USA > New Jersey > Passaic County > Paterson > History of Paterson and its environs (the silk city); historical- genealogical - biographical > Part 30
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The Pennsylvania division, commanded by Gen. St. Clair, marched first, reaching Springfield by May 30, Troy on June I, Pompton Plains on June 2, Pompton on June 4, Ringwood on June 5, and Galloway's the next day. The Virginia division, commanded by Lord Stirling, started on June 2 for Pompton, and the Maryland division, under Baron de Kalb, on June 3. The strictest discipline was enjoined on the march. "No Horses must be put into any Incloser, But such as the forrage Master Provides, and, in Gen1, every spesies of Injury to the Inhabitants Must be Carefully avoyded. [Pompton, June 4:] All the Flour that is Drawn this day to be Cooked
Imediatly, and the Beef, likewise, with the Greatest Dispatch * [Ring- wood, June 5:] No Rails to be Burned on any Pretence. The Grass Guard must be very alert to Prevent the horses to exceed the Bounds allowed them. Soldiers are Positively forbidden Stragling or leaving the Camp." Gen. St. Clair was at Pompton on June 3, and Gen. Nathanael Greene, then quarter- master-general, on the evening of the 4th, who found the troops entirely without provisions, although they were to march early the next morning. Washington followed without delay, on June 3, and on June 6 wrote from Ringwood Iron Works to the President of Congress, imparting his latest intelligence regarding the enemy's movements.
The army remained in the vicinity of West Point until November, when Washington ordered them into New Jersey, for winter quarters, intending to locate the main body in the neighborhood of Scotch Plains. The Maryland Line started from West Point on November 26, says Capt. William Beatty, who adds: "On Which day We march'd as far as Smith's Clove through a heavy Snow that Was falling on our rout to Winter Qrs, We Continued our march by the Way of Ramapaugh Clove Pumpton Bottle Hill," etc. Wash- ington followed by the same route, arriving at Morristown by December 4, and there had his headquarters during the winter in the handsome residence erected by Col. Jacob Ford, and now maintained, in honor of the general's occupancy, by the Washington Association of New Jersey.
General John Sullivan's troops, returning from their victorious expedi- tion against the hostile Indians in the West, marched through Pompton about the Ist of November, on the way to winter quarters at Scotch Plains. Some of the soldiers, who had doubtless contracted the habit from their Indian foes, "lifted" a two-year-old heifer of Martin I. Ryerson's ; from John Hen- nion they carried off "one homespun tite Bodyed Coat New," valued (by him) at £ I, Ios. ; a homespun short-gown, four beehives, with honey, worth £4, and a few other articles.
Surgeon Thacher, whose brigade marched to Pompton on December 9, and on the 14th to their camp near Morristown, gives a sad picture of the men's condition : "Our baggage is left in the rear, for want of wagons to transport it," he writes. "The snow on the ground is about two feet deep, and the weather extremely cold ; the soldiers are destitute of both tents and blankets, and some of them are actually barefooted and almost naked. Our only defence against the inclemency of the weather, consists of brush wood thrown together."
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While Gen. Gates was at Pompton, on his way southward, the notorious partisan, Ensign James Moody, of the First New Jersey Volunteers (Loyal- ists), with his usual daring ventured into his camp, and, he says, "gained the exactest information, not only of the amount of the force then with him, but of the numbers that were expected to join him." This is the only occasion when it is reasonably certain (assuming his Narrative to be correct) that Moody visited this immediate vicinity.
