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 26
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Col. Angell, with his regiment and several small detachments, and one piece of ar- tillery, was posted to secure the bridge, in front of the town. Col. Shrieve's regiment was drawn up at the second bridge, to cover the retreat of those posted at the first. Maj. Lee, with his dragoons, and the piquets commanded by Capt. Walker, was posted at Little's bridge, on the Vauxhall road ; and Col. Ogden was detached to support him. The remainder of Gen. Maxwell's and Stark's brigades were drawn up on the high grounds at the mill. The militia were on the flanks. Those under the command of Gen. Dickinson made a spirited attack upon one of the enemy's flanking parties ; but his force was too small to push the advantage he had gained.
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Short
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Springfield
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Plan of the Battle of Springfield, fought June 23, 1780.
[ References .- A. Church. B. Parson- age. E. First bridge on the main road. C. Second bridge. J. Vauxhall bridge, or Little's. D. Station of the Ameri- can troops, on rising ground. F. Prin- cipal pass over the Short Hills. H, G, I. Other passes. K. High grounds and mill, supposed to be the same as the first range of hills in rear of Byram's tavern.
NOTE .- This map was drawn in 1842.]
While the enemy were making demonstrations on their left, their right column ad- vanced on Maj. Lee. The bridge was disputed with great obstinacy, and the enemy must have received very considerable injury ; but by fording the river, and gaining the point of the hill, they obliged the major with his party to give up the pass .* At this instant their last column began the attack on Col. Angell. The action was severe, and lasted about forty minutes, when superior numbers overcame obstinate bravery, and forced our troops to retire over the second bridge. There the enemy were warmly re- ceived by Col. Shrieve's regiment : but as they advanced in great force, with a large train of artillery, he had orders to join the brigade.
As the enemy continued to press our left, on the Vauxhall road, which led directly into our rear, and would have given them the most important pass, and finding our front too extensive to be effectually secured by so small a body of troops, I thought it most advisable to take our post upon the first range of hills, in the rear of Byram's tavern, where the roads are brought so near a point that succor might readily be given from one to the other. This enabled me to detach Col. Webb's regiment, commanded by Lieut. Col. Huntington, and Col. Jackson's regiment, with one piece of artillery, which entirely checked the advance of the enemy on our left, and secured that pass.
Being thus advantageously posted, I was in hopes the enemy would have attempted to gain the heights ; but discovering in them no disposition for attacking us, and seeing them begin to fire the houses in town, detachments were ordered out, on every quarter, to prevent their burning buildings not under the immediate command of their cannon and musketry. In a few minutes they had set fire to almost every house in town, and begun their retreat. Capt. Davis, with a detachment of 120 men, several smaller par- 'ties, with a large body of militia, fell upon their rear and flanks, and kept up a con- tinual fire upon them, till they entered Elizabethtown, which place they reached about sunset. Stark's brigade was immediately put in motion, on the first appearance of a :retreat, which was so precipitate that they were not able to overtake them.
The enemy continued at Elizabethtown Point until 12 o'clock at night, and then 'began to cross their troops to Staten Island. By six this morning, they had totally .evacuated the Point, and removed their bridge. Maj. Lee fell in with their rear-guard, but they were so covered by their works, that little or no injury could be done them. He made some refugee prisoners, and took some tories, which they abandoned to expedite their retreat
I have the pleasure to inform your excellency, that the troops who were engaged behaved with great coolness and intrepidity, and the whole of them discovered an im-
* Probably the first bridge.
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patience to be brought into action. The good order and discipline which they exhibited in all their movements, do them the highest honor. The artillery, under the command of Lieut. Col. Forest, was well served. I have only to regret the loss of Captain Thompson, who fell at his side by a cannon-ball.
It is impossible to fix with certainty the enemy's loss ; but as there was much close firing, and our troops advantageously posted, they must have suffered very considerably.
I herewith enclose your excellency a return of our killed, wounded, and missing, which I am happy to hear is much less than I expected, from the heavy fire they sus- tained.
I am at a loss to determine what was the object of the enemy's cxpedition. If it was to injure the troops under my command, or to penctrate further into the country, they were frustrated. If thic destruction of this place, it was a disgraceful one. I la- ment that our force was too small to save the town from ruin. I wish every American could have been a spectator ; they would have felt for the sufferers, and joined to revenge the injury.
I cannot close this letter without acknowledging the particular services of Lieut. Col. Barber, who acted as deputy adjutant-general, and distinguished himself by his ac- - tivity in assisting to make the necessary dispositions.
I have the honor to be, &c. N. GREENE, Major-General.
