History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 34

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148

USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth county, New Jersey > Part 34

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

wounded private soldiers of Clinton's army, Father, I was exceedingly chagrined that pub- who had been left there in the retreat of the lick business prevented my writing to you from the field of battle when the General sent his dis- patches to Congress." This is a strong indica- tion that Washington's dispatches of the 30th of June were written on, and sent from, the field. There was no reason why Washington should, but every reason why he should not, consume any part of the few hours that elapsed before the time of the army's marching for Englishtown, in moving his headquarters in exactly the opposite direction. Every hour of the forenoon of the 29th must have been neces- sary for him to perfect his plans and issue his orders for the marching of the army in the afternoon ; and it seems very unlikely that, under those circumstances, he would move his headquarters from the field to the court-house, and then move back over the same ground in the afternoon,-thus making five miles of extra travel in the excessive heat of that time. There is no reason to believe otherwise than that his headquarters of the 29th were at a point on or very near the battle-field,-whence he issued the following general order of the day :

previous night, because of a laek of transporta- tion to take them along with the column.1 Many of the American wounded were placed in the old building, and the Episcopal Church, in the village, and the old Tennent Church, near the battle-ground, were also filled with them, and they remained after the departure of the army, while such of the sick and slightly wounded as could bear removal were sent to the hospitals at Princeton. It has often been said that Washington had his headquarters in the court-house after the battle ; but this is evidently a mistake, as the building was filled to its full capacity by the wounded. It is not shown that the commander-in-chief came to the court-house at all, and it is very unlikely that he did so, as the army moved to English- town in the afternoon of the 29th. The fact that his orders of the 29th were dated " Free- hold" has by some been regarded as proof that he was located at the village, when, in fact, its signification is just the reverse. All his orders . and dispatches from the battle-field were simi- larly dated ; while, had he occupied the village, they doubtless would have been dated " Mon- mouth Court-House," by which name the little cluster of a dozen houses was then known, The name " Freehold," as used by Washington, applied to the township, just as " Hopewell," at the head of other orders and dispatches of his. applied to the township of that name. General Knox, who, as chief of artillery, was a member of Washington's staff, wrote his wife on the 29th, dating the letter " near Monmouth Court- House," which (even if there were no other evidence to that effect) goes to show that the village was then generally known by that name. Colonel John Laurens wrote a letter to his father, dated " Headquarters, Englishtown, 30th June, 1778," in which he said : "My Dear

I The following entry is found in the before-mentioned diary of Andrew Bell, Sir Henry Clinton's private secre- lary :

" Sunday, June 28th .- . . . About fifty of our wounded were obliged to be left at Freehold for want of wagons, and all the Rebels wounded giving their paroles as prisoners."

" HEADQUARTERS, FREEHOLD, " MONMOUTH COUNTY, " June 29th, 1778. " Parole-Monckton; C.Signs-Bonner, Dickinson. "The commander-in-chief congratulates the Army on the victory obtained over the arms of His Brit- annie Majesty, and thanks most sincerely the gallant officers and men who distinguished themselves upon this occasion, and such others as, by their good order and coolness, gave the happiest presage of what might have been expected had they come to action.

"General Dickinson and the militia of this State are also thanked for their nobleness in opposing the enemy on their march from Philadelphia, and for the aid which they have given in embarrassing and im- peding their motions so as to allow the Continental troops to come up with them.

" A Party, consisting of two hundred men, to parade immediately to bury the slain of both armies : General Woodford's brigade is to cover this Party. The officers of the American Army are to be buried with military honours, due to men who have nobly fought and died in the canse of Liberty and their country.

" Doctor Cochran will direct what is to be done with the wounded and sick. He is to apply to the Quartermaster and Adjutant-General for necessary assistance. The several detachments (except those

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under Colonel Morgan) are to join their respective Brigades immediately, and the lines are to be formed agreeable to the order of the 22d instant. The army is to march from the left; the second line in front, the cavalry in the rear; the march to begin at five o'clock this afternoon.

"A Sergeant, Corporal and twelve men from General Maxwell's brigade to parade immediately to guard the sick to Princetown Hospitals. Doetor Conik will give directions to the guards. Colonel Martin is appointed to superintend collecting the sick and wounded on the army route between Coryell's and Mon- mouth, and send them to Princetown Hospitals. He will call immediately at the Order office for further orders.