Washington's main army, half-frozen and half-starved, remained in their winter quarters about Morristown until summer, and there was little to disturb the welcome peace within the present Passaic county. The first military movement through Totowa and Acquackanonk this year is indicated in a letter from Washington, at Morristown, January 14: "I have directed Lieutenant Colonel Dehart," he says, "with a detachment of two hundred and fifty men, to move from Paramus to Newark," etc. A more interesting event was the arrival of the Marquis de Lafayette, who upon landing in America hastened from New England with all speed, to tender to Washing- ton in person the assurances of his royal master's support. The commander- in-chief wrote him, May 8, from Morristown: "Major Gibbs [commandant of Washington's Life Guards] will go as far as Pompton, where the roads unite, to meet you, and will proceed from thence as circumstances may direct." We may be sure that the patriotic people of Pompton and vicinity gave an enthusiastic greeting to the gallant young Frenchman as he passed through the village a day or two later. On June 21, Washington broke camp, and marched slowly toward Pompton, arriving there probably on June 26, and at Ramapo the next day, where he remained until June 30. The move- ments of the army were greatly hampered by the lack of transportation facili- ties. "We have at Pompton, and Mount Hope furnaces," writes Col. John Lamb, June 29, 1780, "between five and six thousand eighteen pound balls, and three thousand shells, for the French 9 inch mortars, but I have not been able to have them transported to West Point, by reason of the utter in- ability of the Quarter Master General's department." It was two weeks later before they were forwarded. Major Samuel Shaw wrote, July 14, 1780, from "Camp at Pracaness," to Col. John Lamb: "A number of car- cases [shells] go on to-day from Pompton to the commanding officer of artillery at Stoney or Verplank's Point, who has orders to forward them to you at West Point, where the General [Knox] wishes to have them filled as soon as possible." Lieut. W. Price, at Stoney Point, July 16, writes : "I have just received 65 Carcesses from Pompton Furnace and there Is more a Comeing tonight."
On July 4, 1780, Washington had arrived from Ramapo with his army at Totowa, where he spread out his troops, while he established his head- quarters in the handsome and spacious residence of Col. Theunis Dey, at Lower Preakness. Two brigades, which he had left at Morristown, under Gen. Greene, to protect the country, marched thence on June 25, and reached Preakness on July I. The main body of the army was encamped along the Totowa heights, near the Great Falls, the centre on the high ground back of
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PATERSON AND ITS ENVIRONS
236
MAP SHOWING THE LOCATION OF THE AMERICAN ARMY
1
MPTON.ITX
TO PARAKUSOS
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DEY HOUSE, WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS
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the present Laurel Grove cemetery, the right toward Little Falls, and the left at or near Oldham (Haledon). Col. Stephen Moylan's Pennsylvania dragoons occupied an advanced position, at Little Falls, southeast of the river, toward the Notch. The Marquis de Lafayette had his headquarters at the grist-mill of Samuel Van Saun, near the race track at Lower Preakness, about a mile and a half north of Washington's headquarters. (See map on opposite page).
The Dey house is on the road leading from Laurel Grove cemetery west- erly and northwesterly toward Lower Preakness and Mountain View, being about four miles west of the Paterson city hall, and about two and a half miles from the Passaic river at the cemetery mentioned, and is one hundred yards north of the road which it faces. When Washington honored it with his presence the dwelling must have been one of the finest in New Jersey, for it is yet remarkable for its architectural symmetry and the artistic finish of its masonry. It is two stories in height, with a double pitch roof, through which dormer windows were thrust about 1875, giving it the appearance of a mansard. The building is about fifty-two feet long and thirty feet deep. The front is of brick, the doorway and windows framed in polished brown sandstone, squared and set in the most accurate manner ; the sides and rear are of rubble work, the windows and doors trimmed with brick, the end walls above the eaves being also carried up in brick. All the masonry is laid up in yellow clay, pointed on the outside with mortar, yet the walls are perfectly firm, and are apparently good for another hundred years. The timbers, where exposed, in the cellar and attic, are of hewn oak, of the most massive description, and all morticed and fastened together with wooden pins. Through the centre, from south to north, runs a hall twelve feet wide, on either side of which are two rooms, a fireplace faced with rubbed sandstone in each. The arrangement of the second floor is the same, so that there are eight large apartments, besides a large open attic. The ceilings on the first floor are about nine feet, and on the upper floor eight feet high. Nearly all the rooms are decorated with neat wooden cornices, fluted in the colonial style. According to the Marquis de Chastellux, Washington occupied four of the rooms-probably two on each floor. Tradition has mainly preserved reminiscences of one room-in the southeast corner of the first floor ; this is pointed out as "Washington's room." It was his audience chamber and din- ing room ; the family dined in the spacious hall. The wall above the fireplace in the general's office is ornamented with elaborate wooden paneling and pilasters, rayed and fluted, to correspond with the cornices. Washington is said to have papered the walls at his own expense, and the paper was not removed until about 1870.