There were a number of prisoners made, but as they went to Morris, I had no return of them.
To his excellency General WASHINGTON.
RETURN of the killed, wounded, and missing, in the action of the 23d of June, 1780. Springfield Artillery-Killed, 1 captain, 2 sergeants ; woundcd, 2 matrosses.
Angell's Regiment-Killed, 1 sergeant, 5 rank and file ; wounded, 1 captain, 3 subs., 3 sergeants, 25 rank and file ; missing, 3 rank and file.
Shrieve's Regiment-Killed, 1 rank and file; wounded, 1 sergeant, 2 rank and file ; missing, 2 rank and file.
Dayton's Regiment-Killed, 2 rank and file ; wounded, 1 sub., 6 rank and file; miss- ing, 4 rank and file.
Spencer's Regiment-Wounded, 1 sergeant.
Lee's Detachment-Killed, I rank and file ; wounded, 4 rank and file.
TOTAL-Killed, 1 captain, 3 sergeants, 9 rank and file ; wounded, 1 captain, 4 subs., 5 sergeants, 37 rank and file, 2 matrosses ; missing, 9 rank and file.
The return of Davis's detachment I could not get, he having marched off the next morning after the action. The return of the militia I cannot get. They had none killed, but about 12 wounded.
(Signed) F. BARBER, Lieut. Col.
UNION.
Union was formed from Elizabeth in 1808. It is 5 miles long, with an average width of 41 miles: bounded N. by Clinton ; E. by Elizabeth ; S. by Rahway, and W. by Springfield and Westfield, from which it is divided by Rahway river. The face of the town- ship is undulating, the soil rich, easily tilled, very productive, and well watered with fine streams. It is said that when Washington was passing through this section, he pronounced it the "garden of New Jersey," on account of its beauty and fertility. There are large tracts of turf meadow in Union, containing probably about 500 acres, the largest of which lies directly south of the church. The turf or peat is dug out in the summer, and dried under sheds erected in the meadows, where it remains about one year to dry, when it is used extensively as fuel. The inhabitants are principal- ly agriculturists, who are generally in comfortable circumstances.
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ESSEX COUNTY
There are 2 grist-m., 4 saw-m .; 1 academy, 5 schools, 183 scholars. Pop. 1,482.
The village of Union, or, as it is generally known, " Connecticut Farms," is in the northern part of the township, 4 miles NW. from Elizabethtown, 6 SW. from Newark, and 47 from Trenton. It con- tains the Post Office, Presbyterian church, and about 30 dwellings in the immediate vicinity. This place was originally known as "Wade's Farms," from early settlers of that name, who resided in this section. Previous to 1749, a number of families from Connec- ticut purchased a large tract of land here, and divided it into farms of a convenient size, and gave it the name of "Connecticut Farms." The favorable traits of New England character are still retained among the inhabitants.
The first pastor of the Presbyterian church at this place, of whom any information can be obtained, was the Rev. Mr. Horton ; but the date of his settlement and removal is unknown. The Rev. Mr. Thane was settled in 1749, and removed in 1757. Rev. Mr. Derbe was settled in 1758, and continued about two years; Rev. Benjamin Hait was settled in 1,766, and died in 1779. Rev. Mr. Fish was settled in 1789, and removed in 1799. He was succeed- ed by Rev. Samuel Smith in 1800, who died the next year. Rev. Stephen Thompson, the next minister, was settled in 1802, and re- moved in 1834, and was succeeded by Rev. Robert Street, the present pastor, in 1835.
During the revolution, this place was visited by the enemy, and their path was marked by desolation and blood. When the British army, under General Knyphausen, were on their march from Eliza- bethtown toward Springfield, June 7, 1780, they burnt the church, parsonage, and several dwellings at Connecticut Farms. These were the houses of Benjamin Thompson, Moses Thompson, John Wade, Robert Wade ; all on the road running east from the meet- ing-house ; Caleb Wade at the foot of the hill on which the church stands. Before the dwellings were destroyed, they were searched, and every thing of a portable character carried off. Not any thing was left. Even the beds were ripped open, the feathers thrown into the street, and the ticking taken for clothing. The next day, it is said, the feathers were seen thickly strewn upon the ground. The few little valuables of the inhabitants, easily removed, were secured, and sometimes in a singular manner. For instance, what little silver they possessed, as spoons, &c., some would bury in the ground, others hide in the ash-hole, and some cast into the well.
In two or three years after, the meeting-house was rebuilt on the same spot, and the parsonage also reconstructed on its former site.
