USA > New Jersey > Morris County > History of Morris County, New Jersey > Part 28
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How large the death roll in the army was cannot now be ascertained, but that hundreds were swept away by the plague cannot be doubted.
Disease, however, was not the only cause of anxiety to the guest of the "Arnold tavern." Very soon after reaching here he wrote the following letter, which reveals another serious source of alarm:
" HEADQUARTERS, MORRISTOWN, January 31st 1777.
"The great countenance and protection shown and given to deserters by persons in the different neighbor- hoods from whence they originally came has made that vice so prevalent in the army that, unless some very ef- fectual measures are fallen upon to prevent it, our new army will scarcely be raised before it will again dwindle and waste away from that cause alone.
" I know of no remedy so effectual as for the different States immediately to pass laws laying a very severe pen- alty upon those who harbour or fail to give information against deserters, knowing them to be such, and strictly enjoining all justices of the peace and officers of the militia to keep a watchful eye over and apprehend all such persons as shall return from the army without a discharge.
"In order that this most salutary measure may be car- ried speedily into execution, I have not only desired Congress to recommend it to the different States, but have myself wrote circular letters to them all, pressing their compliance with my request. Desertion must cease of course when the offenders find they have no shelter.
"I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your most obe- dient servant, Go. WASHINGTON.
"To the Hon. the representatives of the State of New Jersey."
January 13th, scarcely a week after his arrival here, he wrote two letters to Lord Howe, on the subject of " the barbarous usage " our soldiers and sailors were receiving in New York, "which their emaciated countenances confirm." " Did he not endeavor to obtain a redress of their grievances," he writes "he would think himself as culpable as those who inflict such severities upon them."
The correspondence which passed between these two distinguished persons during the winter had in the midst of all its seriousness, if tradition may be believed, an oc- casional vein of humor. Howe is said to have sent to Washington, at one time, a copy of Watts's version of the one hundred and twentieth Psalm, as follows:
" Thou God of love, thou ever blest, Pity my suffering state ; When wilt thon set my soul at rest From lips that love deceit ?
" Hard lot of mine ! my days are cast Among the sons of strife, Whose never ceasing brawlings waste My golden hours of life.
"O! might I change my place, How would I choose to dwell In some wide, lonesome wilderness, And leave these gates of hell !"
To this, it is said, Washington returned Watts's version of the one hundred and first Psalm, entitled "The Magistrate's Psalm," containing the following pointed verses :
" In vain shall sinners strive to rise By flattering and malicious lies ; And while the innocent I guard The bold offender sha'nt be spared.
"The impious crew, that factious band, Shall hide their heads, or quit the land ; And all who break the public rest, Where I have power, shall he supprest."
Rev. Dr. J. F. Tuttle states that he received the above tradition from two entirely distinct sources.
Still another trouble weighed heavily upon the anxious heart of Washington. The term of enlistment of many of his troops was about to expire; and most earnest let- ters were sent " to the council of safety," "to the presi- dent of Congress," " to the governors of the thirteen States," calling for more men and munitions. On the 26th of January he wrote: " Reinforcements come up so extremely slow that I am afraid I shall be left without any men before they arrive. The enemy must be igno- rant of our numbers, or they have not horses to move their artillery, or they would not suffer nis to remain un- disturbed."
One of the members of " the council of safety " was Then, too, Washington was not altogether satisfied Silas Condict, of this town, The following letter of his with the position of Morristown as a place for. locating is not without interest:
TI7
TORY SPIES AT MORRISTOWN-GAMBLING IN CAMP.
" MORRISTOWN, April 7th 1777.
"DEAR SIR,-This day I received your favor of the 23d ult., wherein yon acquaint me that I have been appointed one of the council of safety. I am much concerned that you have so few members attending at this critical season; and, although it is extremely difficult at present for me to leave home (my family being inoculated and not yet through the smallpox), yet I will come at any time " The commanding officer of every corps is strictly en- joined to have this order frequently read and strongly Any officer or soldier, or other persons belonging to or following the army-either in camp, in quarters, on the recruiting service, or elsewhere-presuming, under any pretence, to disobey this order, shall be tried by a general court martial. The general officers in each division of the army are to pay the strictest attention to the due exercise thereof. rather than public business should suffer, on notice being given me that it is necessary. Colonel De Hart told me impressed upon the minds of those under his command. to-day that the battalion had arranged its officers, and only wanted an opportunity to present it for commission. The colonel says that he has at General Washington's re- quest examined several of the prisoners now in jail here, and that it will be best for the council of safety to sit in this county soon; and if this is thought proper I think it will be best to sit either at Mendham or at Captain Dunn's, in Roxbury, as the army is still at Morristown, and it will be inconvenient to sit there.
