History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 16

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170

USA > New Jersey > Somerset County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 16
USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 16

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"Capt. Heury was now gone home, and I myself had command of the Ave companies of infantry, but, as I had not guid any attention to the military funeral ceremonies, I requested Capt. Humphries to conduct it. . . . "

If Capt. Leslie died in the evening of the day on which he received his wound, as is stated by Custis, his death must have occurred at or near Somerset Court-house,t where the general made his head- quarters on the night of the 3d of January. But, however this may have been, he was buried with mil- itary honors, as stated, at Pluckamin, where his grave may still be known by a plain monument erected to his memory by his father's friend, Dr. Rush.# After his death Gen. Washington sent his aide, Col. Fitz- gerald, with a flag of truce to the camp of Cornwallis. He was received at the British headquarters with great courtesy, and upon his relating the fact of Capt. Les- lie's death and the manner of his burial to the high officers present, they exhibited great emotion, and one of the generals, who had been compelled to withdraw to a window to hide his tears, returned by the colonel his warmest acknowledgments to the American com- mander-in-chief for his kindness, and the honors paid to the dead officer.

The cannonading on the Princeton battle-field had been heard in nearly every part of the counties of Ilunterdon and Somerset to their northern bounda- ries, ¿ and the people were in a state of the greatest excitement and suspense as to what it portended. During the latter part of the day those living along the valley of the Millstone learned the facts by the

+ One account of Capt. Leslie's death says ho was "carried to Plucku- min and died on the porch of a small inn almost immediately un reaching there." There is no reuson to doubt that this account is correct; and if No, then Custis was mistaken in saying " he died the same evening."-that is, the evening of the day of the battle. While hulting at Millstone in the night after the battle the soldiers having charge of the ambulance in which LosHe was conveyed bivonacked on a piece of woodland on, or very near, the site of the present parsonage of the Reformed Church at that pince.

The following, having reference to the last resting-place of the gallant Leslie, is taken from Dr. Messler's " History of Somerset County" (1876) : " Many years since, money was sent from Scotland to Intild a stone- wall In front, and more recently the Presbyterian church was erected oui a part of it. The following extracts will be of Interest :

"* Many persons in this country will recall with pleasure the visit to this country last year of the Hon. Roland Leslie Melville, brother of the Earl of Leven and Melville, who some time ago became a partner In London of Mr. Met'ulloch, ex-Secretary of the I'nited States Treasury. While here Mr. Melville mentioned the fact that one of his forbyes, a young British officer, had fallen in Amorien during the Revolutionary war, and that the family had never been able to learn where he was buried. There was tradition that his remains had tren departed in a certain Trinity church-yard, but that vague description gave them little clue to the spot. Only the other day an American friend of MIr. Melville, searching our early national history with quite another object, stumbled on the story of his anerator's death, and, finding that he fell at the battle of l'rinceton, Jan. 3, 1777, pursued the Inquiry, and discovered his burial- place still well preserved. .. . '"

¿ The boom of the guns at Princeton was also heard much farther nway than the remotest bounds of Hunterdon. The journal of the Mo- mavian brethren at Bethlehem, l'a., contains entries showing that fart, as follows: " On the first of January, 1797, Brother Ettwein made bis rounds through the hospital, and wished the sufferers ti's bleeding on the opening of the New Year."-" January 3d. During the forenoon we heard longcontinued cannonading. Later, it was acertained to have been at l'rinceton." The hospital referred to In the first entry was the general hospitid of the army, which had been removed lo that plare from Morristown by surg. tien. John Warren, under an order from Gon. Wash- ington, Dec. 3, 1776, when the first advance of the British into New Jer- sry made it necessary to remove it farther into the Interior.

HUNTERDON AND SOMERSET COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

passage of the patriot forces, and on the following day the glad news was spread farther and more widely, till, on the morning of the 5th, there were few of the inhabitants of either county who did not know that Washington's army had recrossed the Rar- itan and was in bivouac along the hillside at Plucka- min. "Many a horseman during the night dashed onward to this point to ascertain what it [the light of the camp-fires at Plnckamin] portended, and when the news was brought back that it was Washington the joy was almost rapturous everywhere."*

The army arrived at Pluckamin on the evening of the 4th of Januaryt in a condition of extreme wear- iness and destitution. Not only were the men worn out by loss of sleep and the excessive fatigue of the rapid night-march from Trenton to Princeton, the battle at that place, and the subsequent marching to Kingston down the valley of the Millstone, and from the Raritan to the mountains, but they were very poorly supplied with food, many of them shoeless and suffering from cold through lack of blankets and sufficient clothing. The officers as well as the private soldiers suffered from the same cause. Col. Rodney said (in the diary before quoted from), in reference to his condition during the halt at Pluckamin, " I had nothing to cover me here but my great-coat, but luck- ily got into a house near the mountains, where I fared very comfortably while we stayed here." But there were few even among the officers who fared as well as he in this respect.

