History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 16

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 16
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 16

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And so the men were kept at home to work on their own fortifications. Stirling knew the people too well to believe that they were wanting in patriotism. One of the stanchest patriots of the town, Abraham Clark, the signer, wrote to the Committee of Safety at this very time, March 15th, in reference to a resolution of the Provincial Congress calling for arms to equip a battalion for Canada: "If all the Congresses upon the Continent required us to disarm ourselves at pres- ent, unless we are deemed dangerous to liberty, I would not obey." The situation of the town was be- coming exceedingly critical, and they needed to hus- band all their resources.4

Col. Dayton, in command of the Third Continental Regiment, stationed at Elizabeth Town, in the mnean time had received, March 10th, orders from Stirling to put his regiment in marching trim. On the 14th he writes that "the companies of Capts. Bloomfield, Dickinson, and Potter have passed muster," and that the others are nearly full. He refers to the scarcity of arms, and says, "The militia are now more than ever unwilling to part with their Arms;" and adds that he and Maj. Barber had been to Congress at Philadelphia about it, but without success. On the 23d lie received orders to march forthwith to New York.5

In accordance with the intimations in the letter to Burnet, Lord Stirling came over on the 22d to this town, to survey the ground and lay out a line of fortifi- cations at the Point. After conference with Gen. Liv- ingston in relation to the plan, he returned to the city on the 24th, to procure engineers to be employed on these works under the direction of Gen. William Thompson.

Boston was evacuated by the British army March

+ Stirling MSS., N. Y. His. Soc. Aual. Index, p. 451. 5 Stirling MSS.

1 New York Packet, February 220.

2 Am. Archives, 4th Ser., iv. 1589. Gordon's N. I., 173-74.

3 Gordon's N. J .. p. 201. Multod's N. J., p. 425.

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

17th, and as it was naturally inferred that they would make a vigorous effort to establish their headquarters at New York, the American army was, in the course of a few weeks, mostly transferred to this section of the country. Gen. Washington arrived and took command at New York on Saturday, April 13th. The work of erecting and strengthening fortifications at exposed points was renewed and carried on with great vigor.

The Provincial Congress of New Jersey, chosen on the fourth Monday in May, met at Burlington on the 10th of June; and John De Hart having been per- mitted to resign his seat in Congress, Abraham Clark, also of this town, who had served for some time as secretary of the New Jersey Committee of Safety, was chosen, June 22d, in his place. William Living- ston, another member from this town, having been ap- pointed commander-in-chief of the New Jersey militia, resigned his membership, and established his head- quarters at Elizabeth Town Point, while his own fam- ily and others retired into less exposed portions of the country, in anticipation of the near approach of the British army and the full realities of war.

CHAPTER XII.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

THE decisive step in the progress of the events to be narrated in this chapter was the measure submitted to the General Congress June 7, 1776, by Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, to wit :

"That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."

After full discussion this measure was adopted on the 4th of July, 1776. An eloquent writer, speaking of its adoption, says,-

" The die was now cast, the state of vassalage was terminated. The house of Hanover was dethroned, royalty was abolished. All depend- ence on Britain was abjured. A republic was inaugurated, a nation was born. The struggle ceased to be a civil war. Rebels were now patriots, the British were turrign foes. The war was henceforth to be waxed by rival nations. Lovalists were now traitors, and to be treated as foes to their country. Neutrality could no longer be tolerated. King or Congress must rule. Sides mnet be taken; every man must be a friend or foe, fur or againet hie country : he could not be neither."

ABRAHAM CLARK, whose name appears among the immortal signers of the Declaration, was a citizen of Elizabeth Town. Four days after the signatures were attached, on August 6th, he wrote the following, in a letter to Col. Elias Dayton, then on service at German Flats :

" As tu muy title, I know not yet whether it will be honurable or di -- honourable; the jo-ne of the war must settle it. Perhaps our Congress will be exalted un n high gallows. We weretruly brought to the case of

the three lepers. If we continned in the etate we were in it was evident we must perich ; if we declare Independence we might be eaved, we could but perish. I assure you, sir, I see, I feel, the danger we are io. I am far from exulting in our inginnry happiness ; nothing short of the almighty power of God cau exve ns. It is not in onr unmbers, our union, nor valour I dare trust. I think an interpusing Providence hath been evident in all the evente that necessarily led us to what we are,-I mean independent States,-but for what purpose, whether to make us a great empire, or to make our ruin more complete, the issue only can determine."