"I am, with great respect, your most obedient and humble servant,
" SILAS CONDICT. " His Excellency Gov. Livingston."
The jail, as Mr. Condict's letter informs us, was full of prisoners. These were spies, tories, and dangerous char- acters. The presence of such persons was another source of annoyance and anxiety. But their cunning was not always successful. Dr. Tuttle relates an anecdote which he had from G. P. McCulloch, who heard it from General Doughty, a Revolutionary soldier, residing in Morristown. A certain man was employed by Washing- ton af a spy, to gain information concerning the enemy, but it was suspected that he carried the enemy more news than he brought to those in whose employ he was. General Greene, who acted as quartermaster-general, oc- cupied a small office on the southeast corner of the Green,
where the drug store of Geiger & Smith now is. One day Colonel Hamilton was in this office when the sus- pected spy made his appearance. The colonel had pre- pared what purported to be a careful statement of the condition of the army, both as to numbers and munitions, making the numbers much more flattering than the actual facts. Leaving this statement on the table, apparently by mistake, Colonel Hamilton left the office, saying he would return in a few minutes. The spy instantly seized the paper as a very authentic document, and left with it for parts unknown. It was supposed that this trick did much to preserve the army from attack that winter.
Still another source of trouble is apparent from the following " general order:"
" HEADQUARTERS, MORRISTOWN, 8th May 1777.
" As few vices are attended with more pernicious con- sequences than gaming-which often brings disgrace and ruin upon officers, and injury and punishment upon the soldiery-and reports prevailing (which it is to be feared are too well founded) that this destructive vice has spread its baleful influence in the army, and in a peculiar manner to the prejudice of the recruiting service, the commander-in-chief, in the most pointed and explicit terms, forbids all officers and soldiers playing at cards, dice, or at any games except those of exercise, for diver- sion; it being impossible, if the practice be allowed at all, to discriminate between innocent play for amusement and criminal gaming for pecuniary and sordid purposes. | chair and gave it to the woman with the child.
" Officers attentive to their duty will find abundant employment in training and disciplining their men, pro- viding for them, and seeing that they appear neat, clean and soldierlike. Nor will anything redound more to their honor, afford them more solid amusement, or better answer the end of their appointment, than to devote the vacant moments they may have to the study of military authors.
"The adjutant-general is to transmit copies of this order to the different departments of the army. Also, to execute the same to be immediately published in the gazettes of each State, for tlie information of officers dis- persed on the recruiting service.
" By his Excellency's command, " MORGAN CONNOR, Adj. pro tem."
It is not to be wondered at that under all these depress- ing circumstances the troubled heart of Washington turned for support and comfort to the God of all strength, to the God of nations and of battles. We are not sur- prised, therefore, that as the time of the communion drew near, which was then observed semi-annually, Washington sought good Pastor Johnes, and inquired of him if membership with the Presbyterian church was required "as a term of admission to the ordinance." The doctor's reply was, "Ours is not the Presbyterian table, but the Lord's table, and we hence give the Lord's invitation to all his followers, of whatever name." This pleased and satisfied the general, and on the coming Sab- bath, in the cold air, he was present with the congrega- tion assembled in the orchard in the rear of the parson- age, the house now occupied by Mrs. Eugene Ayers, on Morris street; and in the natural basin still found there he sat down at the table of the Lord, and in the remem- brance of redeeming love obtained no doubt relief from the scenes that appalled and the cares that oppressed him. The common opinion is that the Lord's Supper was ad- ministered in the church. .This is so stated in Sparks's life of Washington and by other writers, but the true version is as already given. The church was occupied by invalid troops till the close of the year 1777, if not till some time in 1778, as the records of the trustees show. This was the only time after his entrance upon his publie career that Washington is certainly known to have par- taken of the Lord's Supper.
