History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 18

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 18
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 18

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5 Spark»' Washington, iv. 239, 249. Am. Archives, 5th Ser., ini. 1316.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

ing Ridge, thus compelling the British commander to evacuate all his posts beyond New Brunswick, and provide, by a concentration of his forces, for the safety of his stores at the latter place. On Monday, the 6th, Washington removed to Morristown, to give his wearied troops some rest and to watch the panic- stricken foe.1

Gen. Sir William Howe writes from New York, Jan. 5, 1777, that " Lord Cornwallis returned with his whole force to Brunswick, and the troops at the right being assembled at Elizabethtown, Maj .- Gen. Vanghan has that command." 2

Taking advantage of the consternation of the enemy and the advance of the American army, Gen. Maxwell, with the militia under his command, came down from the Short Hills, compelled the British to evacuate Newark, had a brush with them at Spring- field, drove them out of Elizabeth Town, and fought them at Spank Town (Rahway) a couple of hours. Of these movements a meagre record only is pre- served. Washington writes to Congress on the 7th, from Morristown,-

"There have beeo two or three little skirmishes between their partiee and some detachments of the militia, in which the latter have been suc- cessful and made a few prisoners. The most considerable wae on Sunday morning [51h], when eight or ten Waldeckers were killed and wonuded, and the remainder of the puity, thirty-umne or forty, Diade prismiers, with the officers, by a force not superior in number and without receiv- ing the least damage." 2

This was at Springfield. The troops were led by Maj. Oliver Spencer, and for his bravery on this oc- casion he was presently after promoted to a colonelcy. Three days later (8th) our forces recovered possession of this post :

" Philadelphia, Jan. 16, 1777. Our army marched from Pluckemio and arrived at Morris Town ou the sixth. Gen. Maxwell, with a con- siderable body of Continental trope aud militia, having marched to- wards Elizabeth Town, sent bark for reinforcement, which having joined him, he advanced and took possession of the town, and made prisoners fitty Waldeckers and forty Highlanders, who were quartered there, and made prize of a schooner with baggage oud some blankets on board. About the same time vue thousand bushels of salt were secured by our troops at a place called Spank Town, about five miles from Woodbridge, where a party of our men attacked the enemy at that place ; they seut for a reinforcement to Woodbridge, but the Hessiany alsolutely refused tu march, having heard we were very numerous in that quarter. The English troups at Elizabeth Town would not suffer the Waldeckers to stand sentry at the outposts, several of them having deserted aud come over to ls."

Another account, dated Trenton, January 9th, says,-

" A regiment of British troops at Spank Town, six miles below Eliza- beth Town, was attacked on Sunday by a party of Jersey militia ; the encounter continued alment two hours. Two regiments mnichred up frun Woodbridge aud Amboy to reinforce the enemy, and thus saved thein."4

Still another account says, January 9th,-

" The enemy have abandoned Elizabeth Town. Our people have en- tered it and taken thirty Waldeckers and fifty Highlanders, aud about

thirty baggage waggons fully loaded. The enrory, who had all the Jer- seys, are nuw only in possession of Amboy and Brunswick. "6

Gen. Sir William Howe writes on the 17th from New York,-

" The enemy still continuing in force at Morris Town, and iu that ueighborhood, and tereiving daily reinforcements from the eastern mil- itin. Maj .- Gen. Vanghan, with the corps he had at Elizabeth Town, is removed to Amby."6

In Congress, March 23, 1778, it was " Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of James Norris for 1527§§ dollars, in full payment of his cap- ture from the enemy on the 9th of January, 1777, at Elizabethi-town, in New Jersey, which was disposed of to the army of the United States." 7

At this time occurred the following : It is related of Capt. Eliakim Littell, of this town, " a partisan of great merit," and of "remarkably fine and imposing personal appearance :"

