History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 17

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 17
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 17

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He then gives some account of the battle of Long Island, and the battle near the Blue Bell ; says that he has been sick, and adds,-

1 Irving's Washington, ii. 310-335, Pa. Journal, August 28th.

2 Sedgwick's Living-tun, 199, 200.

" Through divine goodness the fever has now left me, butin a con- tinual houry, having much more business than a man of my years ought to do, but don't at present know how to avoid it.

" In the beginning of my letter I told you we werealmost surrounded- began at Staten leland, and led yon ruund by Long Island, N. Y., and Bine Br.ll But now come to a very serious part of the story, our troops yes- terday evnenated Bergen, carried off the stores and artillery, muved off as many of the inhabitants as they could get away, drew the wheat and other grain together, and 50 men were left to set fire to it, and last night it was set on fire, the flames were sern bere.

" Your mother 3 still seems undetermined whether to stay here by the stuff or rentove up to Sussex. A few days will determine hier. but per- haps in a tew days it may be too late to dererm ne a matter of this im- portance. Your uncle David [Ogden ] and mother's maxim is, 'They tlint live by faith won't die with fear.' It has Wwen a sickly, dying time in this town for a month past. Stephen Crane has lost his wife [ Ang. 17, 1776], Daniel Williams bis, John Harris his, Benjamin Winans his, Timothy Woodruff his, Sister Ogden, Hannah Ogden [ wite of David] Has lost her an Samuel, Mie. Stubbs is del. Mr. Noel,4 and last night l'ol. Daytom's father [Jonathan] died suddenly in bis chair, hesidre a great many children. Also Aunt Betty. Mather Hetfield has been very sick, but is recovered. Robert is and has been very poorly this fall, and his wife and children are moved up to Morris Town, and most of our gentry are gone off. Mathias' wife [ Hannah, daughter of Cul El as Dey- ton ] and her granny Thompson are moved ap tu Springfield. Friende in general well. Hannah | his daughter, et. 15] has been sick, but is gut well, and ie gruwn considerable this summer, lives at Doct. Caleb Hla- lystend'e [ his brother-in-law] with her aunt [ Mary, wife of Job] Stockton.

"Your mother has been lying for a in with past-the old sore ankle- but the eure is now healed up. Maj. Morris Hatfield was taken prisoner on Monntrisse's [ Montresor's] Island, and is sent down to New York to be cured of his wound, as he was sbut through the cheek.

" It is said Maj. Hatfield fought valiantly, that he fired his musket 9 times, and the last account of him by our men was, a grenadier was coming up to him with bayonet fixed to run him through, and they saw the mi jor fire, and the grenadter drop at his feet ! I have tow done with my story for this time, having wrote as I generally tell muy stories, in a blundering, unconnected way. . . .

"Your mother joins me in tenderest affectionate regards to you, and all the family desire to be remembered to you and to all my friends. " I am yours, affectionately,

" ROBERT OGDEN."

On the 31st of August Gen. Livingston was chosen the first Governor of the State of New Jersey. Pres- ently after he resigned his military command aud en- tered upon his executive duties. The command of the post at Elizabeth Town Point devolved upon bis friend and townsman, Col. Matthias Williamson, who received a few days after from the Legislature a commission appointing him brigadier-general of the New Jersey militia.

On Tuesday, September 24th, four transports arrived at Elizabeth Town with four hundr. dand twenty Amer- ican soldiers taken prisoners at Quebec the previous winter. They had been liberated on parole. From a representation made by Governor Livingston to Congress, it appears that while he was in command of this post so many prisoners were sent to him from the army that the town jail could not contain them, and he was obliged to send them to Millstone, Som- erset County. In all its dire aspects the people of the town were brought to know by experience the intense excitements and the awful horrors of war. In the hospitals here eighty-two were reported, November 1st, as sick, of whom twenty-five were from Canada.5

3 Phehe, eldest daughter of Matthias Hatfield, Eaq.

4 Garret Nuel, previously bookseller, N. Y .; he died September 22d.

5 Amı. Archives, 5th Ser., ii. 588, 597, 833.

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

CHAPTER XIII.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION .- (Continued.)

