USA > New Jersey > Historical collections of the state of New Jersey : containing a general collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc. relating to its history and antiquities, with geographical desciptions of every township in the state. > Part 11
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ond regiments, notwithstanding the utmost efforts of the officers to retain them, rushed through the abattis to the foot of the stockade, with the view of forcing an entrance, which was found impracticable. This act of intemperate valor was the cause of the loss we sustained, and which amounted in the whole to 3 officers wounded, 15 non-commis- sioned officers and privates killed, and 46 non-commissioned and privates wounded. The wounded officers are Lieutenants Hammond and Crawford, of the first, and Lieut. D'Heart of the second, since dead. I cannot but mention his death with regret, as he was a young gentleman of amiable qualities, and who promised fair to be serviceable to his country.
The dragoons in the mean time drove off the stock which were found in the Neck ; the sloops and wood-boats in the dock near the blockhouse were burnt, and the few peo- ple on board them made prisoners.
I have been thus particular, lest the account of this affair should have reached Phila- delphia much exaggerated, as is commonly the case upon such occasions.
I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient servant, GEORGE WASHINGTON.
To his Excellency, SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, ESQ.
It is stated by tradition, that at the time the Americans drew off, the enemy had but a single round left. Had they persevered ten minutes longer, the fort would have fallen into their hands. Wayne was much chagrined at his want of success, and, on witnessing his brave men brought off mortally wounded, shed tears.
The following are extracts from letters published in the news- papers of the time :
Extract from a letter dated New Barbadoes, Bergen Co., April 22, 1779.
Yesterday evening Capt. Jon. Hopper, a brave and spirited officer of the militia of this county, was basely murdered by a party of ruffians from New York. He discovered them breaking open his stable door and hailed them, upon which they fired and wounded him : he returned to his house-they followed, burst open the door, and bayoneted him in upwards of 20 places. One of them had formerly been a neighbor of his.
Extract of a letter dated Closter, May 10, 1779.
This day about 100 of the enemy came by the way of New Dock, attacked this place, and carried off Cornelius Tallman, Samuel Demarest, Jacob Cole, and George Buskirk . killed Cornelius Demarest ; wounded Hendrick Demarest, Jeremiah Vestervelt, Dow Tallman, &c. They burnt the dwelling-houses of Peter Demarest, Matthias Bogart, and Cornelius Huyler, Samuel Demarest's house and barn, John Banta's house and barn, and Cornelius Bogart's and John Vestervelt's barns. They attempted to burn cvery building they entered, but the fire was in some places extinguished. They destroyed all the fur- niture, &c., in many houses, and abused many of the women. In their retreat they were so closely pursued by the militia, and a few continental troops, that thicy took off no cat- tle. They were of Buskirk's corps, some of our Closter and old Tappan neighbors, joined by a party of negroes. I should have mentioned the negroes first, in order to grace the British arms.
Extract of a letter from New Barbadoes, July 22, 1779.
On Sunday afternoon, the 10th instant, a party of refugees and tories, in number about 20, under the command of a Lieut. Waller, (as it is said,) landed at Closter Dock, and advanced to the neighborhood called Closter, from which they collected and drove off a considerable number of cattle and horses, in order to carry them on board a sloop which they had brought up for that purpose. They were pursued by Captain Harring and Thomas Branch, Esq., at the head of a few of their neighbors, hastily collected, who recovered all the cattle except two, and a calf, and all the horses save one, and an old mare, which they had got on board previous to the arrival of Captain Harring. The Captain took two prisoners, seven stand of arms, and three suits of clothes, and obliged the enemy to cut their cable, conceal themselves below deck, and let their vessel drive with the tide, notwithstanding above 20 vessels in the river attempted to protect them by cannonading Captain Harring."
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HARRINGTON.
This township was reduced, in 1840, about one half, by the form- ation of Washington from the western portion. It approaches in form to a square, and measures across it, each way, about 5 miles. It is bounded N. by Rockland co., (New York,) E. by Hudson river, S. by Hackensack, and W. by Washington. The Palisades skirt it on its eastern boundary, and the Hackensack river divides it from Washington. The soil is fertile, and the township produces large quantities of orchard-fruit. The township contains 3 stores, 4 grist- mills, 4 saw-mills; capital in manufactures $5,200; 6 schools, 154 scholars. Population, 1,130.