"It is with peculiar pleasure, in addition to the above, that the commander-in-chief can inform General Knox and the officers of the Artillery that the Enemy have done them the justice to acknow]- edge that no Artillery could have been better served than ours."

On the night of the 29th, and through the day of the 30th, the headquarters were at Englishtown, where, at seven o'clock P.M., thanksgiving services were held for the vie- tory of Monmouth, on which occasion it was ordered : "The men to wash themselves this afternoon (30th), and appear as clean and decent as possible." At this place also it was ordered that at evening parade the sokliers' packs should be searched for artieles which (according to complaints made at headquarters) had been stolen from places where the owners had con- cealed them to save them from the British army. If any such articles were found in the paeks, the offenders were to be "brought to condign punishment."1 It was also ordered that the whole army, except Maxwell's brigade, should move on the following morning at two o'clock,-everything to be made ready the night before : General Maxwell to apply at head- quarters for special orders for the movement of his brigade.

1 And the soldiers were notified in the order that "the detestable crime of marauding will henceforward be pun- ished with instant death."

following day, for the trial of Major-General Charles Lee.

The battle of Monmouth was one of the most severely contested of the conflicts of the Revolution, and its result has always been re- garded as a victory for the American arms. That it was so considered by Washington is shown by the general order in which he " con- gratulates the army on their victory obtained over His Britannie Majesty." This view is sustained by the fact that the British stole away in the darkness, leaving Washington master of the field. Lossing remarks2 that the result might have been a complete rout of the British, and not improbably a surrender of their whole force, if Washington had brought into the battle the corps of riflemen under the redoubtable Morgan. " For hours the latter was at Rich- mond's [Shumar's] mills, three miles below Monmouth Court-House, awaiting orders, in an agony of desire to engage in the battle, for he was within sound of its fearful tumult. To and fro he strode, uncertain what course to pur- sue, and, like a hound in the leash, panting to be away to action. Why he was not allowed to participate in the conflict we have no means of determining. It appears probable that had he fallen upon the British rear with his fresh troops, at the close of the day, Sir Henry Clin- ton and his army might have shared the fate of the British at Saratoga."

The American army under Washington at Monmouth consisted of sixteen weak brigades of infantry, which, together with the artillery and cavalry forces at his disposal, amounted to about thirteen thousand men,-a numerical strength somewhat greater than that of the British army, which was further weakened by desertions in its passage through New Jersey. " It is stated," says De Peyster, " that Clinton lost from one thousand to two thousand men by desertion between Philadelphia and Sandy

July 1st, from the general headquarters at Spottswood, the order was issued for the army to march at one o'clock next morning,-the 'Hook. Of these, six hundred returned to wives, " general " to beat at half-past twelve. Also at "sweethearts and other connections with whom same time the order was issued for a general alliances had been formed during the winter of court-martial to sit at New Brunswick on the , 1778-79 in the City of Brotherly-and in this

ease, Sisterly-Love." And many of the de-

2 Field Book of the Revolution, vol. ii. p. 364.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

serters remained in New Jersey, where some of while her husband was managing one of the their descendants are still living. field-pieces, she constantly brought him water

known names of Monmouth County officers (including also some of private soldiers) who served in the army of Washington at the battle of Monmouth, the following were mentioned in a discourse by the Rev. Mr. Cobb, pastor of the Tennent Church : Anderson, Applegate, Baird, Bennett, Bowne, Buckalew, Carr, Covenhoven, Cowart, Craig, Denise, Dey, Disbrow, Emley, English, Fisher, David, Jonathan, Samuel and William Forman, Garrison, Gordon, Hankinson, Herbert, Haviland, Hendrickson, Imlay, Jobes, Johnstone, Walter and William Kerr, Joseph Knox, Robert and William Laird, Lloyd, Long- street, Magee, Morris, Mount, Newell, Ogborn, Parker, Perrine, Polhemus, Quackenbush, Ray, Reed, Rhea, Rue, Schenck, Scudder, Smock, Stillwell, Story. Sutphin, Taylor, Thompson, Throckmorton, Underwood, Vancleaf, Van Mater, Van Pelt, Voorhes, Wilson, Wood. Woolley, Wyckoff. These names, he said, are still remembered in the county with filial pride. There were also a considerable number of In- dians serving (principally with Morgan's rifle corps) with the forces of Washington, and " more than seven hundred black Americans fought side by side with the white."