At the time the parsonage was burnt, and for a few months pre- vious, it was occupied by the family of the Rev. James Caldwell, pastor of the First Presbyterian church at Elizabethtown, to which they had resorted for greater security.
" Mrs. Caldwell was the daughter of John Ogden, Esq., of Newark. Her amiable
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ESSEX COUNTY.
disposition, piety, and exemplary deportment had obtained for her the very particular respect and attachment of all who knew her. Her life had evinced she was worthy of the sphere in which she had moved, and prepared for the event which now prematurely befell her. She was the mother of nine children, the eldest of whom was sixteen years old, and the youngest an infant.
"Although Mrs. Caldwell was apprized of the approach of the enemy in season to escape, her mind was made up on this subject, and she resolved, in humble reliance on Divine Providenee, to remain at home. When the enemy were entering the village, she withdrew from the apartment she usually occupied, into one more retired, for the purpose of devotion, as well as security, with her infant in her arms. The maid who had ac- companied her to this secluded apartment, and had charge of the other small children, on looking out of a window into the back yard, observed to Mrs. Caldwell that 'a red- coat soldier had jumped over the fence, and was coming up to the window with a gun.' Her youngest son, nearly two years old, playing upon the floor, on hearing what the maid said, called out, ' Let me see! let me see "' and ran that way. Mrs. Caldwell rose from sitting on a bed very near ; and at this moment the soldier fired his musket at her through the window. It was loaded with two balls, which both passed through her body. The surrounding buildings, and the house in which this deed was perpetrated, were soon after set on fire. It was with difficulty the dead body of Mrs. Caldwell could be preserved from the general destruction that ensued. After it had lain some- time exposed in the open street, and in the hot sun, liberty was obtained to place her re- mains in a small dwelling-house* on the opposite side of the road, which had survived the general conflagration.
" The following night Mr. Caldwell spent at the Short Hills, near Springfield. He retired to rest in the evening in excessive anxiety respecting the fate of his wife and children. In his sleepless state he overheard two men in an adjoining room talking on the subject of the death of Mrs. Caldwell. He rose quickly, and entered their room in great agitation, and inquired what they had heard on the subject. They represented it only as a rumor, and probably a mistake, and persuaded him to return to his bed. The remainder of the night was to him a season of painful suspense and anxiety. In the morning Mr. Caldwell procured a flag, and proceeded with all possible speed to Connec- ticut Farms, to visit his family, and ascertain their fate. While yet at some distance, he discovered that the church and village were in ruins, and that the enemy had re- turned to Staten Island ; and very soon he learned the truth of the afflicting rumor be- fore received, that Mrs. Caldwell was no more. Her friends were assembled ; and the funeral service performed, with as much solemnity and order as the desolation and alarm universally prevalent would permit." The inhuman murder of this estimable lady, together with the wanton destruction of the village, produced a strong impression on the public mind, and " served still more to confirm the settled hate of the well affect- ed against the British government."
Among the traditions of the revolution, the following are chroni- cled in the memory of some of the aged at this place :
A house at Lyon's Farms, about three miles distant, was taken possession of during the war by twenty-five Hessians, and made a place of rendezvous. Three daring men, viz. Matthias Wade, Barnabas Carter, and - Morehouse, determined to surprise and rout them. The night was chosen, and their plan laid. Wade was to shoot the sentinel in front of the house, the report of whose gun was to be the signal for the other two to raise a shout back of the dwelling and fire into the windows. The plan was completely successful. The terrified Hessians, supposing they were surround- ed by superior numbers, fled with all possible speed, leaving their guns, ammunition, and other articles of value, to their victorious enemies.
At another time, five Hessian soldiers obtained possession of &
Then belonging to Capt. Henry Wade ; now rebuilt and occupied by Mr. Phineas Crilley.
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house near the present residence of Mr. Jonathan Mulford, in the south part of the township. No sooner was it known, than the dwelling was entered by Jonas and Matthias Wade, and Elijah Terrill. The latter was immediately clinched, and would have been overcome by the superior strength of his antagonist, but for the timely assistance of one of his comrades, who ran the Hessian through with his bayonet. The remaining four were then taken prisoners.
About a quarter of a mile east of the meeting-house the road is crossed by a small brook, on either side of which the ground is considerably elevated. On the western eminence, about sixty of the people planted themselves with only muskets, resolved to dis- pute the passage of the British army on their march from Eliza- bethtown to Springfield ; and so well did they make their stand, that for several hours they kept the enemy at a stand, and prevented their progress until their want of ammunition compelled them to retreat.
