USA > New Jersey > Union County > Elizabeth > History of Elizabeth, New Jersey : including the early history of Union County > Part 41
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Thus, after seven months' occupation, and a vast expendi- ture of resources, after a vain attempt to penetrate to Phila- delphia, and to bring the war to a speedy end, the great army of invasion, having been for nearly six months restricted to the line of the Raritan River, was compelled wholly to evac- uate the State, to the disgrace and chagrin of their leaders, and the bitter disappointment of the whole tory faction.
* Gaines' Mercury, Nos. 1324, 1338.
t Sparks' Washington, IV. 470-6. Pa. Ledger, No. 102, N. Y. Gazette, No. 2. Remem- brancer, V. 260, 1. Moore's Diary, I. 449-52. Graham's Life of Morgan, pp. 125-8. Hall's Civil War in America, p. 292. Irving's Washington, III. 126.
461
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
CHAPTER XXI.
A. D. 1777-1780.
Forays from S. Island - N. J. Volunteers - Sullivan invades S. Island - British Incursion - Dickinson invades S. Island - Exchange of Prisoners - Confis- cation -London Trading -Great Privations -Spies - Forays - Battle of Monmouth - Maxwell in command here - Sale of Confiscated Estates - Ex- pedition of Sir Chas. Grey - Lord Stirling stationed here -Flags of Truce - Washington at E. T. - Plots against Gov. Livingston -Invasion of the Town - Burning of the Barracks, Parsonage and Academy - Livingston's Correspondence with Sir Henry Clinton - Continental currency - Trouble in the Camp-Case of Mrs. Chandler - Troops "pacified -Forays of S. Islanders - Negro Panic- Col. Dayton in command here -Severe Winter - Great Snow Storm -Sufferings of Troops -N. Y. Harbor closed with solid Ice- Lord Stirling invades S. Island - Refugees invade E. T. and burn the Court House and Presb. Chh. - The Incendiary - Old "Red Store House " - Gen. St. Clair, and then Baron De Kalb in command here -Forays from S. Island.
THE first Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence found the old Borough freed from the harassing fears, which, for months, had deprived its people of peace. The enemy, so long encamped in force on its southern border, had now wholly departed. They were in force still on Staten Island ; but the broad waters of " the Sound " were an effectual bar- rier against any surprise or sudden invasion. It became ne- cessary, however, to be constantly on the watch, and to keep up a competent force, to patrol and guard every accessible point along the shore. A letter written from the New Blaz- ing Star on Staten Island, to a tory friend in New York, July 20, 1777, says,-
On the Night of the 19th Instant, two of the Rebel Light Horse de- serted from Elizabeth Town. They belonged to Dr. Barnet's Company, and inform, that there is two Battalions, consisting of two hundred
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THE HISTORY OF
Men each, under the command of Matthias Ogden and Elias Dayton, stationed at Newark and Elizabeth Town ; that the Men are very badly cloathed, and almost all barefoot .*
The necessity of vigilance appears from such notices as the following, written Aug. 18, 1777 :
Last Thursday Evening [14th] a Party of the New Jersey Volunteers, went over to Crane's Ferry, near Elizabeth Town Point, and brought off three of the Militia without firing a Gun.t
These "New Jersey Volunteers " were stationed on Staten Island. They were composed of Loyalists from this State, who had adhered from the first to the British, or had availed themselves of Howe's Proclamation of Nov. 30, and taken "protection papers." They were under the command of Gen. Cortlandt Skinner, who succeeded Robert Ogden as Speaker of the Legislature in 1765.