As among the most prominent and well- from a spring near by. A shot from the enemy killed him at his post, and the officer in com- mand, having no one competent to fill his place, ordered the piece to be withdrawn. Molly saw her husband fall as she came from the spring, and also heard the order. She dropped her bucket, seized the rammer, and vowed that she would fill the place of her husband at the gun, and avenge his death. She performed the duty with a skill and courage which attracted the at- tention of all who saw her. On the following morning, covered with dirt and blood, General Greene presented her to General Washington, who, admiring her bravery, conferred upon her the position of sergeant. By his recommenda- tion, her name was placed upon the list of half- pay officers for life. She left the army soon after the battle of Monmouth, and died near Fort Montgomery, among the Hudson High- lands. She usually went by the name of ' Cap- tain Molly.' The venerable widow of General Hamilton, who died in 1854, told me she had often seen Captain Molly. She described her as a stout, red-haired. freckled-faced young Irish woman, with a handsome, piercing eye. The French officers. charmed by the story of her bravery, made her many presents. She would sometimes pass along the French lines with her cocked hat, and get it almost filled with crowns."

The story of the battle of Monmouth could never be regarded as anything like complete if omitting a mention of the brave woman to whom the Continental soldiers gave the sobri- quet of " Molly Pitcher," from the name of the vessel in which she carried water from spring or rivulet to quench the thirst of her husband

The same writer visited the region in the Highlands where he says the heroine ended her days, and there found some ohl residents who " remembered the famous Irish woman (an artilleryman) and his comrades on the field. . called Captain Molly, the wife of a cannonier For more than a century the name of " Molly who worked a field-piece at the battle of Mon- mouth, on the death of her husband. She generally dressed in the petticoats of her sex, Pitcher, the Heroine of Monmouth " has been almost as familiar as the name of the battle-fiekl on which she did the deeds that have been told with an artilleryman's coat over. She was in and retold in history, and the memory of which Fort Clinton with her husband when it was has now been perpetuated on the bronzes of the 'attacked in 1777. When the Americans re- battle monument at Freehold.

" She was," says Lossing, "a sturdy young camp-follower, only twenty-two years of age, ; fled. Molly caught it up, touched off the picce and in devotion to her husband, who was a can- nonier, she illustrated the character of her coun- trywomen of the Emerald Isle. In the action,

treated from the fort, as the enemy scaled the ramparts, her husband dropped his match and and then scampered off. It was the last gun the Americans fired in the fort. Mrs. Rose remembered her as 'Dirty Kate.' living be-

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tween Fort Montgomery and Buttermilk Falls at the close of the war, where she died a hor- rible death from syphilitie disease. Washington had honored her with a lieutenant's commission for her bravery on the field of Monmouth. nearly nine months after the battle, when reviewing its events."

starting under the recollection of the severe language used towards him by Washington on the day of the battle, had written to the com- mander-in-chief two very disrespectful letters (dated June 29th and 30th), for which offense, as also on two other charges,-viz., " Disobedi- ence of orders in not attacking the enemy on the But another account of Molly Pitcher-re- cently written at Carlisle, P'a .- differs very ma- terially from that given by Lossing, in reference to the later years and death of Captain Molly. It is as follows : 28th of June, agrecably to repeated instruc- tions," and " Misbehavior before the enemy on the same day, by making an unnecessary, disor- derly and shameful retreat,"-he was tried by the court-martial, which, after a long and ex- " Few localities in the country more abound haustive investigation, rendered its decision on in memories of great historie events than the , the 8th of August, finding him guilty on all picturesque little town of Carlisle. It was here charges (but softening the finding on the second that the famous Molly Pitcher made her charge by substituting for the words "an un- home during the last years of her life, and here necessary, disorderly and shameful retreat " the her granddaughter, Mrs. Polly MeLeister, ! words " an numnecessary and, in some instances, a widow about seventy-five years of age, now ' a disorderly retreat "), and sentencing him to lives. In the Carlisle cemetery there is a grave, , suspension from any and all command in any of at the head of which stands a heavy slab of the armies of the United States for the term of marble, pure white, solid and substantial, like twelve months. The finding was approved by the character of her whose-resting place it marks, Congress, and thereupon Lec left the army and and it bears the following inscription :