Place of the Execution and Grave of Andre.
The village of Tappan is just over the boundary line, in the state of New York. The place where Maj. Andre was executed is about a quarter of a mile west of the village, within a few hun- dred yards of the New Jersey line. It is on an eminence, over- looking, to the east, a romantic and fertile valley. A small heap of stones, thrown carelessly together, with an upright stake, marks the place of his execution and grave. In August, 1831, the Brit- ish consul at New York, (J. Buchanan, Esq.) caused the remains of Andre to be disinterred, and conveyed to London.
The following account of the execution of Andre, which took place October 2d, 1780, is given by an eye-witness :
' I was at that time an artificer in Col. Jeduthun Baldwin's regiment, a part of which was stationed within a short distance of the spot where Andre suffered. One of our men, (I believe his name was Armstrong,) being one of the oldest and best workmen at his trade in the regiment, was selected to make his coffin, which he performed, and painted black, agreeably to the custom in those tienes.
" At this time Andre was confined in what was called a Dutch church, a small stone building, with only one door, and closely guarded by six sentinels. When the hour ap- pointed for his execution arrived, which I believe was two o'clock, P. M., a guard of three hundred men were paraded at the place of his confinement. A kind of procession was formed by placing the guard in single file on each side of the road. In front were a large number of American officers, of high rank, on horseback. These were followed by the wagon containing Andre's coffin ; then a large number of officers on foot, with Andre in their midst. The procession moved slowly up a moderately-rising hill, I should
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think about a fourth of a mile to the west. On the top was a field without any enclo. sure. In this was a very high gallows, made by setting up two poles or crotches, laying a pole on the top. The wagon that contained the coffin was drawn directly under the gallows. In a short time Andre stepped into the nind end of the wagon ; then on his coffin-took off his hat and laid it down-then placed his hands upon his hips, and walked very uprightly back and forth, as far as the length of his coffin would permit ; at the same time casting his eyes upon the pole over his head, and the whole scenery by which he was surrounded. He was dressed in what I should call a complete British uniform : his coat was of the brightest scarlet, faced or trimmed with the most beautiful green. His under-clothes, or vest and breeches, were bright buff, very similar to those worn by military officers in Connecticut, at the present day. He had a long and beauti. ful head of hair, which, agreeably to the fashion, was wound with a black riband, and hung down his back. All eyes were upon him ; and it is not believed that any officer in the British army, placed in his situation, would have appeared better than this unfortu- nate man.
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" Not many minutes after he took his stand upon the coffin, the executioner stepped into the wagon, with a halter in his hand, on one end of which was what the soldiers in those days called a hangman's knot, which he attempted to put over the head and around the neck of Andre ; but by a sudden movement of his hand this was prevented. Andre took off the handkerchief from his neck, unpinned his shirt-collar, and deliberately took the end of the halter, put it over his head, and placed the knot directly under his right ear, and drew it very snugly to his neck. "He then took from his coat-pocket a handker- chief, and tied it over his eyes. This done, the officer that commanded (his name I have forgotten) spoke in rather a loud voice, and said that his arms must be tied. Andre at once pulled down the handkerchief he had just tied over his eyes, and drew from his pocket a second one, and gave to the executioner ; and then replaced his handkerchief. His arms were tied just above the elbows, and behind the back. The rope was then made fast to the pole overhead. The wagon was very suddenly drawn from under the gallows, which, together with the length of rope, gave him a most tremendous swing back and forth ; but in a few moments he hung entirely still. During the whole trans- action, he appeared as little daunted as Mr. John Rogers, when he was about to be burnt at the stake; but his countenance was rather pale. He remained hanging, I should think, from tweny to thirty minutes ; and during that time the chambers of death were never stiller than the multitude by which he was surrounded. Orders were given to cut the rope, and take him down, without letting him fall. This was done, and his body carefully laid on the ground. Shortly after, the guard was withdrawn, and spectators were permitted to come forward to view the corpse; but the crowd was so great that it was some time before I could get an opportunity. When I was able to do this, his coat, vest, and breeches were taken off, and his body laid in the coffin, covered by some un- der-clothes. The top of the coffin was not put on. I viewed the corpse more carefully than I had ever done that of any human being before. His head was very much on one side, in consequence of the manner in which the halter drew upon his neck. His face appeared to be greatly swollen and very black, much resembling a high degree of morti- fication. It was indeed a shocking sight to behold. There were at this time, standing at the foot of the coffin, two young men, of uncommon short stature-I should think not more than four feet high. Their dress was the most gaudy that I ever beheld. One of them had the clothes, just taken from Andre, hanging on his arm. I took particular pains to learn who they were, and was informed that they were his servants, sent up from New York to take care of his clothes ; but what other business I did not learn.