During the day of January 5th the main body of the army lay quietly at Pluckamin resting and wait- ing for detached bodies to rejoin it .¿ When the com- mands had all reported, and the men had in some degree recovered from the effects of the excessive fatigue and exposure which they had been compelled to endure in the marches and battles from the Assan- pink to Pluckamin, the army moved out from its temporary camps at the latter place and marched leisurely to Morristown, where it went into winter quarters in log huts. It is said that while there the only command of which the men were in complete uniform was Col. Rodney's battalion of Delaware troops, which on that account was detailed for duty as a body-guard to the commander-in-chief .¿

" Rev. Dr. Messler.

+ Lossing (vol. i. p. 30G) says that Washington, having defeated the British at Princeton, "pursued them as far as Kingston, where he und the bridge taken up, and, turning short to the left, crossed the Millstono River twice, and arrived at Pluckamin the same evening." And again (vol. ii. p. 239) he says, " Ho destroyed the bridge at Kingston, which checked the progress of Cornwallis for some time, and having crossed the Mill- stone twice, he reached Pluckamin that evening." But this is clearly a mistake, as the account of Washington'e halt with his army near Son- erset Court-house during the night succeeding the battle is well authen- ticated.

¿ In Washington's dispatches to Congress dated at Pluckamin on that dny he says, "Our whole loss cannot be ascortnined, as many who are In pursuit of the enemy (who were chinsed three or four miles) are not yet come in."

¿ The flag-staff which was used at Washington's headquarters, Morris-

CHAPTER VI.

HUNTERDON AND SOMERSET COUNTIES IN THE REVOLUTION (Continued).

The Marvelous Change produced by the Campaign of Trenton and Princeton-Gen. Howe's "Protections"-Atrocities of the British in Somerset and Hunterdon Counties-Washington's Proclamation to the People-Skirmish at Weston, Somerset Co .- Gen. Dickinson Defeats the British and Captures a Wagon Train-Occupation of Middle- brook by the American Forces in 1777-Letter of Gen. Heard from Raritan-" Washington Rock"-Attempt to Entico Washington from his Stronghold in the Hills-The British Troops leave the State and the American Army march through Somerset and Hunterdon to the Delaware-Washington's Letters from Coryell's Ferry-Hunterdon and Somerset Troops at Battle of Brandywine-Valley Forge-Col. Frelinghuysen's Expedition to Staten Island-A Female Tory Dispatch- Carrier-The Tories Penn and Chew under Surveillance in Hunterdon County-Extracts from Minutes of the Council of Safety, Etc .- British evacuate Philadelphia and pass through New Jersey-Wash- ington's Army cross at Coryell's-Battle of Monmonth, Etc .- Somerset god Hunterdon Troops behave gallantly-Cantonments at Middle- brook-Gen. Washington and Wife at Somerville-Five Soldiers Hung -Gen. Knox's Headquarters at Pluckamin-Grand Ball and Supper- Simcoe's Raid in 1779-Burning of the Church, Conrt-house, Etc .- Capt. Peter G. Voorhees killed-The Ladies of Hunterdon and Somer- set-Close of the War-The Currency-Patriotism under War Burdens -Processes against Forfeited Estates, Etc.

FROM THE BATTLE OF PRINCETON TO THE CLOSE OF THE WAR.