Campaign Transferred to New Jersey .- The battle of White Plains was fought on the 28th of October; Fort Washington was taken on the 16th of November, and Fort Lee evacuated on the 18th. The campaign was now transferred to the soil of New Jersey. Washington, with the fragment of an army, reduced by the expiration of militia enlistments, and the consequent scattering of his forces to their homes, and utterly unable to obtain new recruits or levies, was compelled to retire before the vastly superior troops of the enemy. A slight diversion had been made by Gen. Williamson from the Point on Staten Island, Sunday, October 13th, but it amounted to nothing. The very next day Col. Slough's battalion of Pennsylvania Associators, which had been sta- tioned here, was discharged to return home, with the thanks of the general for their decent and orderly behavior while at the Point and during the excursion of the day before. Thus in every quarter the patriot army was melting away.1

In anticipation of the invasion of New Jersey by the enemy, Gen. Washington wrote from White Plains, November 7th, to Governor Livingston, urging the importance of placing the Jersey militia on the very best footing, and to forward him new recruits. He then add-,-

" The inhabitants contiguous to the water shonbl be prepared to re- move their stock, grain, effects, and carriages upon the earliest notire. If they are not so the calamities which they will sutter will be beyond all description, and the advantage's derived by the enemy immensely great. They have treated all bere withont discrimination ; the distinc- tion of Whig amd Tory has been lost in our general scene of invage and desolation. The article of torage ie of great importance to them, mul not a blade should remain for their use. What can't be leumved with convenience should be consumed without the least hesitation."

He urges also that the barracks here, at Am boy, and at Brunswick be put in order "to cover our troops." He informs Congress, November 14th, that the army has left the other side of Hudson's River, and that he intends to quarter them at Brunswick, Amboy, Elizabeth Town, Newark, and Hackensack. Fort Washington had not then been taken.2

Gen. Williamson at once wrote, November 26th (on hearing of the capture of Forts Washington and Lee), to the brave and patriotic Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., of Morristown, in the most urgent terms :

" You are ordered to bring out all the militia in your conuty imme- diately, and march them down to Elizabeth Town, and see that each Dian is furnished with a gun, and all his accoutrements, Manket, and for days' provision, and when they arrive to join their respective com- panies aud regiments."3

Washington had fallen back through Hackensack npon Aquackanonck, on the right bank of the Pas- saic River, November 21st, and the next day he fell

down to Newark, where his army remained unmo- lested for six days. The interval was improved by the people of Newark and Elizabeth Town in re- moving their families and effects beyond the Newark Mountains and the Short Hills into the more inacces- sible interior. The distress and consternation that prevailed all along the expected route of the two ar- mies can better be conceived than described. It is not known that a record of it remains. On Thursday morning, November 28th, Washington with the wreck of his army, not more than three thousand five hundred in number, entered the almost deserted town by the old road from Newark, the advanced guard of Lord Corn- wallis entering the latter town as the rear of the American army left it. Pushing on to secure an en- campment on the right bank of the Raritan, so as to be ready to oppose any troops that might be sent by way of Staten Island to Amboy for cutting off his re- treat, he reached New Brunswick on Friday, remain- ing there but two days, and then on Sunday, Decem- ber 1st, he took up the line of march for Trenton, arriving there on Monday morning. Writing from Brunswick on Saturday, the 30th, he says,-

" From intelligence received this morning. one division of the enemy was advanced last night as far as Elizabeth Town, and some of their quartermaster's had proceeded abunt four or five miles on this side to provide barns for their accommodation. Other accounts say another division, composed of He-sians, areon the road through Springfield, aud are reported to bave reached that place last night." 4

The people at Aquackanonck retarded the enemy by cutting down the bridge over the Passaic.

Col. Huntington writes, December 2d, from Ramapo to Col. Heath, that not more than a hundred of the enemy remained at Hackensack, and that their main body was at Elizabeth Town. A field-officer in the British army on the same day wrote to a friend in London,-

"The troops under Gen. Lord Cornwallis, after driving the rebels from Fort Lee, or Fort Constitution, in New Jersey, proceeded from Ilacked- sack to Newark, and from Newark to Elizabeth Town, where they found great quantities of stores, among which are twenty tons of musket- bullets. The rebels continue flying before our army."5

On the approach of the enemy, Gen. Williamson, with the militia under his command, retired up the country. Writing from Brunswick on the 1st to Gov. Livingston, Washington says,-

" I have not, including Gen. Williamson's militia, more than four thou- sarl men. I wrote to Gen. Williamson last night, and pressed him to exert h mself; but I have reason to believe he has not the confidence of the people so much as could be wished."