At this time, as the army were approaching the meeting-house, a Mr. Ball had stationed himself behind a shop at the foot of the church hill, across the road, to watch the movements of the enemy. As he was looking from his hiding-place, to see how near they had approached, a ball passed through his head, and brought him to the ground. On the opposite side of the street, directly in the rear of the store of Mr. Wade, Abial Hays and James W. Wade were secreted behind a shoemaker's shop, and were eye-witnesses to the fate of their friend. Unwilling to see him suffering without affording assistance, Mr. Hays crossed the street in the face of the enemy, carried away his wounded companion under cover of the shop and house behind which the unhappy Ball had fallen, and bore him to the house where Mr. Joel Searing now resides.
On the same day, the enemy were repulsed on their approach to Springfield by a company of artillery under Capt. Little. This corps were drawn up on the eastern border of Springfield, on the bank of the Rahway river. As soon as the British rose the hill near the stream, they opened a fire upon them with so good an effect as to bring them to a pause, having killed one horse, dis- mounted a cannon, and wounded some of the men. In consequence a council of war was held, and the march delayed until the next day.
JERSEY BLUES. The origin of this name is somewhat curious. It is said to have grown out of the following circumstance : A volunteer company was formed in this vicinity, and furnished by the patriotic females with tow frocks and pantaloons dyed blue. They must have presented a singular appearance ; but they were also singularly efficient in the day of trial.
The following inscriptions are from monuments in the grave- yard adjoining the Presbyterian church. The first is that of the mother of one of the first settlers.
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Here lyeth ye body of ANN WADE, wife of Benjamin Wade, deceased ; who departed this life July ye 31, A Domini 1737, in ye 88th year of her age.
Who knew him living must lament him dead,
Whose corpse beneath this Verdant Turf is laid.
Bonnel, in Private Life, in Public Trust,
Was Wise and Kind, was Generous and Just.
In Virtue's rigid Path unmoved he trod,
To Self Impartial, pious to his God. Religion's Patron, and a Patriot True,
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A general Good, and private blessing too,
What Bonnel was, and what his Virtues were,
The Resurrection day will best declare.
JOSEPH BONNEL, Esq., deceased March ye 14, 1747.8, in ye 63d year of his age.
In remembrance of Capt. CORNELIU'S WILLIAMS, who died July 4, 1831, aged 77 years. He served early and long in the revolution struggle ; was a brave soldier and a pleasant commander.
WESTFIELD.
Westfield was formed from Elizabeth in 1794. Its extreme length is 10 miles, with an average breadth of 5 miles. It is
Plainfield, from Randolph or Chestnut Hill.
bounded NE. by Springfield; E. by Union and Rahway ; S. by Piscataway and Woodbridge, Middlesex co .; and westerly by Warren, Somerset county, and New Providence. Much of the soil is fertile, and in a state of high cultivation. Rahway river forms a part of the eastern boundary, and Green brook the western. There are in the township 12 stores, 1 paper fac., 5 flouring-m., 4 grist-m., 1 saw-m .; cap. in manufac. $110,530; 2 academies, 70 students, 14 schools, 444 scholars. Pop. 3,150.
The large and thriving village of Plainfield is beautifully situ- ated on Green brook, in the SW. part of the township of West- field, on the line of the Elizabethtown and Somerville railroad, 20 miles from Newark, 16 SW. from Elizabethtown, 11 from New
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Brunswick, 25 from New York, and 45 from Trenton. The view from which the annexed engraving was copied, was taken from an elevation on the road to Rahway, upwards of a mile from the vil- lage. Plainfield contains 7 stores, 8 tailoring and 6 hat manufac- turing establishments, 2 wheelwrights, 5 blacksmiths, 2 grist and 3 saw-mills, a Mutual Insurance company, established in 1832; 2 fire-engines, 2 boarding-schools, viz. "The Plainfield Family School," and a Female Seminary. It has 7 houses for public worship, viz. 1 Presbyterian, 2 Baptist, 1 Seventh-day Baptist, 2 Friends, and 1 Methodist ; there are about 300 dwelling-houses. and nearly 1,500 inhabitants. "The country around the town is rich, well cultivated, and healthy ; the society moral and religious, and ambitious of improvement." The neighboring mountain, about a mile N. of the town, affords an abundant supply of cheap fuel, and screens the valley from the violence of the N. and NW. winds; and from its summit a fine prospect is presented to the S. and E. over a space of 30 miles.