" I now turned to take a view of the executioner, who was still standing by one of the posts of the gallows. I walked nigh enough to him to have laid my hand upon his shoulder, and looked him directly in his face. He appeared to be about twenty-five years of age, his beard of two or three weeks' growth, and his whole face covered with what appeared to me to be blacking taken from the outside of a greasy pot. A more fright- ful-looking being I never beheld : his whole countenance bespoke him to be a fit instru- ment for the business he had been doing. Wishing to see the closing of the whole business, I remained upon the spot until scarce twenty persons were left ; but the cof- fin was still beside the grave, which had previously been dug. I now returned to my tent, with my mind deeply imbued with the shocking scene I had been called to witness."
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The following account of the massacre of Col. Baylor's troop, in October, 1778, is taken from Ramsay's History of the American Revolution, (vol. ii.) This bloody transaction took place (it is
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stated) about two and a half miles SW. of Tappan, in a barn which formerly stood near Hackensack river.
" One of the most disastrous events which occurred at this period of the campaign, was the surprise and massacre of an American regiment of light dragoons, commanded by Lieut. Col. Baylor. While employed, in a de- rached situation, to intercept and watch a British foraging party, they took up their lodging in a barn, near Tappan. The officer who commanded the party which surprised them was Maj. Gen. Grey. He acquired the name of the 'no flint General,' from his common practice of ordering the men un- der his command to take the flints out of their muskets, that they might be confined to the use of their bayonets. A party of militia, which had been stationed on the road, by which the British advanced, quitted their post, without giving any notice to Col. Baylor. This disorderly conduct was the occasion of the disaster which followed. Grey's men proceeded with such silence and address, that they cut off a sergeant's patrol, without noise, and surrounded old Tappan without being discovered. They then rushed in apon Baylor's regiment, while they were in a profound sleep. Incapable of defence or resistance, cut off from every prospect of selling their lives dearly, the surprised dragoons sued for quarters. Unmoved by their sup- plications, their adversaries applied the bayonet, and continued its repeated thrusts while objects could be found, in which any signs of life appeared. A few escaped, and others, after having received from five to eleven bayo- net wounds in the trunk of the body, were restored, in course of time, to perfect health. Baylor himself was wounded, but not dangerously. He lost, in killed, wounded, and taken, 67 privates, out of 104. About 40 were made prisoners. These were indebted for their lives to the humanity of one of Grey's captains, who gave quarters to the whole fourth troop, though contrary to the orders of his superior officers. The circumstance of the at- tack being made in the night, when neither order nor discipline can be ob- served, may apologize, in some degree, with men of a certain description,
for this bloody scene. It cannot be maintained that the laws of war re- quire that quarters should be given in similar assaults ; but the lovers of mankind must ever contend, that the laws of humanity are of superior ob- ligation to those of war. The truly brave will spare when resistance ceases, and in every case where it can be done in safety. The perpetra- tors of such actions may justly be denominated the enemies of refined so- ciety. As far as their example prevails, it tends to arrest the growing hu- manity of modern times, and to revive the barbarism of Gothic ages. On these principles, the massacre of Col. Baylor's regiment was the subject of much complaint. The particulars of it were ascertained, by the oaths of sundry credible witnesses, taken before Gov. Livingston, of Jersey; and the whole was submitted to the judgment of the public."
LODI.