Gen. Williamson writes from Morristown, Decem- ber 8th, in defense of his apparent inefficiency, as follows :

" Very few of the counties of Essex and Bergen joined my command. 1 have it from good intelligence that many who bore the character of warm Whigs have been foremost in seeking protection from Gen. Howe Binl forsaking the American cause. Col. Thomas, of Essex County, is with us, Int has no command of mien. . . . I can declare before God I

1 Pennsylvania Journal, Na. 1769.

" Sparks' Washington, iv., pp. 163-64, 174.

3 Ao1. Archive», 5th ser., iii. 1121.

4 Sparks' Washington, iv. 189, 190, 193-95, 200.

5 Am. Archives, 5th ser., iii. 1037, 1039.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

buve worried myself to the heart in endeavoring to serve my country to the extent of my power. Gen. Mercer is knowing to many difficulties I Jabored under to keep the militia together while he had the command at Elizabethtown. Upon the whole, I am so entirely disabled from doing my duty in the brigade by my buneness that I have wrote to Governor Livingston to request his acceptance of my resignation."1

The difficulties with which he had to contend were not exaggerated. The most disheartening was the defection of so many professed patriots. Washing- ton wrote on the 5th to Congress,-

" By my last advices, the enemy are still at Brunswick ; and the account adds that Gen. Huwe was expected at Elizabeth Town with a reinforce- meut to erect the king's standard and demand a submission of this State."

The next day, 6th, he writes,-

" By a letter of the 14th ultimo from a Mr. Caldwell, a clergyman, and a staunch friend to the cause, who has fled frumu Elizabeth Town and taken tefnge in the nmoutains at ont ten miles from hence [thence ?], Inm informed that General or Lord Howe was expected in that town to publish pardon and peace. His words are, ' I have not sren his procla- mation, but can only say he gives sixty days of grare, and pardons from the Congress down to the Committee. No one man in the continent is to be denied his mercy.' In the language of this good man, 'The Lord deliver us from his mercy.'" 2

The proclamation by the brothers Howe was issued on Saturday, November 30th, the day after the British occupation of this town. It commanded all persons who had taken up arms against his Majesty to dis- band and return home, and offered to all who should within sixty days subscribe a declaration that they would be peaceable subjects, neither taking up arms themselves nor encouraging others so to do, a free and full pardon for the past. Care was taken to give every possible publicity to this document, and means not always gentle were used to induce subscriptions.3

The people had witnessed but a day or two before to what a sad plight the army of Washington, "the grand army" that so recently confronted the British forces, was reduced as in tattered array it fled before the enemy to the Raritan. They were at that mo- ment surrounded by the well-caparisoned troops of Cornwallis, whose squadrons were spreading them- selves over the whole land, and, unresisted, oeeupy- ing every town and hamlet. The patriot canse ap- peared to be utterly hopeless. It seemed impossible for Congress to retrieve the disasters that since the fatal field of Flatbush had come upon the country. The " Declaration of Independence" seemed now but an idle boast. It was regarded as certain that the au- thority of King George would soon be re-established in all the States. Such was the confident expecta- tion and boasts of the loyalists at New York, on Long Island, on Staten Island, and in every place occupied by the British troops. Even the most sanguine of patriots spoke and wrote in the most despondent terins.4

In these eireumstanees it is searcely to be wondered at that the artifice of Lord Howe and his brother met

with very considerable success, as intimated in Gen. Williamson's letter. Dr. Ashbel Green observes,-

" I heard a man of some shrewdness once say that when the British troops overran the State of New Jersey, iu the closing part of the year 1776, the whole population could have been bought for eighteen pence a lead." 5

The main body of the British army was pushed for- ward beyond the Raritan towards the Delaware. But a considerable detachment remained to occupy this post and to guard against any surprise from the militia of the interior. Gen. Charles Lee, with rein- foreements for Washington, reached Chatham from Peekskill on the 8th of December, and on the 11th, from Morristown, wrote to Gen. Heath, on his way from Peekskill, that at Springfield, seven miles west of Elizabeth Town, ... "about one thousand Militia are collected to watch the motions of the enemy." These were Col. Ford's troops. They were stationed at the Short Hills, just back of Springfield, from which point every movement of the enemy on the plains be- low could readily be seen. An eighteen-pounder was planted subsequently on the heights near the residence (in after-days) of Bishop Hobart, to give the alarm in case of the enemy's approach. A tar-barrel was fixed at the top of a lofty pole near by, to be set on fire when the alarm-gun was discharged. These could be heard and seen over a great extent of country.6

