist, threads, metal, mohair and basket buttons, knives and forks, penknives, scissars, pins, needles, sewing silk of various colours, and a variety of other things too tedious to mention ; also rum, sugar, tea, coffee, pepper, indigo, wool cards, scythes, earthen ware.
-New-Jersey Gazette, Vol. III., No. 130, June 21, 1780.
OPERATIONS Of the Royal Army in New Jersey To Mr. RIVINGTON. Elizabeth Town, June 20, 1780.
Sir,
As the REBELS, agreeable to their usual practice, have published many glaring falsehoods relative to the late movement into Jersey, I have been induced, from a regard to truth, to send you the following account of our opera- tions, which I request you will publish in your Gazette of to-morrow. A BRITISH OFFICER.
0 N Tuesday night the 6th inst. the troops made their first landing upon Elizabeth town meadows, and were crossed over by divisions in succession from Staten Island, with some light artillery, taking their route by Elizabeth Town and Connecticut Farms, towards Spring-
.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1780
field. Dayton's regiment, receiving intimation of our ap- proach, retired with precipitation, as did also the other Jersey regiments which compose Maxwell's brigade, from their position near Camp's; the militia of the country, although incapable of making any fixed resistance, did their utmost to incommode the troops upon their march, and collecting from different quarters, they assembled in some force in the vicinity of Springfield, forming a junc- tion with the Jersey brigade at that place, and it is said that in the course of Wednesday the 7th inst. they were supported by another brigade detached from Morris Town.
The troops halted upon some heights beyond Connecticut Farms, where they were ordered to take post till such time as the remainder of the artillery, the provision and other waggons, with the corps which brought up the rear, joined the army. From the circumstance it is probable the rebels conceived, that whatever might have been the original plan, it was intended to penetrate no further. Increasing in numbers, they used every exertion in their power, in flying parties, to fire upon the advanced picquets, and during the course of the day, they made different attacks upon a body of Jagers, which was advanced upon the Springfield road ; this produced much firing upon both sides.
During the course of the evening, it is reported that in- formation was received from the southward, which ren- dered it expedient to defer the object in agitation, and about two hours afterwards the troop, returned towards Elizabeth Town, without a single shot being fired, taking post upon the heights near the point.
On Thursday the 8th inst. the rebels advanced in some force to Elizabeth Town, and made an attack upon the 22d regiment, which was posted some little distance in front of the line: this regiment was ordered to fall back, and the rebels conceiving it was the rear guard of the army, they advanced with some rapidity, but were soon checked, and retired with precipitation.
The loss sustained during the course of this service is
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NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
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inconsiderable, nor can that of the rebels be determined, as they conceal it.
Whilst the troops were advancing to Connecticut Farms, the rebels fired out of the houses, agreeable to their usual practice, from which circumstance, Mrs. Caldwell had the misfortune to be shot by a random ball, what heightens the singularity of this lady's unhappy fate, is, that upon en- quiry it appears beyond a doubt, that the shot was fired by the rebels themselves, as it entered the side of the house from their direction, and lodged in the wall nearest to the troops, then advanceing: The manner in which the rebels aggravate this unfortunate affair, in their publications, is of a piece with their uniform conduct, plausible, but fal- lacious, nor is it to be wondered at, if a rebellion which originated in falsehood, is prosecuted with deceit: a sol- diery received with smiles one moment, and the following instant butchered (for in a military view it merits no other name) by a set of people, who by their clothing and ap- pointments cannot be distinguished from the quiet inhabi- tants of the country, may well be supposed to be exas- perated; nor need we be surprized at their using the torch to dwellings, which they find hourly occupied by armed men, who either want the generosity or the spirit to close the present unhappy contest, by a manly, open soldier like decision; whatever may be the humane wishes of the Com- manders, human nature at times, steps over the barrier of discipline and men of judgment and candour, in the great scale of political reasoning, do not wonder at occurences, which their private feelings shrink at; such are the effects of intestine divisions; miserable is the fate of that coun- try, which is the theatre of such a quarrel, and accursed is the man, or the set of men, who from motives of private lucre, or inordinate ambition have fanned a flame, which if they were willing, they are now perhaps unable to ex- tinguish. A BRITISH OFFICER.
-The Royal Gazette, No. 389, June 21, 1780.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
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ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD.
Was stolen on the night of the 21st. instant, from the subscriber's plantation near Haddonfield, Gloucester county, State of New-Jersey, a bright bay HORSE, about fourteen and a half hands high, rather slim built, short hair, a little cat-ham'd, his hind ancle joints bend forward when hard used, his main lies on the off side, no hair cut about his head, paces none, trots very fast, shod before. Whoever secures said horse, so that the owner may get him again, shall (if taken within ten miles of this place) have Five Hundred Dollars, and if further off, Seven Hundred and Fifty, and for the horse and thief a Thousand Dollars and all reasonable charges paid by James Vanuxem and Clark in Philadelphia, or by me
June 23. ELIJAH CLARK.
-- The Pennsylvania Packet, June 24, 1780.
TRENTON, June 14.
The honourable the Legislature of this state have passed an act to raise and embody, for a limited time, six hundred and twenty-four men, for the defence of the frontiers of the state; and an act for establishing a fund for sinking and redeeming the proportion of the bills of credit of the United States, assigned as the quota of this state.
[If these 624 should be raised and take the field, the British Bobs will presently make them smart for deserting their families to carry arms against the Lord's anointed.]