"On the day that the British force abandoned Newark, which they had ocenp.ed as a garrison, ami marched to Elizabeth Town, a company of Waldeckers was dispatched on some particular service towards the Connecticut Farms. Littell and his followers operdily discovered and followed them. Dividing his small forre into two bodies, he placed one ambush in the rear, and appearing in front with the other, demanded an innnediate surrender. The Germane wished to retrograde, but nieet. ing with the party expressly concealed to impede their retreat, and briskly assailed in front, surrendered without firing a gnu. The British general, exasperated by their capture, ordered out a body of Ressians to revenge the affrunt ; but the superior knowledge of Littell and his asso- ciatry enabling theus to goad the enemy at various points with spirited attacks, without any great degree of exposure, they were alev driven into x swamp and compelled to surrender to inferior numbers. Morti- fied beyond measure at this second discomfiture, a troop of hurse were undered out ; but they in turn were rooted, and were umly more fortunate than those that preceded them by being able, by the rapid movement of their horses, to escape pursuit. A Tory, to whom a crustterable re- ward was . ffred for the performance of the service, now led 300 men to the house of tapt. Littell, who, believing he was securely pent up withiu, commencent a heavy discharge of mineketry mpou it from all sidee. The captain, however, was not to be so easily entrapped, and while they were making preparations to storm the desertrd dwelling they were attacked in the rear, bring previously joined by another body of volunteris, and driven with precipitation from the field. Littell in the interim, with a part of his force, had formed an ambuscade along a fenve side, and perceiving the ruemy slowly appow hing. leveled and discharged his piece, and the coormander fell. The British, unable, from the darkness of the night, to make any calculation w th regard to the number of their oppverts, were intimidated, and bought safety in flight."8

Some allowance should be made for rhetorical em- bellishments in these statements. The numbers, it is quite likely, are somewhat exaggerated. Yet this may be taken as a specimen of the kind of warfare that for several months at this period was prosecuted by the m'ilnia o this town and vicinity. At this period, it will be bone in mind, the town included nearly the whole ca the present Union County, the towns of Union, Springfield, New Providence, Westfield, Plainfield, Rahway, Linden, and Clark, having since been organized out of the ancient territorial domain of Elizabeth Town.

1 Irving's Washington, ji. 500-18. Dr. Tomes' Battles of Am., i. 428-38.

2 Parliamentary Register. xi. 376.

9 Mmmurks' Washington, iv. 264 Gordon's N. J., p. 233.

4 Almon's Remembrancer, v. 70-74.

5 Moore's Diary of Am. Rev., i. 373.

6 Parliamentary Register, x1. 376.

7 Journals, iv. 1 :2.

8 Gardeu's Anecdotes of the Rev. War, 2d Ser., p. 210. Barber'e N. J. His. Coll., pp. 184, 185.

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

When Mr. Caldwell and his people returned to their homes, the second week of January, 1777, from their exile of six weeks they found everything in ruins, their houses plundered, their fences broken down and consumed, their gardens laid waste, their fields an open common, and their records, both private and public, destroyed. The outrages committed by the ruthless foe, British and Hessian both, during this short occu- pation were a disgrace to human nature. Foremost among those who wreaked their vengeance upon the patriots were their former Tory neighbors. Many of these had a twelvemonth before consulted their own safety by taking refuge on Staten Island, and subse- quently at New York. When the town was occupied, November 30th, by the British army the most of these Tories returned to their old homes, and took every opportunity to assert their importance, to re- taliate upon the opposite party the injuries that they had endured, and to single out the Whigs as marks of brutal indignities and violence.1

It was the deep sense of these grievous wrongs that roused the whole population against their brutal in- vaders, so that although Washington at Morristown found great difficulty in gathering an enlisted army, the British on the Raritan were so hemmed in that they could not obtain forage for their horses and cattle, and supplies for their army only at the point of the bayonet. Every foraging party venturing but a few miles into the country on either side of their lines was sure to be attacked by some partisan leader like Capt. Littell and his band, or by the brave Max- well with his militia, and seldom returned to camp without loss. Washington says, January 20th, " Within a month past, in several engagements with the enemy. we have killed, wounded, and taken pris- oners between two and three thousand men." 2