This township was formed from New Barbadoes, in 1825, and Luduced in limits, in 1840, by the formation of Hudson co. Its length is about 6 miles. It is bounded N. by New Barbadoes, E. by Hackensack, S. by Hudson co., and W. by Hudson co. and Saddle River. The Saddle river courses on its western, and the Hacken-
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sack on its eastern boundary. As tending to show the preservation of the ancient Dutch names in this region, it is mentioned that in a sabbath-school, formed in this township, in 1827 or 1828, out of 41 scholars, 40 bore the name of Yierriance. This township con- tains a dyeing and printing establishment, 3 grist-mills, 3 saw-mills ; capital in manufactures, $70,000; 2 schools, 52 scholars. Popula- tion, 687.
NEW BARBADOES.
This township is about 7 miles long, and 3} wide. It is bounded N. by Washington, E. by Hackensack, S. by Lodi, and W. by Saddle River and Franklin. The Hackensack is on the eastern, and Saddle river on the western boundary. The surface is generally level, or undulating ; the soil is highly cultivated and productive. Several sloops ply, on the Hackensack, between here and New York, laden with the wood and produce of the country. Popula- tion, 2,104.
HACKENSACK, the seat of justice for Bergen co., is on the west bank of Hackensack river, 13 miles from New York city. The town was originally settled by six or eight Dutch families, and in- cluded in a patent, granted by the proprietors of East Jersey, to Capt. John Berry, .commencing about 5 miles below the town, at what was then called the Boiling Spring road, and extending to the north of it about 2 miles; and bounded on the E. by Hackensack, and W. by Saddle River. It was subject to a quit-rent : all the titles to lots in the town are derived originally from this grant; but no quit-rents have been paid since the revolution.
At the commencement of the revolutionary war Hackensack contained only about 30 houses. It now has over 200, and a popu- lation of about 1,500. There are 4 churches. The Ref. Protestant Dutch church is a handsome stone edifice (shown in the annexed engraving) on one side of the public green. It is the third built on that site. The first was erected in 1696, and the present one in 1791. There is another in the lower part of the town, erected by a congregation formed from the first, styled the " True Re- formed Dutch church." The third one, called "The Independent church," was formed from the last. There is also a Methodist church in the village. The last three are wooden structures erect- ed within a few years. The courthouse built in 1819, a handsome brick building, is the fourth erected.
Hackensack is one of the most pleasant villages in the state, stretching along through the meadows, on two main streets, for a mile or more : back of these is a new street recently laid out. There are four streets leading from the front to the rear streets. There are several elegant mansions in the town, and a great addi- tion is made to its appearance by the cultivation of shade-trees and shrubbery. From a hill about a quarter of a mile west is a beau-
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View of the Courthouse and Church, Hackensack.
tiful landscape, comprising the whole of the town with its neat white buildings, the Hackensack quietly meandering through fertile meadows, and in the distance the high hills bounding the Hudson. There are 5 large stores, besides several smaller ones, which do an extensive business with the surrounding country. Six vessels are constantly plying between here and New York; a considerable lumber trade is carried on, and large quantities of pine wood for steamboats are brought from Virginia. The town has many me- chanics of almost every variety, and 4 taverns, 3 of which are on the village green. There are 2 academies and 1 female boarding- school, and also a select grammar-school, where young men are prepared for college, under the direction of Rev. John S. Mabon, A. M. The stone academy built in 1762, was the first erected in the village. The frame academy at the upper end of the town has been built only a few years. There are three turnpikes leading from the place ; one to Fort Lee, one to Paterson, and one to Ho- boken. The last was the second chartered in New Jersey.
We are indebted to the kindness of an eye-witness, for the fol- lowing detailed account of military operations in this place and vicinity in the war of the revolution.
" After the evacuation of Fort Lee in Nov., 1776, and the sur- render of Fort Washington to the British, Washington, at the head of his army, consisting only of about 3,000 men, having sent on his baggage to Acquackanonck, crossed the New Bridge into the town. It was about dusk when the head of the troops entered Hacken- sack. The night was dark, cold, and rainy, but I had a fair view of them from the light of the windows, as they passed on our side of the street. They marched two abreast, looked ragged, some without a shoe to their feet, and most of them wrapped in their blankets. Washington then, and for some time previous, had his head-quarters at the residence of Mr. Peter Zabriskie, a private house, the supplies for the general's table being furnished by Mr.