On Sunday last two deserters came out of Elizabeth- Town, who report that a fleet had arrived from the South- ward, with part of that army, and that the enemy were fortifying at the point .- The Royal Gazette, No. 390, June 24, 1780.
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POUGHKEEPSIE, June 26.
We have no accounts, from authority, since our last, of the motions of the enemy-The common report, (which we cannot vouch for the truth of) is, that that body of them which lay entrenched at Elizabeth-Town Point, have di- vided, one part marching further back into the country, the other up the river towards our fort at West-Point. That General Washington had also divided his army, and with one division was proceeding to the fort, where he was expected to arrive this day; that the other division, under the command of the Marquis La Fayette had been attacked by the enemy, and after a severe engagement, repulsed them. That a number of their ships to the amount of 70, 80 or 90 sail, were coming up the river, and had proceeded as far as Tarry-Town and Teller's-Point, where they had landed considerable bodies of troops on each side of the river, and it was expected would attack the fort, where the garrison had lately been reinforced by Gen. Clinton's brigade, and that the militia were assembling fast from every quarter .- The New-York Journal, and the General Advertiser, No. 1883, June 26, 1780.
Extract of a letter from a Gentleman in Morristown, dated June 23, 1780. Two o'clock P. M.
"The Commander in Chief has for several days past been extending the left wing of our army towards the north, so as to prevent the enemy from out flanking him with their right.
"This morning early General Knyphausen with thirteen regiments, consisting of about 5000 regular troops, exclu- sive of New Levies, advanced upon our right, which was commanded by Major General Green. The progress of the enemy was slow, at least six hours moving from the
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1780
Point to Springfield, did but little mischief on their march. When they arrived, were checked by the spirited conduct of a few Continentals and some militia, who gave them so warm a reception, they thought proper to halt and burn every house, except two or three in the town of Springfield.
"Six O Clock P. M. The enemy retire to Elizabeth Town; 11 o'clock, their main body are at the Point below the town.
"24th. It is reported that Clinton is gone up the North river with all the force he can make, exclusive of Knyp- hausen's division, and it is thought by some he will soon join.
"The loss of the killed and wounded on both sides must be very considerable ; Col. Angel's1 and Col. Dayton's regi- ments have suffered much, a Capt. Thomson2 of Col. Lamb's regiment is killed; further particulars I have not yet been able to obtain, and have no doubt but you will receive authentic information of every important circum- stance, more just and minute than is possible for me to give at this time; however I conclude, that even these im- perfect hints might not be disagreeable."-The Pennsyl- rania Gazette, June 28, 1780.
TRENTON, JUNE 28,
Extract of a letter from Monmouth county, dated June 22, 1780.
"Yesterday morning a party of the enemy, consisting of Ty with 30 blacks, 36 Queen's Rangers, and 30 refugee tories, landed at Conascung. They by some means got
1 Col. Israel Angell, of the 2d Rhode Island Regiment.
2 Thomas Thompson, Sergeant in Alexander Hamilton's Company New York Artillery, March, 1776; 2d Lieutenant, August 15th, 1776 ; Captain- Lieutenant, 2d Continental Artillery, January 1st, 1777 ; killed at Spring- field, June 23d, 1780.
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NEWSPAPER EXTRACTS.
1780]
in between our scouts undiscovered, and went up to Mr. James Mott's, sen. plundered his and several of the neigh- bours houses of almost everything in them; and carried off the following persons, viz. Mr. James Mott, sen. Jona- than Pearse, James Johnson, Joseph Dorset, William Blair, James Walling, jun. John Walling, son of Thomas, Philip Walling, James Wall, Matthew Griggs, also several Negroes, and a great deal of stock, but all the negroes, one excepted, and the horses, horned cattle and sheep, were, I believe, retaken by our people. We had wounded, Capt. Walling slightly, a Lieutenant Henderson had his arm broke, two privates supposed to be mortally, and a third slightly, in a skirmish we had with them on their retreat. The enemy acknowledge the loss of seven men, but we think it much more considerable."
Extract of a letter from camp near Connecticut Farms, dated June 18, 1780.
The enemy continue at Elizabethtown without much ap- pearance of a movement, and are busily employed in mak- ing fortifications at the different avenues that lead to that place. It is said that their object in coming out at this time was to subjugate the state of New-Jersey, having had intelligence from their friends that the majority of the in- habitants were so distressed that they would not take up arms again to oppose them, and that the army was so pinched for want of provisions that the soldiers were much disposed to desert. Others say that it is in consequence of an express order from Sir Henry Clinton, to facilitate some future operations. If they came on the report of their friends, they have found the circumstances very dif- ferent, for no militia ever turned out with more chearful- ness and behaved with more intrepidity, and no troops could make a more gallant resistance: If upon the order
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1780
of Sir Henry, we may expect a very active campaign, and the expence of much blood .- We have had authentic ac- counts that their killed, wounded, and missing, since their arrival, amount to 300 men. . Friday morning we made prisoners of a British Lieutenant and six privates, who came a small distance from their picquets to steal poultry, and before daybreak the same morning, on the mountain near Scotch Plains, a party of villains who came from Staten-Island to steal horses, were discovered by Mr. Casterline, an officer of militia, who killed one Inslee, and took three others, Lesegh, Hutchinson, and Closson. A court-martial is now sitting for the trial of the latter .- A report prevails in our camp this day, that Admiral Arbuthnot arrived at Sandy-Hook yesterday, with a fleet from the southward."
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