The timid souls who had taken protection from the British general now found themselves in a position of great difficulty. Gen. Maxwell, the post com- mandant, in accordance with Gen. Washington's proclamation, required all who would not take the oath of allegiance to take themselves and their fami- lies off immediately to the enemy. They demanded the privilege of remaining till the thirty days were expired. Maxwell wrote for further instructions. Washington replied on the 12th of February as fol- lows :

"These fellows at Elizabeth Town, as well as all others who wish to remain with ns till the expiration of the thirty days, or wo other por- pose than to convey intelligence to the enemy aud pohon our people's Diinda, minst and shall be compelled to withdraw immediately within the enemy's litre; others who are hesitating which side to take, and behave friendly to ns till they determine, must be treated with leuity. Such as go over to the enemy are not to take with them anything but their clothing and furniture Their horses, cattle. und forage must be left beliind. Such as incline to share our fate are to have every assistance

afforded them that can be granted with safety. Nether wagons por horses must be too much hazarded in doing this business. The effects of all persons in arms agaiost ns must be seized and secured." 3

The lines were now effectually drawn, and every man was compelled to show his colors. The young men, or " fellows," as Washington calls them, most probably went over to the enemy, and became parti- san soldiers of the most malignant type, spies, scouts, and guides to the British, inflicting subsequently no small injury upon their kindred and former friends. It was a hard case, as the line ran in some instances between parents and their children, as well as between brothers and sisters.‘

The enemy had been driven out of the town on the 8th of January, but they remained still in the neigh- borhond. They occupied Perth Amboy, and ranged at will over the greater part of Woodbridge, separated from this town only by the Rahway River. The situ- ation of the inhabitants, therefore, during the first half of the year 1777 was exciting enough. They lived continually in the midst of alarms. Gen. Sul- livan was in command below the range of hills on the west, while Maxwell held the town. Their troops were continually moving from Chatham and Spring- field, or from Westfield and Scotch Plains, watching for opportunities to cut off the foraging parties or pick up the scouts of the enemy. Skirmishes more or less severe were of almost daily occurrence.

Several actions took place in January, February, and March, just beyond the southern line of this town, a few miles only to the south, and in the most of them the soldiers of this post participated. Tbe people here had their full share during this period of " the pomp and circumstance of war," and were not without considerable apprehension constantly of having the war brought once more to their very doors.5

The following notices are copied from a Tory journal :

" Last Thursday Week (February 27th), Major Tympany crossed from Staten Island to Elizabeth Town with about sixty meo, when he was sttarked by a Body of the Rebels, two or three of whom were killed on the spot, and four or five taken prisoners. The Major returned safe, without having a man hurt, and brought with him ten head of cattle.

" Last Friday (June 13th) & Party of about twelve Men went from Staten Island to Elizabeth Town Poiot, when they were fired npoa by the Rebels, Imt they soon put them to flight, killed one and wounded three more, and brought off a new flat-bottomed Boat sufficient to hold a hundred men. By one of our People's Pieces going off through Care- lessness, Peter Kingsland was shot in the Head, of which wound he died immediately." 6

The campaign in East Jersey was brought to a close on the 30th of June. The British evacnated New Brunswick on Sunday, the 22d of June, retiring to Perth Amboy. On Thursday morning, 26th, they advanced in force from Amboy as far as Westfield, under the command of Sir William Howe and Lord

1 Barlær'e llis Coll. of N. J., pp. 183-84. See also Remembrancer, iv. 307 : v. 77, 154, 253-57. Am. Museum (Carey's), iv. 236. Sparke' Wash- Ington, iv. 278.

2 Sparka' Washington, iv. 287. Hall's Civil War in America, pp. 269- 71.

3 Spirks' Washington, iv. 297-98, 319-21.

4 Ibid., 298-99. N. J. Rev. Correspondence, p. 26.

5 Remembrancer, v. 79, 80, 88, 98, 136-78, 221, 260-61. Hall'e Civil War in America, p.274. Whitehead's Amboy, pp. 340, 341, 343, 344. 6 Gaines' Mercury, Nos. 1324, 1338.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