While the representatives of the United Colonies were adopting this great measure at Philadelphia the British were gathering their military and naval forces at New York, Washington wrote from that city, June 29th, to Gen. Livingston, commanding at Eliza- beth Town :

" I have received certain informating from the Hook that about forty of the enemy's fleet have arrived there, and othersare now in sight, and that there cannot be a doubt Imt the whole fleet will be in this day and to-morrow. I beg not a moment's time may be lost in sending forward such parts of the militia as Col. Reed shall mention. We are so very weak at this pust that I must beg you to order the three companies which I mentioned in my last for Staten Island immediately to this city." 1

These ships were the British fleet from Halifax, under the command of Admiral Shuldham, with the British army under Gen. Howe, recently driven out of Boston, with six transports filled with Highlanders just sent over. Orders were immediately issued for the removal of the live-stock from Staten Island, and the people of Elizabeth Town were called upon to aid in this movement. Washington writes from New York, July 3d, to the President of Congress,-

"I am this minute informed by a gentleman that the Committee of Elizabeth Town sent their Company of Light Horse on Monday to effect it, and that some uf their militia was to give their aid yesterday (Tues- day)." Headde that he was credibly told last night by part of the militia coming to this place that yesterday they saw a good deal of stock driving off the island and crossing to the Jerseys. ?

We condense the following from Dr. Hatfield's "History of Elizabeth": "The Staten Islanders had made profession of patriotism, and so were allowed to resume trade with this town. The value of their pro- fessions may be seen from the report of Governor Tryon, of New York, to Lord George Germain, dated 'Duchess of Gordon, off Staten Island, 8th July, 1776':"

"General Howe disembarked the troops under his command on Staten Island the 2d Instant without opposition, on which occasion the inhab- itants of the island came down to welcome the arrival of their deliv- erers, & have since afforded the army every supply & acc. anmodation in their power. On Saturday la-t (6th) I received the militia of the Island at Richmond Town, where near four hundred appeared, who cheerfully, on my Recommendation, took the Oath ut Allegiance & fidelity to his Majesty. To-morrow I am to have another muster for the enlistment of Voluntiers to form a Provincial Corps for the defence of the Island." 3

By this defection and the occupation of the island by the British, Elizabeth Town was brought into the very forefront of the field of conflict, and so continued throughout the war. Staten Island became thence- forward not only a British post, but a nest of Tories,

1 Sparks' Washington, iii., pp. 445, 446.

2 Am Archives, 4th Ser., vi. 1234.

3 N. Y. Col. Ducute., viij. GSI.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

and the common resort of the "Loyalists" in their flight from East Jersey.

The day after their landing the enemy made their appearance on the western shore of the island, oppo- site Elizabeth Town Point.

" As soon as the troops lauded (says a correspondent) they paraded the north shore, and on Wednesday morning (3d) made their appearance near Elizabeth-Town point : but the country being soou alarmed, they retreated, took up the floor of the drewbridge in the sult meadows, end immediately threw up some works. Their near approach to Elizabetli- Town point greatly alarmed the inhabitants of Essex county, and par- ticularly the people of Elizabeth-Town and Newark ; but they are now in a condition to receive them whenever they may think proper to ap- proach. Two young men from Elizabeth-Towu crossed the river in a canoe last Thursday (4th) and fired upon the regulare; but a number of them rushing out of the woods, they were obliged to retreat and cross the river again."1

Livingston writes to Washington on the 4th that they had

"Thrown up a couple of small breastworks on the causeway leading from the Point over the Salt Meadow. We have between four and five hundred at the Point who have thrown up a line from the Point House eastward to answer as a cover. We have two field-piece-, with a part of The Company of Artillery of this Province (Capt. Neill's). He adde, Our men are raw and inexperienced, our officers mostly absent, want of discipline is inevitable, while we are greatly exposed for the distance of twelve or fourteen miles."2

He makes an urgent appeal for troops to defend the town against the disciplined troops on the island, from whom an invasion was constantly expected. Washington thereupon writes on the 5th to the President of Congress, ---

" General Mercer arrived here on Tuesday, and the next morning was ordered to Paulus Ilook to make some arrangements of the militia as they came in, and the hest disposition he could tu prevent the enemy's crossing from staten Island if they should have any such views. The distressed situation of the inhabitants of Elisabeth Town and Newark has since induced me, upon their application, to give up all the militia from the Jerseys, except those engaged for six months. I am hopeful they will be able to repel any incursions that may be attempted." 3