A detachment of this corps, 63 in number, under the com- mand of Major Richard V. Stockton, "the famous land pilot," of Princeton, and son-in-law of Joseph Hatfield of this town, was captured at Lawrence's Island, Feb. 18, 1777. The refugees from this town connected themselves mostly with this corps, and became, in the progress of the war, a source of great annoyance to their patriotic kinsmen and former neighbors .¿
Measures were devised by Col. Matthias Ogden, the officer in command at Elizabeth Town, in conjunction with General Sullivan, who had been left by Washington in command of a continental force beyond the Short Hills, to punish these renegade disturbers of the peace. Col. Dayton's regiment from Newark was called in, to take part in the enterprise, with a hundred militia of the town. Sullivan selected, from Smallwood's and De Borre's brigades, a thousand men, and marched, at two o'clock P. M., on Thursday, the 21st of August, from Hanover, 14 miles to Elizabeth Town, arriving in the evening, when they halted a short time for rest. At 10 o'clock P. M., they moved down to Halstead's Point, near
* Gaines' Mercury, No. 1344. + Ibid., No. 1347.
# Pa. Journal, No. 1778. Sparks' Washington, IV. 326. Sabine's Loyalists, pp. 615, 634.
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ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
the mouth of Morse's Creek, where they crossed over to the Island. Dayton and Ogden, with their commands, and Col. Field, with the militia, crossed at the Old Blazing Star. The New Jersey Volunteers were posted in small detachments, along the shore of the Island, from Decker's Ferry to the point opposite Amboy, about fifteen miles. Ogden and Dayton fully and successfully carried out their part of the programme. Lt. Cols. Lawrence and Barton were captured, with 130 privates ; also a British shallop, in which the pri- soners were sent over to this side. But Sullivan's command, having been deceived by their guide, lost heavily, in conse- quence of the rear detachments being disappointed in ob- taining boats to return by the Old Star Ferry. These losses more than compensated the advantages obtained by Cols. Ogden and Dayton .*
Immediately after, Sullivan, with the troops under his con- mand, was ordered to join the main army at Wilmington, Del. A small force only was left, in this quarter, to guard the long line of coast, exposed to the depredations of the enemy.
An invasion of the State, by Clinton, at E. Town Point, and other places, Sep. 12th, showed the necessity of keeping here a larger body of troops, to be ready for such emergen- cies. Gen. Dickinson writes to Washington, from this town, Sept. 20th,-
Your Excellency will be much surprised to hear that there are not more than one thousand of our militia now embodied, all of which are at this post. I shall order all the guards called in before day, and march with the utmost expedition, the routes directed. I have ordered General Wines to collect and march his brigade to this post with all despatch.t
Four days after, on Thursday, Sep. 24th, a reinforcement of about three thousand British and foreign troops, from Europe, arrived at New York. Dickinson was then on his way to join Washington, in the vicinity of Philadelphia ;
* Pa. Journal, No. 1806. Remembrancer, V. 453-5. Sparks' Washington, V. 47. Gordon's Rev. War, 220-2, 8. Moore's Diary, I. 432-6. Marshall's Washington, III. 135-7. Gordon's N. J., pp. 246-7. Irving's Washington, III. 195.
t Rivington's Gazette, No. 155. Remembrancer, V. 420. Hall's Civil War in America p. 325. Gordon's Rev. War, 1I. 236. Gordon's N. J., p. 252. Sparks' Washington, V. 64. Sparks' Correspondence of the Revolution, I. 434.