Family tradition says this house was erected by Dirck Dey, about 1720. From various circumstances the writer inclines to the belief that it could not have been built more than twenty years before the Revolution, and that it was erected by Col. Theunis Dey, son of Dirck Dey, and father of Major Richard Dey. Dirck Dey, son of Teunis Dey and Anneken Schouten, his mother having married George Reyerson, of Pacquanac, he lived with her until he
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grew up. On October 9, 1717, he bought from the heirs of Thomas Hart a tract of 600 acres on the "Singhack Brook," and in 1730 bought 200 acres more in the same neighborhood. He married Jannetje Blanshar, and died about 1764. His son, Theunis, was a colonel of the Bergen county militia in the early part of 1776, and for some years thereafter ; he was a member of the Assembly in 1776, and represented Bergen county in the Council in 1779- 80-81, and was again in the Assembly in 1783. His son, Richard Dey, was a captain and afterwards major of the Bergen county militia ; after the war he was sheriff, county collector, general of militia, etc. He sold his homestead, with 355 acres of land, June 21, 1801, to Garret Neafie and John Neafie, of New York City, for £3,000, New York money, and removed to New York City, where he died in 1811 ; his widow and children-among the latter being Anthony, afterwards prominent in the founding of Jersey City-then re- moved to Seneca county, New York. The Deys have disappeared from the vicinity of Preakness and Singack for three-quarters of a century.
The army at this time was still suffering the same deprivations it had been obliged to endure through the long winter at Morristown. There was a deplorable lack of clothing and provisions. But then, as now, the women of the land were ready to show their appreciation of heroic self-sacrifice, and while the army was at Preakness a number of ladies of New Jersey met at Trenton, July 4, 1780, "to promote a subscription for the relief and encour- agement of those brave men in the Continental army, who, stimulated by example, and regardless of danger, have so repeatedly suffered, fought and struggled in the cause of virtue and their oppressed country." They appointed committees in every county in the State to cooperate in this movement, to secure what was needed to supply the wants of the suffering men. Mrs. (Col.) Theunis Dey and Mrs. (Maj.) Richard Dey, of Preakness, and Mrs. Robert Erskine, of Ringwood, were among the ladies of Bergen county selected to serve on the committee. The enemy were not slow to take advan- tage of the necessities of our soldiers, and a letter from Pompton, in June, 1780, states that the supply-wagons of our army had been attacked in Smith's Clove.
Notwithstanding the lack of comforts by our men, there were occasional alleviations of the situation. Surgeon Thacher gives some pleasing details of the manner in which the tedium of camp life, while at Preakness, was now and then relieved. He and several of his friends visited the Passaic Falls, of which he gives an excellent description, and the same day called to see Big- headed Peter Van Winkle. Here are a few extracts from his journal :
(July) 5th .- I took an excursion a few miles into the country, to visit the surgeons of the flying hospital ; took tea at their quarters, with a wealthy Dutch family, and was treated with great civility. They live in a style superior to the Low Dutch in general; the table was amply furnished with cherries, raspberries and other fruits, which abound in this county.
Ioth .- The officers of our regiment, and those of Colonel Webb's, united in providing an entertainment, and invited a respectable number of gentle- men of our brigade to dine; Dr. West and myself were appointed caterers and superintendents. We erected a large arbor, with the boughs of trees,
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THE NATION'S WARS
under which we enjoyed an elegant dinner, and spent the afternoon in social glee, with some of the wine which was taken from the enemy when they retreated from Elizabethtown. Our drums and fifes afforded us a favorite music till evening, when we were delighted with the song composed by Mr. Hopkinson, called the "Battle of the Kegs," sung in the best style by a num- ber of gentlemen.
14th .- An express has arrived at head quarters, from Rhode Island, with the pleasing information of the arrival there of a French fleet, accompanied by an army of six thousand regular French troops, who are to cooperate with our army as allies in our cause. They are commanded by Count Rocham- beau, a distinguished general in the French service.