(For the proof of this interesting historical incident the reader is referred to The Record for June and Au- gust 1880.)
Washington was a frequent attendant upon these open- air meetings. On one of these occasions, according to an account handed down by Doctor Johnes, Washington was sitting in his camp chair, brought in for the occasion. During the service a woman came into the congregation with a child in her arms; Washington arose from his
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HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
The Rev. O. L. Kirtland, a former pastor in this town, writing that very winter to Washington: "Heaven no doubt for the noblest purposes has blessed you with a firmness of mind, steadiness of countenance, and patience men." in a letter to the Presbyterian Magazine, and copied in The Record for June 1880, relates the following, which not only reveals the terrible trials of that winter, but the in sufferings, that give you infinite advantages over other character of Washington, and the great secret of his power over the army:
"Soon after I came to Morristown, in 1837 I think, I visited my native place, and met there an old man, bowed down with age, leaning tremblingly upon the top of his staff. His name was Cook. In my early child- hood he had been the physician in my father's family. As the old man met me, he said, 'You are located in Morristown, are you ?' 'Yes, sir.' 'I was there too,' said the doctor, once; 'I was under Washington in the army of the Revolution. It was hard times then-hard times. There was a time when all our rations were but a single gill of wheat a day. Washington used to come round and look into our tents, and he looked so kind, and he said so tenderly, 'Men, can you bear it ?' 'Yes, general, yes, we can,' was the reply; 'if you wish us to act, give us the word, and we are ready.'
Tradition relates that Washington amidst all his other troubles during that dreadful winter was not himself ex- empt from the hand of disease. He had, it is said, a dangerous attack of quinsy sore throat, so that his friends felt serious apprehensions about his recovery. In this fear they asked him to indicate the man best fitted to succeed him in the command of the army, and without hesitation he pointed to General Nathaniel Greene.
Thus that ever-memorable season wore away. The homes of our citizens were filled with the soldiers billeted upon them, and for whom they had to provide. Suffer- ing, deprivation, disease and death were upon every hand. Never were these combinations of evils better calculated to undermine the courage of all concerned in the struggle; and yet their faith in God never failed. Washington was not an unmoved spectator of the griefs about him, and often might be seen in Hanover and Lowantica Valley cheering the faith and inspiring the courage of his suffering men. His labors were very heavy in the southeast room of the "Arnold tavern:" urging on Congress the necessity of tendering an oath of allegiance to all the inhabitants and outlawing those that refused it; now advising and inspiring his generals- Benedict Arnold among them, but too base to be elevated by his communion with the great spirit of the age; now hurrying forward the enlistment of troops and the col- lection of munitions; now teaching Lord Howe some lessons in humanity by the law of retaliation; "although," says he, "I shall always be happy to manifest my disin- clination to any undue severities toward those whom the fortune of war may chance to throw into my hands." His situation is extremely trying, for on the 2nd of March he writes: "General Howe cannot have *
* * less than ten thousand men in the Jerseys. * * Our number does not exceed four thousand. His are well disciplined, well officered and well appointed; ours raw militia, badly officered and under no government." The balance sheet thus struck seemed to be against him. But then Robert Morris, the great financier of the Revolution, did not express himself too strongly in
About the end of May Washington led his army from Morristown to engage in the campaign of 1777, made memorable by the bloody reverses of Chad's Ford and Germantown.
WASHINGTON'S SECOND WINTER AT MORRISTOWN.
We pass over the intervening time between Washing- ton's leaving Morristown in May 1777 and his return to it in December 1779. The duty of selecting the winter quarters in the latter year had been committed to General Greene, who had reported two places to the commander- in-chief, the one at Aquackanock, the other within four miles of Morristown. Greene preferred the former, but Washington's preference was the latter. On the 7th of December 1779 he writes to Governor Livingston from Morristown that "the main army lies within three or four miles from this place." And on the 15th he ordered Generals Greene and Duportail "to examine all the grounds in the environs of our present encampment for spots most proper to be occupied in case of any move- ment of the enemy toward us," the positions to be large enough for the maneuvers of ten thousand men.