THE glorious result of the campaign which com- menced on the south shore of the Delaware at Mc- Conkey's Ferry at nightfall on the evening of Christ- mas Day, 1776, and ended when the weary and shiv- ering soldiers of Washington entered their compara- tively comfortable winter quarters at Morristown, wrought a wonderful change in the aspect of affairs in New Jersey. A few weeks before, when the slender and constantly-decreasing columns of the American army were crossing the State towards the Delaware in flight before the pursuing and victorious legions of Cornwallis, a large proportion-probably a majority -- of the people of the State had become discouraged, and, despairing of a successful issue to the struggle for liberty, large numbers of them promptly availed themselves of the terms offered by the proclamation of the British commander guaranteeing pardon and protection to such rebels and disaffected persons as would come forward to abandon the patriot cause and renew their allegiance to the king.|| It is stated that

town, up to the time of erecting a liberty-pole, was removed in the sun- mer of 1880 to the residence of D. D. Crnig, at Bnsking Ridge, in Somer- sot Co., where it was ngain raised,

| " The British commissioners [Gen. William Ilowe and his brother, Admiral Lord Richard Howe] issued a proclamation commanding all persons assembled in arms against His Majesty's government to disband and return to their homes, and all civil officers to desist from their trea- sonable practices and to relinquish their usurped authority. A full par- don was offered to all who within sixty days would appear before an officer of the Crown, claim the benefit of the proclanintion, and subscribe n declaration of his submission to the royal authority. Soduced by this proclamation, not only the ordinary people shrunk from the apparent fate of the country in this its murkiest hour, but the vaporing patriots who sought office and distinction at the hands of their countrymen when danger in their service wus distant now crawled into the British lines, humbly craving the mercy of their conquerors, and whined out, as jnsti-

HUNTERDON AND SOMERSET COUNTIES IN THE REVOLUTION.

for a considerable time the daily average of persons within the State who thus signified their adhesion to the royal cause was more than two hundred. Scarcely an inhabitant of the State joined the army of Wash- ington as he was retreating towards the Delaware, but, on the contrary, great numbers of those who were already in the service from this State deserted and returned to their homes. "The two JJersey regiments which had been forwarded by Gen. Gates, under Gen. St. Clair, went off to a man the moment they entered their own State. A few officers, without a single pri- vate, were all of these regiments which St. Clair brought to the commander-in-chief."* The most earnest exertions of Governor Livingston to induce the militia to oppose the invading army were fruit- less. " Those who visited the army brought back an unfavorable report. They secretly or openly advised others to do nothing that would involve them in dis- loyalty, and thus jeopardize their possessions. Old people tell us that such was the talk with many. The Legislature, itself defenseless, had moved from Prince- ton to Burlington, t and there, on the 2d of December, they adjourned, each man going home to look after his own affairs. Until the battle of Trenton, on the 26th of that month, New Jersey might have been con- sidered a conquered province. Even Samuel Tucker [of Hunterdon ], chairman of the Committee of Safety, treasurer, and judge of the Supreme Court, took a protection of the British, and thus renounced allegi- ance to this State and vacated his offices.# Open in- surrection against the American cause had broken out in several counties, among which was that of Hunterdon, where (as before noticed ) the malcontents had proceeded to violence against the Whig inhabit- ants of that section, plundered the house of Capt. Jones, and bohlly declared their intention of joining the British army. In Monmouth County a similar, but even more desperate, state of affairs existed, to suppress which it was deemed necessary to detach a strong military force under Col. Forman. Panie, dis- affection, and cowardly submission were found every- where ; despair had seized on all but the sturdiest patriots ; and the conflict for liberty seemed well-nigh hopeless.

But a marvelous change was wrought by the favor- able result of the campaign of Trenton and Prince- ton. The Christmas victory at Trenton rekindled a bright spark of hope in the breasts of despairing pa-

triots, and the glorious event of Princeton fanned that spark into a strong and steady flame. An imme- diate result was a revival of hope and courage among the Jersey militia, causing large numbers of them to join the American army, adding materially to its ef- fective strength. "The militia are taking spirits, and, I am told, are coming in fast from this State," said Gen. Washington in his dispatches to Congress writ- ten at Pluckamin on the 5th of January, only two days after the victory of Princeton ; and the acces- sions from this source were much more numerous after that time. " The militia of New Jersey, who had hitherto behaved shamefully, ? from this time forward generally acquired high reputation, and throughout a long and tedious war conducted themselves with spirit and discipline scarce surpassed by the regular troops. In small parties they now scoured the country in every direction, -eized on stragglers, in several light skirmishes behaved exceptionally well, and collected in such numbers as to threaten the weaker British posts with the fate which those at Trenton and Prince- ton had already experienced. In a few days, indeed, the Americans had overrun the Jerseys." Among the inhabitants, those who had maintained their unswerv- ing devotion to the patriotic cause once more took heart; and even of those who, from motives of fear and self-interest, bad availed themselves of the " pro- tection" of the British, | the greater number were re- joiced at the successes of Washington. Gen. Howe's " protections"", had proved to them a delusion. Dur- ing the time in which the British held undisputed control the country in all directions had been rav- aged by their foraging-parties, composed principally of Hessians. These mercenaries were unable to read the English language ; and so, when the "loyal" inhabitants who had secured protection papers exhib- ited them to the German marauders, the latter regarded them no more than if they had been Washington's passes, but treated their holders with contempt and showed them no more consideration than was accor- ded to their Whig neighbors,-which was simply none at all.