The first frame-building in Plainfield was erected in 1735, at which period there were but a few scattered log huts and Indian wigwams. In 1750 the first grist-m. was built, and in 1760 the first school-house. In 1788 the first meeting-house was erected by the Friends. In 1808 the first hat manufactory was established. The first Baptist church was erected in 1818 ; the Rev. Jacob Randolph was pastor eight years, when he died. Rev. Daniel T. Hill was settled as pastor in 1828 : he remained till his resignation in 1839, when he was succeeded by Rev. Simeon J. Drake. The Presbyte- rian church was built in 1826; the Rev. Lewis Bond being its first pastor. The Methodist church was erected in 1832. The 2d Bap- tist church, an elegant building, was erected in 1843; and Rev. Daniel T. Hill chosen pastor. The Presbyterian society have laid out a beautiful cemetery near the town.
The Scotch Plains, so named from having been settled by Scotch emigrants about 1684, is a rich agricultural vicinity, in the west part of the township, where there is a Baptist church. This church (says Benedict, in his History of the Baptists) is a branch of the ancient one in Piscataway, and was constituted in 1747, with 15 members. The first pastor was the Rev. Benjamin Miller, a native of the place. He was ordained in 1748, and continued pastor till his death in 1781. He is said to have been a wild youth, but met with a sudden and surprising change, under a sermon of the cele- brated Gilbert Tennent. Rev. Wm. Vanhorn was settled in 1785, and died in 1807, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Brown. of Newark. From this church originated James Manning, D. D., the first President of Brown University.
Westfield is 7 miles W. from Elizabethtown, on the line of the Elizabethtown and Somerville railroad. It is a neat village, con- sisting of about 30 or 40 dwellings, in the vicinity of which is a Presbyterian church. The following historical items are from a discourse preached in January, 1839, by Rev. James M. Hunting, pastor of this church.
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This parish was settled about the year 1720, by the English. The most common names among the early settlers here, were, as placed in alphabetical order, Acken, Badg- ley, Baker, Bryant, Brooks, Crane, Clark, Craig, Cory. Connet, Davis, Denman, Dun- ham, Frazee, Frost, Gennings, Hendrix, Hinds, High, Hetfield, Hole, Lambert, Littell, Ludlum, Meeker, Miller, Marsh, Mills, Pierson, Robinson, Ross, Spinnage, Scudder, Tucker, Terry, Williams, Woodruff, Willcox, Yeomans.
Northeast View of Washington's Rock.
Previous to the erection of a church, the inhabitants attended public worship at Elizabethtown. The first place of public wor- ship was a log house, built about 1730, which stood where Deacon William Pierson recently resided. The congregation were called together by the beating of a large drum. Soon after, a convenient church was erected near the present site. In the revolutionary war it was much injured by the enemy, and the bell carried to New York. A minister was settled about 1730, by the name of Na- thaniel Hubbel. The Rev. John Grant came in 1750 ; the Rev. Benjamin Woodruff in 1759 ; the Rev. Thomas Picton in 1805 ; the Rev. Alexander Frazee in 1819; Rev. Edwin Holt in 1827; and the Rev. James M. Hunting in March, 1832.
At an elevation of about 400 feet, on the brow of the mountain in the rear of Plainfield, stands Washington's Rock. It is one of very large size-being about 25 feet in height, and from 30 to 40
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in circumference. The bold projection which nature has given it from the summit of the eminence, renders it a fine position for tak- ing an extensive view of the country below.
In the summer of 1777, the American army was stationed at various places on the plain below-at New Market, Middlebrook, &c. After the retreat of Sir. Wm. Howe from New Brunswick,- and upon his changing his movements, and marching from Amboy toward where Plainfield now is,-Washington retreated to the heights in face of the enemy. The advance guard of Howe's army fell in with Lord Sterling's division. A skirmish ensued, and, upon the approach of the column under Cornwallis, Sterling was obliged to retreat. Howe pursued him to Westfield, and on the next day returned to Amboy. Washington, at this time, was on the rock, inspecting the operations of the armies on the plain.
At various times he resorted to this place to ascertain the move- ments of the enemy. This circumstance has given the Rock a --- user. character to the people of the present day, which, in connec- tion with the beautiful prospect it affords, has made it a place of resort for parties of pleasure. The scene is one of uncommon beauty. The whole country, apparently, lies as level as a map at the feet of the spectator, for a circuit of 60 miles. On the left ap- pear the spires of New York city, part of the bay, Newark, Eliza- bethtown, Rahway, and New Brighton. Directly in front are Am- boy and Raritan bays. To the right New Brunswick, and heights of Princeton and Trenton ; and far to the southeast the eye stretches over the plains of Monmouth to the heights of Nevisink. Beauti- ful villages bedeck the plain ; and cultivated fields, farmhouses, and numerous groves of verdant trees, are spread around in pleas- ing profusion.
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