The Rev. Mr. Caldwell had found an asylum for himself and family at Turkey (New Providence), where he soon put himself in communication with Col. Ford. His experience the previous sommer and autumn at the North as chaplain of Col. Day- ton's regiment enabled him now to be of great ser- vice to his country. Hearing of the arrival of Gen. Lee, he wrote bim on the 12th as follows :

" DEAR SIR,-I thank you for your favour from Baskingridge of this morning, and intended to do myself the houour to wait upon you, and set ont for the purpose, but found my horse would not perform the jour- ney with sufficient expedition, and cannot procure another horse. And indeed I find this the best place to observe the enemy's motivus. From sundry persous who have been upoo the road between Brunswick aud Princeton, I learn the army has very generally marched forward; in- deed, all except guards of the several posts. Yesterday they sent a re- inforcement to Elizabeth Town from Amboy of near one thousand. Some say the whole at Elizabeth Town are about one thousand; others say fifteen hundred. They are carrying off the bay from Elizabeth Town to New York. ... I believe Elizabeth Town is their strongest pust, as they were afraid of our militia, who have taken off mauy of the most active Tories, made some prisoners, and among others shot their English foragemaster, so that he is mortally or very illy wounded. A company of our Militia went last night to Woodbridge, and brought off the drove of atock the enemy had collected there, consisting of about four hundred cattle aod two hundred sheep. Most of these cattle are only fit for stock. . . . They are driven up the country to be out of the enemy's way.

" At a Council of the Field Officers this morning, a majority of them advised to remove the brigade of Militia back again to Chatham, for which they assign these reasons. Many of the Militia, rather fond of plunder and adventure, kept a continual scouting, which kept out so many detached parties that the body was weakened ; and the enemy be- ing now stronger at Elizabeth Town than they are, they thought they would better serve the cause hy lying at Chatham till the expected army approaches for their support."i

1 Anı. Archives, Ith ser., iii., p. 1120.

" Sparks' Washington, iv. 204, 205.

3 Ilid., p. 205. Gordon's Am. Rev., ii. 129.

4 Irving's Washington, it. 446.

5 Jones' Life of Rev. Dr. Asbbel Green, p. 122.

6 Am. Archives, 5th Ser., iii. 1167. Jones' Life of Dr. Green. p. 96.

7 Am. Archives, 5th Ser., iii. 1189.

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

The next morning, 13th, Gen. Lee was captured by a surprise party of the enemy.1

Gen. Heath having reached Hackensack, wrote to Washington on the 15th, in respect to the enemy, " Several thousands landed at Elizabeth Town on yesterday or the day before." The movement of the troops under Lee and Heath and the posting of the militia under Ford at the Short Hills had not escaped the eye of Cornwallis. A portion of his forces, as ap- pears from the following correspondence, were ordered to retrace their steps and look after these Americans. In the night of the 17th, Ford writes from Chatham to Heath by express, and says,-

" We have since sunset had a brush with the enemy, four miles below this, in which we have suffered, and our Mil.tra touch d alvartened. They are all retreated to this place, and will, in all prole'il ty, be at- tacked by daybreak. The enemy, we have reason to believe, are double our numbers. If in your wisdom you can assist ne we may possibly beat them yet, but without your aid we can't stand. They are coramped (May one thousand British troops) at Springfield, and will be joined by four hundred and fitty Waldeckers from Elizabeth-Towu by the text morning's light."

The next day he again writes to Heath,-

" I have certain intelligence that the troops we engaged last night were General Leslie's Inigade, who marched some few days since from Elizabeth Town to the southard. They received an order to counter- march to the same plaire. The brigade is Ir mn twelve to thirteen hun- dred strong, and the Waldeckers upwards of four bnmdrei. At Spank- town [Rahway ], eix miles to the southard of Elizabeth Town, there is five hundred Briti h troops. This is all the ruemy yon have to combat in this country at present. We are not certain whether the enemy who attacked us have or have not yet returned to Elizabeth-Town. "2

Col. Symmes, in a sketch of Col. Oliver Spencer, of this town, gives a much more detailed account of this transaction :