". MOLLIE MCCAULEY,

RENOWNED IN HISTORY .1.5 THE HEROINE OF MONMOUTH, DIED JANUARY, 1833, AGED 79 YEARS, ERECTED BY THE CITIZENS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, JULY 4, 1876.' "

removed to Philadelphia, where he died four years afterwards, having never again been called into the service.

The conduet of Major-General Charles Lee -- who had been second in command under Wash- ington down to the time of the battle of Mon- mouth-had for a long time been regarded with suspicion not only by the commander-in-chief, but by nearly all the higher officers of the Con- tinental forces, who believed (and, without doubt,

The Carlisle account further states that Molly "justly) that the object constantly pursued by was a daughter of John Hanna, of Allentown, and wife of John Mahan, the cannonier who was killed at Monmonth. The inference is that the name McCauley came to her by a second mar- riage. It is not proposed to attempt to decide here which of the foregoing accounts is the cor- reet one of the last years and death of Molly Piteher, the female cannonier of Monmouth.

Lee was to bring about a situation of military affairs which would enable him to supersede Washington in the position to which he (Lec) thought himself entitled-that of commander- in-chief of the American army. He had shown a contempt for (or, at least, a disregard of) the orders of his superior on several occasions, one of which was the marching of his command through New Jersey in the fall of 1776. At that time, when Washington crossed the Hudson River into New Jersey, soon after the battle of White Plains, Lee was left at the latter place

The court-martial ordered by General Wash- ington for the trial of General Charles Lee con- vened at New Brunswick on the 4th of July. It consisted of Major-General Lord Stirling (who was the president), four brigadiers and , with his division of about three thousand men. eight colonels. The immediate cause of the or- " When Washington reached Hackensack he wrote dering of this court-martial was that Lee, 'Lee at White Plains, requesting him to move

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

his command to the west side of the Hudson | this, it does not appear that any well-defined be- and join the main body without delay. Lee lief that Lee was absolutely a traitor to the having taken no notice of this request, an order American cause was widely entertained until three-fourths of a century after his death, when evidence going far towards the establishment of the latter theory as a fact was furnished by the discovery of a document written by Lee's own hand while he was a prisoner with the British in New York, in February, 1777. The document referred to was first brought to light in this country, in 1858, by Mr. George H. Moore, librarian of the New York Historical Society. It had been surreptitiously obtained from a connection of the Lee family in England, who had possession of his papers, and it had been brought to this country and offered for sale. Mr. Moore, after writing to England and satisfying himself of its authenticity, purchased it, and was afterwards permitted to retain it by the gentleman from whom it had been unlaw- fully obtained. The document, which was sub- mitted by Lee to AAdmiral Lord Howe and his brother, General Howe, for their inspection and approval, and which bears the indorsement, " Mr. Lee's Plan-29th March, 1777," is as follows : to the same effect was transmitted to him from headquarters ; and when it was found that he still delayed, the order was repeated in the most peremptory terms. In obedience to this second order, but with apparent reluctance, he moved his division, and crossed into Jersey; but his march was so dilatory that three weeks were consumed by him in bringing his force to Morristown. "It is evident," says Lossing, " from Lee's conduct, and the tenor of his letters at that time, that it was not so much a spirit of determined disobedience which gov- erned his actions as a strong desire to aet inde- pendent of the commander-in-chief, and perform some signal service which would redound to his personal glory. He was ambitious as he was impetnous and brave. He had endeavored, but in vain, to induce General Heath, who was left in command at Peekskill, to let him have a de- tachment of one or two thousand men with which to operate. Heath refused to vary from his instructions, and it was well that he did." Washington continued to urge Lee to form a junction with him; yet as late as the 11th of December, two days after Washington had crossed the Delaware into Pennsylvania, he re- ceived a letter from Lee hinting at various eon- templated movements, not one of which referred to a junetion of forces. This was the last com- munication Washington received from Lee dur- ing that campaign. Two days later, while pursu- ing his dilatory march, Lee was taken prisoner at Basking Ridge, Somerset County, by Colonel Harcourt, of the British Light-Horse, and was taken to New York, where he remained until May, 1778,-only about a month before the bat- tle of Monmouth,-when he was exchanged for the British general Prescott, and rejoined Wash- ington at Valley Forge.