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THE HISTORY OF
but this event compelled him to retrace his steps, with a part of his troops, sending on the remainder, 600, in command of Gen. Forman, and once more take post at this town. Writ- ing to Washington, from this place, Nov. 1st, he informs him that there are not more than one hundred militia from West Jersey at this post, that the reports of his intended march to Red Bank on the Delaware had lessened the number of his troops, and that Gen. Winds, who had gone on an expedition to New Windsor, on the North River, had not yet returned. He suggests an expedition against Staten Island, and says,- " I have boats now ready to transport five hundred men at a time, and could increase my present numbers (about six hundred men) to twelve hundred men upon such an oc- casion.""' *
The Americans, at this time, were in high spirits. Tidings had come, nine or ten days before, of Gates' victory, Oct. 7th, at Stillwater, near Saratoga, and of the surrender of Burgoyne's army, Oct. 17th. The news created a great and joyful excitement in this town; salutes were fired, bonfires kindled, and, as Rivington's lying Chronicle reports, "rum was given to the rabble." +
Gaines says, Nov. 24, 1777,-
We hear that orders have been sent to a Place called Westfield, a few miles from Elizabeth Town, in New Jersey, for the Inhabitants of that Place to prepare Quarters for a large Body of Men, and to cut down five hundred Cords of Fire Wood. ... On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last (18-21) Parties of Rebels landed on Staten Island from Eliza- beth Town, but were as often beaten off." }
These "Parties " were, probably, employed in this way to keep the enemy from learning the object of the encampment at Westfield. Dickinson, having obtained the consent of Washington, was preparing for an invasion of Staten Island. Volunteers were called in, and a force gathered, (with those on duty at this post), of fourteen hundred men. He designed, if possible, to surprise Skinner's corps of Provincials, sta- tioned along the Western shore of the Island, and capture
* Gordon's Rev. War, II. 252. Gordon's N. J., pp. 250, 2. Sparks' Correspondence of the Rev., II. 22, 3. t Riv. Gazette, No. 140. # Gaines' Mercury, No. 1361.
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY. 465
them. For this purpose, early in the morning of Thursday, Nov. 27th, he embarked at Halstead's Point, effected a land- ing in three divisions, on the opposite shore, and marched seven miles to a rendezvous, hoping to get in the rear of the Provincials, and cut them off. The utmost secrecy had been observed, his own officers not having been apprised of the object until eight o'clock of the evening before. Skinner, however, got word of it, at three o'clock in the morning, and made good his retreat. On arriving at the rendezvous, the Americans found Gen. Campbell in force with artillery, and two war vessels to cover the fortifications. Disappointed in his plans, Dickinson returned in good order, five or six of the tory brigade having been slain, and 24 taken prisoners. The troops were eight hours on the Island. In the skirmish, they lost three men taken prisoners, and fourteen were slightly wounded. With this exception, they got back, " without the loss of man, horse, or boat." *
A few days before this occurrence, (20th), Abraham Clark and Elias Boudinot were elected to Congress. Mr. Boudinot had served, since his appointment by Congress, June 6th, 1777, as Commissary General of Prisoners. This town thus became, during the greater part of the war, the head-quar- ters for negotiations respecting the exchange of prisoners ; and hither large numbers, officers and men, from both sides, were sent, for this purpose. Mr. Boudinot, however, con- tinued in service until his successor, Major John Beatty, was appointed, May 28th, 1778, and did not take his seat in Con- gress until July 7th, 1778. 1
Through the instigation and artifices principally of the refugees, some of their old neighbors and associates, who still retained their residence and property in the town, were indneed to carry on an illicit trade with Staten island, of which Gov. Livingston, who had been reelected, Nov. 1st, writing to Washington, Nov. 21, 1777, uses this forcible and indignant language :-
* Sparks' Correspondence of the Rev., II. 49-51. Sparks' Washington, V. 174, IS3. Riv- ington's Gazette, No. 145. Gordon's N. . T., p. 255.
t Gordon's N. J., p. 821. Mulford's N. J., p. 411.
30
466
THE HISTORY OF
This evil instead of being checked, has grown to so enormous a height, that the enemy, as I am informed, is plentifully supplied with fresh pro- visions, and such a quantity of British manufactures brought back in exchange, as to enable the persons concerned to set up shops to retail them. The people are outrageous, and many of our officers threaten to resign their commissions .*
This traffic was called "London trading," and all who engaged in it were regarded as enemies of their country, and, when discovered, subjected to severe penalties. It was carried on mostly by night ; and so secretly, as almost always to evade detection. The possession of British gold was looked upon as prima facie evidence of complicity in the contraband business.