In the depredations and atrocities committed during this period by the Hessian and British soldiery, Som-

fication, that, though they had united with others in seeking a constitu- tional redress of grievances, they approved not the measures lately adopted, and were at all times opposed to independence."-Gordon's His- tory of New Jersey, p. 223.

* Ibid.

+ The removals of the Legislature, onforced by the advance of the British army, wero: First, from Princeton to Trenton ; then front Tron- ton to Burlington ; from Harlington to Pittatown; and finally, from that place to Iludidonfield, where it was dissolved on the 20 of December, 1776. *Mott's "First Century of Hunterdon County."

Gordon (p. 223) may", "Dr. Baumsay has given to political infamy the names of Galloway and Allen, of Pennsylvania. He might have added those of Tucker and others, of Now Jersey."

¿ Seo Gonlon's "History of New Jersey," p. 233.

The whole number of those who, to the State of New Jersey, took advantage of the proclatuation of the brothers Howo is said to have been two thousand seven hundred and three.

" Following is a copy of one of these " protection" papers, given to a Somenet County man by that same Col. Mawhound who, a little more than two workn luter, was defeated by Washington at Princeton :

" I do hereby Certify that the Bearer Abraham Sedham, of Middle- bush, in the County of Somerset, came and subscribed the declaration specified in a certain l'roclamation published at New York, on the 13th day of November last, by the Right Honorable Lord Howe, and Ilis Ex- celloney General Howe. Whereby ho is entitled to the protection of all Officers and Soldiers serving in his Majestles' Army in America, both for himself, his family and property, and to pas and repass on his lawful bumnem withont molestation.

"Given under my hand Chia Isth day of December, 1776.

"C. MAWHGOD, I.t .- Col."

HUNTERDON AND SOMERSET COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

erset* and Hunterdon were among the four or five counties which suffered the most severely of any in the State. "Neither the proclamation of the commis- sioners [General and Admiral Howe] nor protections saved the people from plunder or insult. Their property was taken and destroyed without distinction of persons. They exhibited their protections, but the Hessians could not read and would not understand them, and the British soldiers deemed it foul disgrace that the Hessians should be the only plunderers. Discontents and murmurs increased every hour with the ravages of both, which were almost sanctioned by general orders, and which spared neither friend nor foe. Neither age nor sex was protected from outrage. Infants, children, old men and women, were left naked and exposed, without a blanket to cover them from the inclemency of winter. Furniture which could not be carried away was wantonly destroyed, dwellings and outhouses burned or rendered unin- habitable, churches and other public buildings con- sumed, and the rape of women, and even very young girls, filled the measure of woe. Such miseries are the usual fate of the conquered, nor were they inflicted with less reserve that the patients were rebellious sub- jects. But even the worm will turn upon the op- pressor. . . . What the earnest commendations of Congress, the zealous exertions of Governor Living- ston and the State authorities, and the ardent suppli- cations of Washington could not effect was produced by the rapine and devastations of the royal forces. The whole country became instantly hostile to the in- vaders. Sufferers of all parties rose as one man to re- venge their personal injuries. Those who, from age and infirmities, were incapable of military service kept a strict watch upon the movements of the royal army, and from time to time communicated informa- tion to their countrymen in arms. Those who lately declined all opposition, though called on by the sacred tie of honor pledged to each other in the Declaration of Independence, cheerfully embodied when they found submission to be unavailing for the security of their estates. . . . Men who could not apprehend the consequences of British taxation nor of American in- dependence could feel the injuries inflicted by inso- lent, cruel, and brutal soldiers."+