By some it was believed that Lee's capture was premeditated and prepared for by himself, and the belief was held by a few that he intended to have his entire command also taken, but there is no proof that such was the case. The opinion expressed by Lossing (as above quoted) was gen- eral, and doubtless well founded ; but beyond

"As on the one hand, it appears to me that by the continuance of the War, America has no chance of obtaining the end She proposes to herself; that altho' by struggling She may put the Mother-Country to very serious expense, both in blood and Money, yet She must in the end, after great desolation, havock and slaughter, be reduc'd to submit to terms much harder than might probably be granted at present ; and as on the other hand, Great Britain, tho' ultimately vic- torious, must suffer very heavily even in the process of the victories, every life lost and every guinea spent being, in fact, worse than thrown away, it is only wasting her own property, shedding her own blood and destroying her own strength; and as I am not only persuaded, from the high opinion I have of the humanity and good seuse of Lord and General Howe, that the terms of accommodation will be as moderate as their power will admit, but that their powers are more ample than their Successors (should any accident happen) won'd be vested with, I think myself not only justifiable, but bound in conscience to furnish all the lights I can, to enable 'em to bring matters to a con- clusion in the most compendious manner, and conse- quently the least expensive to both Parties. I do this with the more readiness, as I know the most generous use will be made of it in all respects; their humanity will ineline 'em to have considerations for Individuals

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who have acted from principle, and their good sense will tell 'em that the more moderate are the general conditions the more solid and permanent will be the union, for if the conditions were extremely repugnant to the general way of thinking, it wou'd be only the mere patchwork of a day, which the first breath of wind will discompose, and the first symptoms of a rupture betwixt the Bourbon Powers and Great Britain absolutely overturn; but I have really no apprehensions of this kind whilst Lord and General Howe have the direction of affairs, and I flatter myself that under their auspices an accommodation may be built on so solid a foundation as not to be shaken ! by any such incident; in this persnasion and on these principles I shall most sincerely and zealously con- tribute all in my power to so desirable an end; and if no untoward accidents fall out, which no human foresight can guard against, I will answer with my life for the success.

"From my present situation and ignorance of cer- tain facts, I am sensible that I hazard proposing things which cannot without difficulties be comply'd with; I can only act from surmise, therefore hope allowances will be made for my circumstances. I will suppose that (exclusive of the Troops requisite for the security of Rhode Island and N. York) General Howe's Army (comprehending every species, British, Hessians and Provincials) amounts to twenty thou- sand men, capable to take the field and act offensively ; by which I mean, to move to any part of the Continent where occasion requires; I will suppose that the General's design with this force is to clear the Jerseys and take possession of Philadelphia; but in my opinion the taking possession of Philadelphia will not have any decisive consequences; the Congress and People adhering to the Congress have already made up their minds for the event; already They have turned their eyes to other places where They can fix their seat of residence, carry on in some measure their Government; in short, expecting this event, They have devis'd measures for protracting the War, in hopes of some favorable turn of affairs in Europe ; the taking possession therefore of Philadelphia, or any one or two Towns more, which the General may have in view, will not be decisive; to bring matters to a conclusion, it is necessary to unhinge or dissolve. if I may so express myself, the whole system or machine of resistance, or, in other terms, Congress Government ; this system or machine, as affairs now stand, depends entirely on the circumstances and disposition of the People of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania; if the Province of Maryland, or the greater part of it, is reduced or submits, and the People of Virginia are prevented or intimidated from marching aid to the Pennsylvania Army, the whole machine is dissolv'd and a period put to the War, to accomplish which is the object of the scheme which I now take the liberty of offering to the consideration of his Lordship and the General ; and if it is adopted in full, I am so con-

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 34

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co. Number of Pages: 1148

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148