20th .- In general orders, the Commander in Chief congratulates the army on the arrival of a large land and naval armament at Rhode Island, sent by his Most Christian Majesty, to cooperate with us against the common enemy. The lively concern which our allies manifest for our safety and inde- pendence, has a claim to the affection of every virtuous citizen. The General, with confidence assures the army, that the officers and men of the French forces, come to our aid animated with a zeal founded in sentiment for us, as well as in duty to their prince, and that they will do every thing in their power to promote harmony and cultivate friendship ; he is equally persuaded on our part, that we shall vie with them in their good disposition, to which we are excited by gratitude as well as by common interest,-and that the only contention between the two armies will be to excel each other in good offices, and in the display of every military virtue. This will be a pledge of the most solid advantage to the common cause, and a glorious issue to the campaign. The Commander in Chief has recommended to the officers of our army, to wear cockades of black and white, intermixed, as a symbol of friendship for our French allies, who wear white cockades.
22d .- The officers of our regiment received an invitation to dine with Major General Lord Stirling. * * Our entertainment was sumptuous * and elegant. After the covers were removed, the servants brought in pails filled with cherries and strawberries, which were strewed over the long table ; with these, and excellent wine, accompanied by martial music, we regaled ourselves till evening. * *
23d .- Sunday I attended a sermon preached by Mr. Blair, chaplain of the artillery. The troops were paraded in the open field, the sermon was well calculated to inculcate religious principles, and the moral virtues. His Excellency General Washington, Major Generals Greene and Knox, with a number of other officers, were present.
Some extracts from a contemporary orderly book, albeit badly spelled, give additional views of army events and experiences during this encamp- ment at Totowa and Preakness :
July I. The Grand Parade is asigned on the road near the Marquis De Lefeat's Quarters till further orders. A sergt., Corpl., and 12 men from the Ist Penna Brigad to mount at Gen'l Green's Quarters this afternoon.
July 2 .- A Sergt, Corp1, and 12 men to mount at the Marquis De Lefeat Quarters ; allso, a Corp1, and 21 Privats from the Ist Penna Brigad to mount on the road to Morristown. Those Brigades who heave not Drawn Rum to- Day, are to be suplyed with a Gill of rum this afternoon.
The troop to beat at 6 o'clock in the morning. The guards to be on the grand Parade at 7 till further orders.
July 4. The troops to be suplyd with a gill of Rum pr. man this day, In case the heave not already Drawn.
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July 5. A detachment to Parad this afternoon, 5 o'clock, near Gen'l St. Clear's Quarters, for a week's Command, with Two days' provisions & 40 round pr. man.
July 6. It is expected the greatest care will be taken in inspecting the armies, as so mutch weet weather rather Renders a minute inspections abso- lutely nessory.
A Sergant and 10 men from Maxwell's Brigade for Fatigue Tomorrow. The will be at the bridge at Gen'l St. Clear's Quarters at 6 o'clock in the morn- ing. [This was probably the Totowa bridge, and St. Clair perhaps had his headquarters at the Godwin tavern, subsequently the Passaic Hotel].
The maneuvring Batallions are to be formed in the field near to the grand parade, half past 4 in the morning.
July 8, Prackanass. A Corpl. and 4 Dragoons from Major Lee's Corps to attend the grand parade to-morrow morning.
The [ Ist Penn.] Brigade to march to-morrow morning by the left. The Gen'l to beat at 3 o'clock, the assembly half past 3, and the Troop will take up their line of march at 4 o'clock Prisaly.
July 9, Totaway. As soon as the ents are Pitched and the Bowers made, the Troops will attend to Claning and repearing their Cloths & Arms. Racks or Forks are to be fixed in front of each Regt to bear the arms against.
July II. Mr. Pomroy Quarters at Mr. Peter Decamiss's, on the Hamp- ton road.
July 12. The Post-office is kept near Two Bridges.
A soldier was tried "for attempting to Pass the Centries of Gen'l Hand Brigade, at II o'clock on the evening of the 8 Instant, with his Arms, acutri- ments, and B., also for indevoring to persuade the Centinels who stopt him to leave his Post and go off with him, found guilty and sentence * to suffer death. The Commander-in-Chief approve the sentence."
July 20, Totoway. The troops will take up their line of march from this ground exactly at 3 o'clock p. m. [This was the famous expedition of Gen. Wayne against the Block-House at Bull's Ferry, which was an essential failure, owing to the deficient artillery of the attacking party. Gen. Wayne issued a grandiloquent address of congratulation to his troops, on July 23, after their return to Totowa. It was the theme of Major John Andre's mock-heroic poem, "The Cow Chase"1.