He writes to Livingston the next day, 6th,-

"Gen. Mercer has just set off for Jersey. In his experience and judg- ment you may repose great confidence. He will proceed to Amboy after conferring with you. You will please to keep me constantly informed of the proceedings of the enemy, and be assured of every assistance and attention." +

In the same letter he writes, in answer to one from Livingston of the same date, as follows :

" The known di-affection of the people of Amboy, and the treachery of those of Staten Island, who, after the fairest professione, have shown themselves our most inveterate enemies, have induced me to give direc- tions that all persons of known emmuity or doubtful character should be removed from places where they might enter into a correspondence with the enemy audaid them in their schemes. For this end Gen. Heard (uf Woodbridge) has directions to apprehend euch persons ax from their condnet lave showo themselves inimical, ur whose situation, counections, or offices have given just cause uf suspicion."5

This order had a very salutary effect, resulting in the apprehension of a considerable number of ans- pected persons in this town and vicinity, but more particularly in Amboy. Maj. Duyckinck, of the

Middlesex militia, had arrested nine of the princi- pal inhabitants of Amboy, and sent them here to Gen. Livingston, giving occasion to Livingston's letter to Washington.º

A Philadelphia. paper of August 10th relates the following :

"On the late alarm at Elizabeth Town, when an immediate attack of the regulars was expected (July 3d), and every man capable of bearing aros was summoned to defend it, there were three or four young men (brothers) going out from one house, when an elderly lady, mother or grandmother to the young men, without betraying the least signs of timidity, with a resolute calmness, encouraged and assisted them to arm. When they were ready to go, and just setting out, sbe addressed them thus:

"' My children, I have a few words to say to you : You are going out in a just cause to fight for the rights and liberties of your country. You have my blessing and prayers that God will protect and assist you. But if you fall, His will be done. Let me beg of you, my children, that if you fall it may be like men, and that your wounds may not be in your back purte.""7

The two field-pieces of which mention has been made very soon gave a good account of themselves. Under date of July 4, 1776, twelve o'clock at night, it is said,-

"One of the enemy's armed sloops of fourteen guns having this even- ing run up near Elizabeth Point, was attacked from the shore with two twelve-punnders, a great number of her men killed, she set on fire and entirely destroyed." 8

As this occurred just about the time that the Decla- ration of Independence was adopted by Congress, or within two or three hours of that event, it was proba- bly the first military exploit of the new-born nation, and an auspicious omen of its career.

" About one hundred and thirty sail," as Washing- ton informs Gen. Schuyler on the 11th, had now ar- rived from Halifax, and the British army on the island numbered " between nine and ten thousand." The next day several ships of the line arrived, and among them the admiral's ship, who had been daily ex- pected. The utmost vigilance now became necessary, the more so as two British men-of-war had the same afternoon run up Hudson's River and taken posses- sion of Tappan Bay. Livingston, in command of the militia here, and Mercer in charge of the Flying Camp at Amboy, kept their eye on the opposite shore of the Sound, and prevented all foraging incursions from the enemy on the island. Livingston found himself very much in need of military stores. In a letter to the Provincial Congress, July 6th, he says,-

"The number of men that are now in the service here loudly call for more ample supplies of almost every necessary (except provisions) than can be olstained here, such asammunition, f nis, arms, and indeed stores of every kind, an attention to which I caunot give in the manner I could chovce in the present exigency." 9

The following incidents, taken from letters written in the camp at Elizabeth Town, show that the troops were kept continually on the alert :

1 Pa. Eve. Post, No. 229. Pa. Journal, No. 1753.

2 Am. Archives, 4th Ser., vi. 1262.

3 Sparks' Wasbingtoo, iii. 449-50.

+ Ildid., p. 452.

5 Ibid., pp. 451-52.

6 Whitehead's Aniboy, p. 330.

7 Pa. Eve. Post, No. 243. Pa. Journal, No. 1758.

8 Am. Archives, 4th spr., vi. 1272.

9 Sparks' Washington, iii. 463. 468, Irving's Washington, ii. 254. Sedg- wick's Livingston, p. 198.

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

" Last Wednesday noon [10th] a soldier belonging to one of the regi- ments on Staten Island, being in liquor, and having wandered from his companions, got npon the meslows near Elizabeth Town Paint, which being obarrved by Col. Smith, who had the command that day at the Point, he rent over a party of men, who took him prisoner.