The extent to which private property in the town, espe- cially in the absence of the owners, had suffered by military occupation, appears from what one of Gov. Livingston's daughters wrote, Nov. 29, 1777 :-
Kate has been at Eliz .- Town; found our house in a most ruinous situa- tion. Gen. Dickinson had stationed a captain with his artillery company in it, and after that it was kept for a bullock's guard. Kate waited on the General, and he ordered the troops removed the next day, but then the mischief was done; every thing is carried off that mamma had collected for her accommodation, so that it is impossible for her to go down to have the grapes and other things secured ; the very hinges, locks, and panes of glass, are taken away.t
The year 1778, was unusually barren of incident, so far as the history of this town is concerned. The people were permitted to dwell at home, undisturbed by the visits of the hated and dreaded foe. The military occupation was con- tinued throughout the year, and the utmost vigilance was required in guarding against invasion from Staten Island. During a portion of the winter, one half of the male adults were required to be always on duty, and ready, at a moment's warning, to take the field.}
It was reported in New York, June 3, 1778, that " great numbers of flat-bottomed boats" were then building and old ones repairing at Bound Brook, Elizabeth-Town, and Newark,
* Sedgwick's Livingston, pp. 245, 6. t Ibid., p. 246.
# Rivington's Gazette, No. 154.
467
ELIZABETHI, NEW JERSEY.
in New Jersey. A few days after, Gaines published the following :-
The Rebels made an attempt on the Piquet Guard on Staten Island last Tuesday night, [June 9th], but were beat off, the Particulars of which are as follows, viz .--
About one o'clock the Rebels began a heavy Cannonade, from their Works at Elizabeth Town Fort, and soon after attempted to land, in a Number of Flat Boats, upon Staten Island, between the Blazing Star and Burnt Island ; but finding the Provincial Troops stationed at that Place, were alarmed, and prepared to give them a proper Reception, they re- turned to the Jersey shore, and remained quiet till about four o'clock the same Morning, when they again made their Appearance in ten Boats, each supposed to contain one hundred Men, and attempted to land at the same Place, under cover of the Fire from their Batteries and a continued Discharge of Small Arms from the Boats; but they were so vigorously opposed by General Skinner's Brigade, that they were obliged to make a final and disgraceful Retreat .*
The New Jersey Gazette gives an entirely different version of the affair, in reply to Gaines' article. The ten boats with a hundred men in cach dwindle down to three boats withi about fifty men ; but one landing was made, or attempted ; they marched half a mile into the interior, when they were discovered ; on which they fired and the Provincials ran away. The party then returned to their boats, and when they had nearly reached this side, were fired upon. So con- flicting were the statements in respect to these incursions, it is often perplexing to arrive at the exact truth.+
Occasional encounters with the enemy were occurring, of which the following, as related by a tory paper of the 29th, is a specimen :-
Last Wednesday Night [24th] Captain Randle, from Elizabeth Town, came over to Staten Island with a Party of about fourteen Men and fired upon some of the Militia that were on Guard, wounded Mr. Richard Con- nor in the Arm, and one Ashar Tappen in the Leg, but neither danger- ously. The Militia pursued the Party, but they got into their Boat in a great Hurry and made for the Jersey shore with all expedition .;
The next Sunday, 2Sth, the battle of Monmouth was fought,
* Rivington's Gazette, No. 175.
Gaines' Mercury, No. 1390.
+ N. Jersey Gazette, No. 30.
# Gaines' Mercury, No. 1332.
468
THE HISTORY OF
in which the Jersey brigade under Maxwell, and the militia under Dickinson, did signal service, having previously been detached to annoy the rear and flanks of the British on their route through New Jersey. In this action, Lieut .- Col. Bar- ber, (who had received the appointment, in April, of brigade Inspector, and, on the 24th of March, had been married "to Miss Nancy Ogden, of Elizabeth Town, a Lady of beauty and merit "), was wounded by a musket ball, which passed through the right of his body, but, happily, not mortally. The British, after their defeat, made good their escape by Sandy Hook, on the 5th of July, whence they were dis- tributed in three divisions, one on Staten Island, one on Long Island, and the other in New York.