"On the approach of Gen. Lesley's troups towards Springfield they were discovered by Maj. Spencer's videts stationed on the western romul. Maj. Spencer instantly dispatched a light-horseman on full speed tour miles to Chatham, to notify the Colonel commandant that the enemy in considerable force were within two miles of Springheld. The brigade were already umler arms, and were ordered instantly to march towards Springfield to sustain Maj. Spencer ; turantime the M jor prudently abandoned Springfield, and retreated towards t'hatham, he met the brigade at Briant's tavern. After Major Sprucer had cumtuunicateil to the Col-

the brigade advanced to the attock. Capt. Brook fieldl, who commanded the flanking party on the left, made the first onart on the right of the enemy extending from the Church np the Vauxhall road. Capt. Seely, who commanded the flanking party on the right, unule a warm attack upwon the left of the enemy spread along the Westficht romul. The ceu- tre of the enemy occupied the ground in front of and the mn adow behind Woodruff's tavern. The Colonel commandant of the mi itin, -nggan ted by Cul Lindsly on the left, and Maj. Spencer, who wow commanded the Essex regiment, on the right, brought the centre of the ligade, retaining their fire until within pistol-shot of the enemy ; the conflict cont nued alumt an hour, when the darkness fortable a longer contest at that t me, and the firing seemed mutually to cease on both shles. On this orcasion Major Spencer displayed by his conduct the calm but intrepid soldier; bis horse was shut under him, when with a smile on his countenance and a pistol in each hand he came up to the Colonel comm uplant to inform him that he had been dismounted by the death of his botse, The brigade fell back that evening only one mile to Briant's tavern, struck up fires, and lay all night on their arms, intending to make a brand attack in the morning. But in the morning the enemy was not to be tound ; he hand withdrawn in the night with all possible silence, taking off his dead and wounded in wagons. The militia pursued him to Westfield, but could

1 Irving's Washington, ii. 459-61.

2 Am. Archives, 5th Ser., ill. 1235, 1200-61, 1277.

not come up with hitn. This was the first instance in the State of New Jer- sey when the British troops turned their backs and fled Irom those they called rebels, and this success, small as the offair was, taught the Jersey militia that the fue was not invincible .** 3

Leslie's brigade entered Newark on the morning after the "brush." Col. Ford, four days afterwards, found his forces so much scattered that only ahout two hundred remained. Previous to this affair he had done good service, harassing the enemy, "sur- prising the guards, and taking their wagons, stores," etc. Ford was so much exposed and exhausted by this short campaign that soon after he was seized with peri-pneumonia, and died on the 11th, at Morristown, in the fortieth year of his age, eight days before his father, Col. Jacob Ford, Sr.4

Washington, learning that "about eight hundred militia had collected" near Morristown, sent, on the 20th of December, Gen. Maxwell "to take the com- mand of them, and, if to be done, to harass and annoy the enemy in their quarters and cut off their convoys." Gen. McDougall was also detailed for the same purpose. The state of affairs the same day at Elizabeth Town is thus reported from Chatham :

"Jobu Halstead left Elizabeth Town this morning at eight o'clock. Says there is no troops in Elizabeth Town but Wahleckers, the sinie that has been there for two weeks art. Says the drums heat this m .ca- ing about daybreak, and be understood they were to have marched, but that they did not, and the reason why, as he understood, was the badness of the weather. Knows not wh ch way they were to march, but it is saul they were to have a little march out n' town ; that he thinks 8. X or seven hundred British troupe went through town the day before yesterday, n-ar twelve o'clock, towards Newark, and that they have not as yet returned."5

On the morning of Thursday, the 26th of Decem- ber, Washington surprised and captured nine hundred and eighteen Hessians at Trenton, parts of Anspach's, Rahl's, and Knyphansen's regiments, with the loss of only four wounded. This brilliant manœuvre com- pletely turned the tide of affairs. The British, who believed themselves masters of the country and scouted the idea of any opposition, were painfully roused from their reveries and began to be alarmed for their safety. The Americans, on the other hand, were electrified with delight and inspired with new life.

On the 30th, at Trenton, Washington wrote to Maxwell to collect as large a force as possible at Chatham, "and after gaining the proper intelligence, endeavor to strike a stroke upon Elizabeth Town or that neighborhood," instructions that Maxwell pre- pared at once to carry out.

Following up his advantages, Washington once more crossed the Delaware, passed around the British at Trenton, marched forward by night, surprised and captured Princeton on the morning of Jan. 3, 1777, and then took post for two or three days at Pluck- emin, in Somerset County, a few miles below Bask-

: N. J. Journal, Nu. 4536.

4 Am. Archives, 5th Ser., ill. 1299, 1365, 1419. Morristown Bill of Mortality, p. 29.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 17

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