Gen. Washington was not slow to avail himself of the advantages to the American cause offered by this situation of affairs, and on the 25th of January he issued, from his headquarters in Morristown, a procla- mation requiring all persons who had accepted pro- tection from the British commissioners to repair to

the army headquarters, or the nearest headquarters of any general officer in the Continental service, and there to surrender their protection papers and swear allegiance to the United States of America; upon which terms they were to receive full pardon for past offenses, provided this was done within thirty days from the date of the proclamation. But such as should fail to conform to these requirements within the speci- fied time were commanded to forthwith withdraw themselves and families within the enemy's lines, and upon their refusal or neglect to do so they were to be regarded and treated as adherents to the King of Great Britain and enemies of the United States. The effect of this proclamation was excellent. Huu- dreds of timid inhabitants who had taken protection now flocked to the different headquarters to surrender them and take the required oath of allegiance. The most inveterate and dangerous Tories were driven within the enemy's lines, or entirely out of the State, and the army was largely increased by volunteers and by the return of many who had previously served in its ranks, but had deserted and returned to their homes during the dark days of November and De- cember, 1776.

The main body of the army lay in quiet at Morris- town for nearly five months. During this time, although no general movements were made, small bodies of militia and other troops were almost con- stantly harassing the enemy, and several minor fights occurred, one of the most important of which took place at Weston, in Somerset County, on the 20th of January. In consequence of the Americans having captured and destroyed a number of boats ascending the Raritan laden with provisions for the use of Corn- wallis' forces at New Brunswick, the British were compelled to forage the country with more than their usual energy. One of their foraging-parties, about four hundred strong,¿ had been raiding on the east side of the Millstone River, in that part of Somerset County which is now the township of Franklin, where they had seized a large number of cattle and sheep, and, learning that a considerable quantity of flour was stored in a mill at Weston, proceeded to that place, took possession of the flour, and com- menced loading it upon their wagons. But in the

# A detached force of several hundred men, under command of Gen. Is- rach Putnam, was stationed at Princeton in the latter part of January to act as a corps of observation merely, being too weak in numbers to offer serions opposition if the enemy should appear in force, In Hageman's "Ilistory of Princeton" there is related an incident illustrative of Geu. Putnam's strategy, as follows: " A British officer, Maj .- Gen. McPherson, who lay mortally wounded at Princeton, desired the presence of a mili- tary comrade in his last moments. The kind-hearted Gen. Putnam could not refuse the request, but resorted to strategy to hide his wenkness from the enemy. He sont a flag to New Brunswick in quest of the friend, who entered Princeton after dark. The general lind arranged it so that evory unoccupied honso was carefully lighted, lights gleamed in . all the collego windows, und he marchod and countermarched his scunty forces to such effect that the British seldier on his return to the camp reported it at least five thousand strong, while he had only a few hundreds."

¿ One account places its strength at six hundred men.

* "Somerset County lay at the mercy of the enemy, whose foraging- parties went out from New Brunswick, where Hewe hul quartered his troops, across the Millstone as far as Neshanic and the South Branch, gathering everything they could lay their hands on, nud multreating the inhabitants most cruelly whonever uny resistance was offered. It beemed as if the idea that they were or might be robels formed a suffi- clent excuse in the minds of the soldiers for uny outrage that their pus- sions prompted them to commit."-Messler's History of Somerset County. + Gordon, pp. 232, 233.

HUNTERDON AND SOMERSET COUNTIES IN THE REVOLUTION.

mean time intelligence of the movement was carried to Gen. Philemon Dickinson, who with a small force was stationed to hold a small earthwork at Somerset Court-house (Millstone village), a short distance from the mill, but on the opposite side of Millstone River. Upon learning the facts, Gen. Dickinson, being de- termined to attack the party, moved out with a force of two companies of Continentals, fifty Pennsylvania riflemen, and a small body of New Jersey militia,- in all, about four hundred and fifty men,-and, pro- verding to the bridge at Weston, attempted to cross it, but failed, as the enemy held the opposite end, with three pieces of artillery trained upon it. The Americans then sought a fording-place below, and, plunging into the river where the water was waist- deep and filled with floating ice, crossed the stream and attacked the British with such vigor and deter- mination that they fled precipitately towards New Brunswick, leaving forty-three wagons, one hundred and four horses, one hundred and eighteen cattle, seventy sheep, and twelve prisoners in the hands of Gen. Dickinson, whose loss of men in the fight was five. The total loss of the enemy was about thirty men. Gen. Washington, in his mention of this atfair, highly commended the energy and skill of Gen. Dick- inson, and the gallantry evinced by the force under his command, more than half of which was composed of raw militia.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 16

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170