" Yesterday bine of our Riflemen crossed the river [Sound] in order to harass some Regulars who were throwing op a kind of breastwork on a bridge for their enemies, Who kept firing on our men for some time withont doing any exerntion, till one of the brave fellows went within a few yards of the enemy and desired them to surrender. At that instant he received a ball through his head, which killed him on the spot. The Colonel sent over a flag of truce to the commanding officer on the Island, desiring leave to bring off his man, which the officer very politely agreed to, and let him take man, rifle and all his accoutrements.")

A few days before this Gen. Mercer had come on here from Amboy in order to surprise the enemy on Staten Island. He planned an invasion for the night of the 18th, purposing to cross the Sound from the mouth of Thompson's Creek, a little below the Point, to the Blazing Star. Maj. Knowlton was to head the Continental troops. The first division marched to the creek by nine o'clock in the evening. The Penn- sylvania troops attached to the Flying Camp were to follow,-in all about thirteen hundred men. But the Pennsylvanians had marched that day from New Brunswick, and were completely exhausted on their arrival. A tremendous thunder-storm also came on, making it impracticable to cross the Sound, and the expedition was reluctantly abandoned.2

Abraham Clark, in the letter to Col. Dayton, Au- gust 6th, referred to above, in giving him local infor- mation, says of the militia,-

" They form a chain from Elizabeth Town Point, where strong worka are erected at an amazing expense of labour, chiefly effected by our Mi- litia before the Pennsylvanians arrived to their assistance. He adds' Elizabeth Town was in great consternation upon General Howe's taking possession of the Island, but at present I believe they are very easy. 1 formerly informed you that Mrs. Dayton had sent the chief of her gooda into Springfield. Many that moved away from Elizabeth Town have since returned.

" Our election for Council and Assembly, Sheriffs, &c., comes ou next Tuesday in all the Counties of New Jersey. I now feel the want of you in Elizabeth Town. I sat down to consider to whom I might venture to write on politicks, and have none that I dare speak plainly to. Hud you or my much esteemed friend, Mr. Caldwell, been there, I should have been af no loss. I have none like-minded. I have friends, it is true, but none there now that I dare speak with freedom to."3

The war, brought thus to their very doors, had wrought a great change in the society of the town. A large number of the best men of the place had taken up arms either in the militia or in the service of Congress, and so were of uncertain residence. Inter- course between families had become much more re- served, as no one knew at what time he might be betrayed to the one or the other party nor which party might presently be in the ascendant. With the vast host of disciplined troops on Staten Island, the very flower of the British army, and daily increas-

ing in numbers by the arrival of reinforcements, the Tories had great reason to expect to be shortly restored to their homes and estates, and in turn to vex and dispossess their patriot neighbors.

Notwithstanding the failure of Gen. Mercer's at- tempt to invade the island on the 18th of July, Wash- ington wrote on the 27th that he was hoping still to " make some efforts to annoy then" from this direc- tion. But on the 29th he informs Congress that

" By the advice of Gen. Mercer and other officers at Ambuy it will be impracticable to do anything upon a large scale for want of craft, as the enemy have the entire command of the water all round the island. I have desired Gru. Mercer to have nine or ten flat-bottomed boats built at Newark Bay and El zabeth Town, with a design principally to keep up the communication across Hackinsac and Passaic Rivers "

The plan alluded to contemplated an attack from the Point with a force of three thousand nine hun- dred men, but boats could not be procured to trans- port half that number across the Sound, and so it was abandoned.4

The militia from Pennsylvania, attached to the Flying Camp and stationed at the Point and its vi- cinity, soon became so disaffected with the service that " many were daily returning home without or- ders," adding greatly to thegathering gloom that was settling over the town. It became necessary for Washington to make, August 8th, an earnest appeal to their patriotism in order to arrest the movement, representing to them "that the fate of our country depends, in all human probability, on the exertion of a few weeks."5

The First Battalion of Philadelphia and the Penn- sylvania rifle battalions were at this time stationed in the town and at the Point. A writer at New York, August 26th, says, "Our people at Elizabeth-Town and the enemy on Staten Island cannonaded each other yesterday afternoon [Sunday], without doing any damage except disturbing the congregation."6