On the Ist of December 1779 Washington became the guest of Mrs. Ford, the widow of Colonel Jacob Ford jr. and daughter of the Rev. Timothy Johnes.
On the 22nd of January 1780 he wrote to Quarter- master General Greene, whose duty it was to provide for the comfort of the commander-in-chief: "I have been at my present quarters since the Ist day of December, and have not a kitchen to cook a dinner in-nor is there a place at this moment in which a servant can lodge with the smallest degree of comfort. Eighteen belonging to my family and all Mrs. Ford's are crowded together in her kitchen, and scarce one of them able to speak for the colds they have." Soon a log kitchen was built at the east end of the house for the use of Washington's family. At the west end of the house, and but a little distance from it, another log cabin was built for a general office, which Washington occupied particularly in the day-time, with Colonel Alexander Hamilton and Major Tench Tighlman. This cluster of buildings was guarded night and day by sentinels. In the field southeast of the house huts were built for Washington's life guards, of whom there are said to have been two hundred and fifty, under command of General Colfax, grandfather of Schuyler Colfax, late vice-president of the United States.
Several times in the course of the winter false alarms were given of the approach of the enemy. First a distant report of a gun would be heard from the most remote sentinel, and when one nearer, and so on, until the senti- nels by the house would fire in turn. From them it would be communicated on toward Morristown, until the last gun would be heard far to the westward at camp. Immediately the life guard would rush into the house,
WASHINGTON AT THE "HEADQUARTERS." .
barricade the doors, open the windows, and about five men would place themselves at each window, with their muskets brought to a charge, loaded and cocked ready for defense. There they would remain until the troops were seen marching, with music, at quick step toward the mansion. During one of these alarms an amusing inci- dent occurred tending to show the coolness of Washing- ton. One evening, about midnight, when some of the younger officers were indulging themselves over their wine, in the dining-room, an alarm was given. A guest, a young man from New York, something of a bon vivant, was in much trepidation, and rushing out into the entry exclaimed, "Where's the general ? Where's the general?" Washington, just then coming down stairs, met him, and in moderate tones said, "Be quiet, young man, be quiet."
Timothy Ford, a son of Washington's hostess, was a severe sufferer all that winter from the effects of a wound received in a battle the previous fall; and among other pleasing courtesies we are told that every morning Wash- ington knocked at Timothy's door, and asked how the young soldier had passed the night. There was some- times scarcity at the headquarters as well as in the camp, as the following anecdote will show: " We have nothing but the rations to cook, sir," said Mrs. Thompson, a very worthy Irishwoman, and housekeeper, to General Wash- ington. "Well, Mrs. Thompson, you must cook the ra- tions, for I have not a farthing to give you." "If you please, sir, let one of the gentlemen give me an order for six bushels of salt." "Six bushels of salt; for what?" "To preserve the fresh beef, sir." One of the aids gave the order, and next day his excellency's table was amply provided. Mrs. Thompson was sent for, and told she had done very wrong to expend her own money, for it was not known when she could be repaid. "I owe you," said his excellency, " too much already to permit the debt being increased, and our situation is not such as to induce very sanguine hope." "Dear sir," said the good old lady, " it is always darkest just before daylight, and I hope your excellency will forgive me for bartering salt for the other necessaries now on the table." Salt was eight dollars a bushel and could always be exchanged with the country people for articles of provision.
A sketch of Washington now before me, says: "He (Washington) sometimes smiled, but is not recollected to have been seen laughing heartily except on one occasion. This was when he was describing Arnold's escape, and giving an account of his ludicrous appearance as he gal- loped from the Robinson House, near West Point, to embark on board the enemy's vessel." Dr. Tuttle in his paper on " Washington at Morristown," says:
" The late General John Doughty of Morristown was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and knew Washing- ton both winters he spent at Morristown. He often told his friends that he never heard of Washington's laughing loud but once during the two winters. The exception was one that took place in the spring of 1780, when Washington had purchased a young spirited horse of great power, but which was not broken to the saddle. A man in the army, or town, who professed to be a perfect horseman, and who made loud proclamation of his gifts
in that line, solicited and received permission from the general to break the horse to the saddle. Immediately back of Southside, below Market street was a large yard, to which Washington and his friends went to see the horse receive his first lesson. After many preliminary flourishes, the man made a leap to the horse's back, but no sooner was he seated than the horse made what is known as a ' stiff leap,' threw down his head and up his heels, casting the braggart over his head in a sort of elliptical curve. As Washington looked at the man, un- hurt but rolling in the dirt, the ludicrous scene overcame his gravity and he laughed aloud so heartily that the tears ran down his cheeks."