July 23. [A committee from the Congress visited the army-Philip Schuyler, John Matthews and Nathaniel Peabody].
July 26. The first & third Pennsylvania Regiment will furnish a Com- pany of Rifflemen, each of 42 rank & file * * Major Parr will take Command of thes two Companies.
July 28, Head Quarters, Prackness, 12 o'clock. The army, except the Jersey Brigade, will march tomorrow morning, by the left. The Gen'l will beat at 2 o'clock, the assembly at half past 2, & the march will comence presily at 3.
"The distresses of the officers and soldiers have become intolerable," writes Gen. Knox, from Preakness, July 27, 1780. Washington's letters while at Preakness are variously dated, perhaps to mislead the enemy should they fall into hostile hands ; in some cases, no doubt, the location was desig- nated in the manner most likely to be understood by the person addressed. For example: July 10-"Head Quarters, near Passaic ;" July 14-"Bergen County ;" July 20-"Head Quarters, near Passaic;" the same day-"Head Quarters, Colonel Dey's ;" July 22-"Head Quarters, Preakness," and "Head
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Quarters, Bergen County." Gen. Knox wrote, July 12, from "Camp at Prakenis." In a letter from "Camp Precaness," July 28, the latter com- plains bitterly of the delay by the States in furnishing men and equipments, which neglect had frustrated many hopeful plans of the commander-in-chief.
Doubtless in view of the intended movement of the army he adds : "There are between 8 & 9 hundred arms and between 5 & 6 hundred accou- trements forwarded to West Point from this place today." And in another letter, the same day: "His Excellency the Commander in chief having directed a corp of riffle men to be formed immediately, I am to desire you will send to camp as soon as possible 41 riffles which are at West Point, and 120 powder horns from Fishkill." In a letter dated "Camp Precaness N J July 28 1780," to Col. Artemas Ward, Gen. Knox indulges in this strain of dissatisfaction : "We have been in this camp for nearly three weeks making the necessary arrangements for the campaign *
* had proportionable and reasonable preparations been made."
That same evening there arrived in camp at Preakness, the sordid traitor, Gen. Benedict Arnold, not unlikely for the purpose of observing the exact condition of the army, in order to report it to Sir Henry Clinton, with whom he was already in correspondence, and to whom he fled precipi- tately two months later, when his treason was discovered.
On the morning of July 29, the army broke camp and marched to Para- mus, where they encamped that night, the Jersey Brigade remaining a day or two longer at Preakness. A British movement against the French army in Rhode Island was anticipated by Washington, who promptly checked it by a threatening advance on the upper part of New York City. On August 23 he withdrew his forces into New Jersey once more, occupying the north- ern part of Bergen county, where they remained several weeks, and then returned to Tappan.
The forage having been exhausted in that vicinity, the main body of the army marched to Paramus on October 7. Says Washington, writing thence under that date: "We have had a cold, wet, and tedious march, on account of the feeble state of our cattle, and have not a drop of rum to give the troops. My intention is to proceed with them to the country in the neighbor- hood of Passaic Falls." The bad weather and consequent wretched state of the roads delayed this movement for a day or two, until a corps of artificers could be organized for the purpose of repairing the road between Paramus and "Totoway Bridge," to facilitate the movement. Washington wrote from "Head Quarters, Near Passaic Falls," on October 8, and the next day issued general orders from "Head Quarters, Totoway," assigning the locations of the several divisions of the army. The site of the encampment during the previous summer was again occupied, together with additional ground. The army was extended along the eastern base of the Preakness mountain, from the Goffle to Little Falls, a distance of five or six miles, being thus furnished with a welcome protection against the inclement blasts, and being at the same time convenient for the wood and stone needed in camp.
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In and about Gen. Washington's headquarters there was a constant scene of activity, the general officers and their aides de camp continually galloping up for orders and off again. Numerous grooms were always on hand to take care of the fine horses belonging to the general and to the other officers. His famous Life Guard was encamped within the precincts of the house, ever on the alert to protect their beloved commander, every man of them having his allotted duty, ready to spring to arms at a moment's notice, when the drums should beat an alarm, or a particular recall. Nine wagons, for the conveyance of the general's baggage, were ranged close to the house. The most perfect military discipline prevailed, no confusion being noticeable, notwithstanding the constant movement and bustle.
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