The foreign mercenaries from Waldeck, Hesse-Cas- sel, and Brunswick were now arriving by thousands, their numbers being greatly exaggerated in the re- ports that were alarmingly spread over the country. Governor Tryon wrote from Staten Island, August 14th, to Lord Germain,-

"The whole armament destined for this part of America, except the last division of the Hessi ins, being now assembled here, I expect, by the conrage and strength of this nulle Army, tyranny will be crushed and legal government restored. (15th Aug.) Yesterday evening. St Peter Parker brought into the Hook a Fleet of Twenty-five Sail from the Southward."7

These last were the forces that had been ineffectu- ally employed against Charleston, S. C. They num- bered three thousand troops, and were under the command of Lord Cornwallis.8

Battle of Long Island .- On the 21st of August, Gen. Livingston wrote to Gen. Washington that the enemy were in motion ; that he had sent over a spy

1 Pa. Journal, No. 1754. Am. Archives, 5th Ser., i. 575.

" Am. Archives, 5th Ser., i. 470. Marshall's Washington, ii. 424. Sparks' Washington, iv. 20.

8 Am. Archives, 5th Ser., i. 785. Mr. Caldwell, his pastor, hud, about the Ist of May, accompanied Col. Dayton to the north as chaplain of this regiment.

4 Sparks' Washington, iv. 14-20. 7 Ibid., pp. 37-38.

6 Pa. Journal, Nos. 1755, 1760. 8 N. Y. Col. Docmts., viii. 684.

" Irving's Washington, ii. 298-99.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

the night before, who had returned in safety and reported that twenty thousand men had embarked to make a descent on Long Island and ascend the Hud- son ; that fifteen thousand Hessians were to make at the same time a diversion at Bergen Point, Elizabeth Town, and Amboy. Owing to a terrific thunder-storm that came up the same evening the movement was postponed to Thursday morning, 22d, when nine thousand British soldiers under Sir Henry Clinton effeeted a landing at Gravesend, Long Island, without opposition. Others followed subsequently, and the disastrous battle of Long Island was fought at and near Flatbush on the 27th, compelling the American army to evacuate the island on the night of the 29th.1

At this date and before the real nature of the disas- ter to the army was fully known to him, Livingston wrote to William Hooper, of North Carolina, in Congress, from the " Camp at Elizabeth Town Point," as follows :

" I remived my quarters from the town hither to be with the men, and to eunre them to discipline, wh ch by my distance from the camp before, considering what son. vy subaltern officers we are ever like to have while they are in the appointment of the mobility, I found it ini- possible tu int odluve. And the worst bien ( was there a degree above the superlative) would be st.Il perforated by having been follow-wohliere with that discipline-Bating, gust-liviog-loving, ' tu eternal fame damn'it,' cox- Combiral crew we lately fond here from Philadelphia My ancient cur- pureal fabric is alın ot tuttering under the fatigue I have lately under- gone, constantly rising at 2o'clock in the morning to examine our lines, till daybreak, und from that time till eleven in giving orders, sending dispatches, and doing the pauper business of quartermaster, colonel, comm ssary, and I know not what."2

The disastrous campaign on Long Island was fol- lowed by the abandonment, on the part of the Ameri- can army, of the city of New York, on Sunday, Sep- tember 15th, and its occupation by the British. A large portion of its inhabitants fled into the interior, and many of them into New Jersey, while the Tories of this seetion many of them made their way as speedily as possible to the captured city. More and more it was becoming doubtful whether the Whigs or Tories would prevail. It was in this gloomy period of apprehension that the following letter was written by the Hon. Robert Ogden, of this town, to his son-in-law, Maj. Francis Barber, in service with Col. Dayton at German Flats, N. Y. :

" ELizth Towy, Oct. 6, 1776, Sunday Eves 8 o'clock.

" MY DEAR SON, Mr. BARHER.

" Through divine guud our family are all in the land of the living, and we still continue in the obl ha' itntion [on the Point Road] though al- must surrounded by the regulars. They have long been ou States Island, about a month on Long Island, three weeks bad the possession of New York, which by the way ie nearly one-firth of the city burnt to the ground; who set it on fire is unknown, but the regulary charge it to the Whigs, and 'tis said have put several to death on that account, whether just or unjust the great day will decide."

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 16

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224