Count Pulaski frequently exercised his corps of cavalry in front of the headquarters. He was an expert horse- man, and performed many feats of skill. He would some- times while his horse was on full gallop discharge his pistol, toss it in the air, catch it by the barrels, and throw it ahead as if at an enemy. With his horse still on a jump, he would lift one foot out of the stirrup, and with the other foot in, bend to the ground and recover the weapon. Some of the best horsemen in the army, be- longing to the Virginia Light Horse, attempted to imitate the feat; they would be successful in three or four trials as far as to catch the pistol; none, however, were able to pick it up, but in trying they got some severe falls.
An officer who was with the army in Morristown thus gives his impressions of the commander-in-chief, while partaking of the hospitalities of his table :
" It is natural to view with keen attention the counten- ance of an illustrious man, with the secret hope of dis- covering in his features some peculiar traces of the excel- lence which distinguishes him from, and elevates him above, his fellow mortals. These expectations are real- ized in a peculiar manner in viewing the person of Gen- eral Washington. His tall, noble stature and just pro- portions, his fine, cheerful, open countenance, simple and modest deportment, are all calculated to interest every beholder in his favor, and to command veneration and respect. He is feared even when silent, and beloved even while we are unconscious of the motive. The table was elegantly furnished and provisions ample, though not abounding in superfluities. The civilities of the table were performed by Colonel Hamilton and the other members of the family, the general and lady being seated at the side of the table. In conversation his excellency's expressive countenance is peculiarly interesting and pleas- ing; a placid smile is seen frequently on his lips, but a loud laugh, it is said, seldom if ever escapes him. He is polite and attentive to each individual at table, and re- tires after the compliments of a few glasses. Mrs. Wash- ington combines, in an uncommon degree, great dignity of manner with the most pleasing affability, but possesses no striking mark of beauty."
Among the letters that were written by Washington that winter was one to "Major General Arnold " in an- swer to his letter asking "leave of absence from the army during the ensuing summer," on account of his health. Washington wrote, " You have my permission, though it is my expectation and wish to see you in the field;" then, alluding to the birth of a son, he says, "Let me congratulate you on the late happy event. Mrs. Wash- ington joins me in presenting her wishes for Mrs. Arnold on the occasion."
.
How little either of the parties to these felicitations
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HISTORY OF MORRIS COUNTY.
could forsee the future! Before that infant was six months older his mother was raving like a maniac over her husband's infamy, and the name of Arnold had be- come a stench in the nostrils of every American patriot.
An important incident of that time must not be for- gotten. We learn that on the 18th of April 1780 the French minister, Chevalier de la Luzerne, and Don Juan de Miralles, a distinguished Spanish gentleman, repre- senting his court before our Congress, arrived at Morris- town. That was a great day in the Wick farm camp when these two distinguished foreigners were to be re- ceived. Even soldiers who had neither shoes nor coats looked cheerful, as if the good time so long expected was now at hand. Washington had many plans to lay before these representatives of two powerful allies, and of course time did not hang heavily. On the 24th Baron Steuben, the accomplished disciplinarian to whose severe training our army owed so much, had completed his preparations for the review of four battalions. This par- ade probably took place somewhere in the vicinity of Morristown. An eye witness makes a large draft on his stock of adjectives in describing the review. "A large stage " he says "was erected in the field, which was crowded with officers, ladies and gentlemen of distinc- tion from the country, among whom were Governor Liv- ingston of New Jersey and lady. Our troops exhibited a truly military appearance, and performed the evolu- tions in a manner which afforded much satisfaction to the commander-in-chief, and they were honored with the approbation of the French minister and all present.
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