The presence of so large a force, on Staten Island, com- pelled Washington, in the arrangement of his forces, to order the Jersey Brigade under Gen. Maxwell, " to take post in the neighborhood of Elizabeth Town," to guard against invasion and foraging .*
Again this post became headquarters for flag-boats and exchanges. A large number of prisoners had been captured from the British on their route through the State. "Thurs- day last," 16th, says Rivington, " upwards of seven hundred Rebel prisoners were sent from here [N. York] to Elizabeth Town to be exchanged for an equal number of British and Hessians." A corresponding notice appears, on the 15th, in the N. J. Gazette; also, on the 21st of August, 20th of October, and 8th of November. Col. Ethan Allen was sent here in May previously for the same purpose.+
A corporal and a private, who had ventured over to Staten Island from this post, were captured, July 21st; and, by way of reprisal, a party from this town went over to the Island on the night of the 5th of August, and carried off Mr. Bunnell, Barrack Master, who was released on parole four days after- wards .¿
Measures, long contemplated, but for prudential reasons
* N. J. Gazette, Nos. 19, 31. Irving's Washington, III. 425-437. Sparks' Washington V. 422 -- 9.
t Riv. Gazette, No. 188. N. J. Gazette, Nos. 88, 46, 49. .
# Riv. Gazette, No. 190. Gaines' Mercury, No. 1412.
469
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
deferred, were now taken, looking to the confiscation of the property of those who had deserted their country and espoused the cause of the Royalists. Several had gone over during the spring and summer of 1778. The following advertise- ment was not made public until Nov. 14th, on which day it was dated at Elizabeth Town :-
At an inferior court of Common Pleas held for the county of Essex, on the 15th day of September last, were returned inquisitions for joining the army of the King of Great Britain, and other treasonable practices, found against Cavilear Jewit, Ichabod Best Barnet, William Luce, John Smith Hetfield, Job Hetfield, Abel Hetfield, Broughton Reynolds, Richard Miller, John Willis, Jacob Tooker, James Hetfield, James Frazee, Samuel Oliver, James Moore, Jonathan Oliver, Samuel Smith, John Stites, jun., Daniel Moore, John Morse, Isaac Stanbury, Thomas Burrows and John Folker.
At a later date, Feb. 17, 1779, final judgment was entered against all of these persons, except Job and Abel Hetfield, Jacob Tooker, and John Stites, jun., and their estates sold at auction .*
Gaines says, October 5th,-
We learn that the Militia of New Jersey was collecting fast, there being in and about Elizabeth Town and Woodbridge, not less than two thousand Men under the command of General Maxwell.
Last Friday [2d] a large Body of Militia and some Continental Troops marched from Woodbridge, Elizabeth Town, &c., under the command of the Generals Maxwell and Heard for Hackinsack.t
These movements were occasioned by a feint of the enemy, and an invasion of Bergen Co. Lord Stirling, at Aquacka- nonk, on the 13th, sends word to Col. Elias Dayton, that " the moving off of the British troops enables him to order Col. . Dayton, with his two regiments, to march to Elizabeth Town the next morning." Two days afterwards, on the 15th, Lord Stirling himself repaired to this town, and made it his head- quarters, for the remainder of the year .;
The following order was issued, Oct. 28, 1778 :-
No Flag from the enemy shall be received at any post or place within
* N. J. Gazette, Nos. 50, 64.
+ Sparks' Washington, VI. 75. Gaines' Mercury, No. 1407.
# Anal. Index of N. J. Doc., p. 456. Duer's Stirling, p. 204. Ilist. Mag., II. 321-4.
.