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Archibald Campbell, the tavern-keeper. The next evening, af- ter the Americans had passed through, the British were encamped on the opposite side of the river. We could see their fires about 100 yards apart, gleaming brilliantly in the gloom of night, ex- tending some distance below the town, and more than a mile up toward the New Bridge. Washington was still at his quarters, and had with him his suite, life-guards, a company of foot, a regi- ment of cavalry, and some soldiers from the rear of the army. In the morning, before the general left, he rode down to the dock . where the bridge now is, viewed the enemy's encampment about ten or fifteen minutes, and then returned to Mr. Campbell's door and called for some wine and water. After he had drunk, and when Mr. Campbell was taking the glass from him, the latter, with tears streaming down his face, said, ' General, what shall I do, I have a family of small children and a little property here ; shall I leave it ?' Washington kindly took his hand and replied, ' Mr. Campbell, stay by your property and keep neutral,' then bidding him 'good- bye,' rode off. About noon the next day, the British took posses- sion of the town, and in the afternoon the green was covered with Hessians, a horrid, frightful sight to the inhabitants. There were between 3,000 and 4,000, with their whiskers, brass caps, and ket- tles or brass drums. A part of these same troops were two months after taken prisoners at Trenton."
"In the latter part of March, 1780, a party of about 400 British, Hessians, and refugees, passed through Hackensack on their way to attack some Pennsylvania troops at Paramus. It was about 3 o'clock in the night when they entered the lower part of the town. All was quiet. A small company of 20 or 30 militia, under Capt. John Outwater, had retired for the night to the barracks, barns, and out-houses, where those friendly to the American cause generally resorted to rest. One half of the enemy marched quietly through. . When the rear, consisting mostly of Hessians, arrived, they broke open the doors and windows, robbed and plundered, and took pris- oners a few peaceable inhabitants, among whom was Mr. Archi- bald Campbell. This gentleman, who had been for several weeks confined to his bed with the rheumatism, they forced into the street and compelled to follow them. Often in their rear, they threatened to shoot him if he did not hasten his pace. In the subsequent con- fusion he escaped and hid in the cellar of.a house opposite the New Bridge. He lived until 1798, and never experienced a return ·of the rheumatism.
The Hessians burnt 2 dwellings and the courthouse. The latter stood on the west side of the green, 8 or 10 rods from Campbell's tavern. Fortunately the wind was from the west and drove the flames and sparks over the green, and the tavern was saved by the family throwing water over the roof. At this time those in the out- houses were aroused, and the militia hastened across the fields, mounted horses, and alarmed the troops at Paramus. By the time the enemy had arrived at what is now the Red Mills, 4 miles from
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Hackensack, they ascertained the Americans were on their way to meet them. Disappointed, they retraced their steps, and when near Hackensack turned off to the north, on the road leading to the New Bridge, to the left of which there is a range about half a mile distant from the road, the intervening ground being level. Here the continentals and militia were hurrying over, kept how- ever at a distance by large flanking parties of the enemy, who, on arriving at the bridge, were detained about two hours in replacing the plank torn off by the Americans. In the mean time their par- ties were skirmishing with our people. Having crossed over, they marched down the east side of the Hackensack through the Eng- lish Neighborhood, being pursued 12 miles, to a considerable distance within their lines, down to Bergen woods. They lost many killed and wounded. There were none killed on our side. A young man of the town was wounded by a spent ball, which cut his up- per lip, knocked out four front teeth, and was caught in his mouth. Capt. Outwater received a ball below the knee, which was never extracted. He carried it for many years, and it was buried with him.
The following account of an exploit performed about one and a half miles from the New Bridge, by the celebrated Aaron Burr, then in the revolutionary army, is from a statement made by Judge G. Gardner.
"In September, 1777, the regiment called Malcom's regiment lay at Suffren's, in the Clove, under the command of Lieutenant- colonel Burr. Intelligence having been received that the enemy were in Hackensack in great force, and advancing into the coun- try, Col. Burr immediately marched with the effective men, except a guard to take care of the camp. We arrived at Para- mus, a distance of 16 miles, before sunset. There were considera- ble bodies of militia in great alarm and disorder, and doing much mischief to the neighboring farms. They could give no intelligence of the enemy but from rumor. They supposed them to be within a few miles and advancing.
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