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THE HISTORY OF
this State, except at Elizabeth Town Point, without a special permission for that purpose from the Governor, or Commanding Officer of the troops of the United States in New Jersey .*
On this subject, Washington says, Jan. 11, 1779,-
It was absolutely necessary, that the open and free intercourse with New York, which I found prevailing on my arrival at Elizabeth Town, the 1st of December, should be restrained ; and I gave positive orders to General Maxwell to suffer no person to pass, unless permission should be previously obtained from the governors of the respective States, or my- self; and I requested Governors Livingston and Reed to fix on the first day of every month for this purpose, to which they readily acceded.t
In his reply to this request of Washington, Livingston says, Dec. 21st.,-
Of all those who have applied to me for recommendations to the com- manding officer at Elizabeth Town, to go to Staten Island or New York, not above one in twenty appeared entitled to that indulgence; and many of them were as venomous Tories as any in this country. It is either from a vain curiosity (extremely predominant in women,) cloaked with the pretence of securing their debts or effects, in which they seldom if ever succeed ; or for the sake of buying tea and trinkets (for which they would as soon forfeit a second Paradise, as Eve did the first, for the forbidden fruit), that they are perpetually prompted to those idle rambles. .. . The men are still more seriously mischievous, and go with commercial motives, and to secure capital quantities of British merchandize.}
Livingston had again been chosen, Oct. 27th, Governor of the State, greatly to the annoyance of the loyalists, who re- garded him as an incorrigible rebel. James Humphreys, Jr., writing from New York, Nov. 23, 1778, to Galloway in London, says,-
Livingston is reappointed Governor of New Jersey and more wantonly pursuing his career of barbarity and wickedness than ever.§
Isaac Ogden, a refugee from Newark, writing also to Gal- loway, from New York, the day before, (22d), says-
Livingston is reelected Governor, an attempt was intended to be made, to supersede him, but the dissenting Parsons, getting knowledge of it, exerted themselves in such a manner, that his opponents were deterr'd
* N. J. Gazette, No. 47. + Sparks' Washington, VI. 155-174.
# Sparks' Correspondence, II. 243.
§ Hist. Magazine, V. 272.
*
471
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY .
from making the Experiment. You know the Man, & will with Me pitty the poor People, that fall under his displeasure.
Most cordially was the Governor hated by every tory in the State, and with still greater cordiality, if possible, was he loved and trusted by every friend of the country. His well-known connection with the Presbyterian Church of this town accounts for the story about " the dissenting Parsons." In the same letter, Ogden speaks of this town and its vicinity as " a Rebellious country : " a good testimony this to the patriotism of the town. . In closing the letter, he introduces some family allusions :-
Remember me to Doctor's Chandler and Cooper. Tell Doct. Chandler that Mrs. Chandler & his Daughter Polly with Miss Ricketts, are now in York with a Flag for a few days. His son Bille I saw last week, at Staten Island, who has recovered from his Illness, he intends sailing for England in a short time in the Amazon .*
In arranging the winter quarters of the army, Gen. Washington made choice of Middlebrook [Bound Brook] Somerset Co., N. J., for his own headquarters with seven brigades, detailing the Jersey Brigade to occupy Elizabeth Town, as the advanced post of the army. This brought him, on the 1st of December, to this town, where he remained until the morning of the 5th. In honor of his visit, a festive entertainment was given him, on the fourth.+
A practical illustration of the fear and hatred entertained, by the British, and especially the tories, towards Gov. Livingston, was given near the close of this winter. A plan was devised, by the authorities at New York, to surprise and capture both Gov. Livingston, and Maxwell's brigade, at this post. "The 33d and 42d Regiments, with the light company of the Guards, under the command of Lient. Col. Stirling,"
* Ilist. Magazine, V. 335, S. " Ilis son Bille," Wm. Chandler of Elizabeth Town, N. J., presented, Feb. 11, 1779, a petition to Lord George Germain, representing, "that on account of his loyalty and being son of the Rev. Dr. Chandler, he was obliged to fly in Jan , 1776- that he returned in Dec., following, but on the Royal army evacuating Elizabeth Town in Jan., 1777, ho was again obliged to fly-that Brig. Gen. Skinner granted him a warrant to be captain in the New Jersey Volunteers in the April following, that he has not received any pay for two years, and prays his Lordship's recommendation to Sir Henry Clinton for a cap- tain's commission in the New Jersey Brigade." Anal. Index., p. 458.
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