Cornwallis. On the way the advance of the latter fell in with Col. Daniel Morgan's corps of rangers at Woodbridge, with whom a hot contest was kept up for half an hour, at the expense of a considerable number of men. At Scotch Plains a severe engage- ment ensued with the troops under Lord Stirling, who were obliged, being greatly inferior in numbers, to fall back to the heights in the rear, with the loss of a few men and three cannon. At Westfield, perceiv- ing the passes on the left of Washington's camp to be strongly guarded, and no prospect of getting into his rear, as was contemplated, the enemy encamped for the night after a burning hot day. Here they re- mained until three o'clock P.M. of Friday, when they marched to Rahway, closely followed and assailed in the rear and on the flanks by Scott's light-horse and Morgan's Rangers. The next day they returned to Amboy, still followed as on the previous day. Here they rested on the Sabbath, and the next day, Monday, June 30th, they left, a part crossing over to Staten Island on a bridge of boats, and another part embarking on board of two hundred and seventy transports which filled the harbor, and sailed away on the 23d of July.1

Thus, after seven months' occupation and a vast expenditure of resources, after a vain attempt to penetrate to Philadelphia and to bring the war to a speedy end, the great army of invasion, having been for nearly six months restricted to the line of the Raritan River, was compelled wholly to evacuate the State, to the disgrace and chagrin of their leaders, and the bitter disappointment of the whole Tory faction.

CHAPTER XIV.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION .- ( Continued.)

Raids from Staten Island .- The enemy being still in force on Staten Island, it became necessary to be con- stantly on the watch and to keep up a competent force to patrol and guard every accessible avenue along the opposite Jersey shore. The " New Jersey Volunteers," or the refugees who had enlisted in the brigade of Gen. Cortlandt Skinner, were also on the island. A detachment of this brigade, consisting of sixty-three men, was under the command of Maj. Richard V. Stockton, a son-in-law of Joseph Hatfield, of Eliza- beth Town. Stockton was captured at Lawrence's Island, Feb. 18, 1777. The refugees from Elizabeth Town were connected mostly with Skinner's brigade, and were, in the progress of the war, a source of great annoyance to their patriotic kinsmen and for- mer neighbors.

1 Sparks' Washington, iv. 470-76. Pa. Ledger, No. 102, N. Y. Gazette, No. 2. Remembrancer, v. 260, 261. Moore's Diary, i. 449-52. Graham's Life of Morgan, pp. 125-28. Hall's Civil War in America, p. 292. Ir- ving's Washington, iii. 126.

The necessity of vigilance appears from such no- tices as the following, written Ang. 18, 1777 :

" Last Thursday Evening [14th] a Party of the New Jersey Volnn- teers went over to Crane's Ferry, near Elizabeth Town Point, and brought off three of the Militia without firing a Gun." 2

Measures were devised by Col. Matthias Ogden, the officer in command at Elizabeth Town, in con- junction with Gen. Sullivan, who had been left by Washington in command of a Continental force be- yond the Short Hills, to punish these renegade dis- turbers of the peace. Col. Dayton's regiment from Newark was called in to take part in the enterprise, with a hundred militia of the town. Sullivan se- Jected from Smallwood's and De Borre's brigades one thousand men, and marched at two o'clock P.M. on Thursday, the 21st of August, from Han- over, fourteen miles, to Elizabeth Town, arriving in the evening, when they halted a short time for rest. At ten o'clock P.M. they moved down to Hal- stead's Point, near the mouth of Morse's Creek, where they crossed over to the island. Dayton and Ogden, with their commands, and Col. Fielu, with the mi- litia, crossed at the Old Blazing Star. The New Jersey Volunteers were posted in small detachments along the shore of the island from Decker's Ferry to the point opposite Amboy, about fifteen miles. Ogden and Dayton fully and successfully carried out their part of the programme. Lieut .- Cols. Lawrence and Barton were captured, with one hundred and thirty privates, also a British shallop, in which the prison- ers were sent over to this side. But Sullivan's com- mand, having been deceived by their guide, lost heavily, in consequence of the rear detachments being disappointed in obtaining boats to return by the Old Star Ferry. These losses more than com- pensated the advantages obtained by Cols. Ogden and Dayton.3

Immediately after, Sullivan, with the troops under his command, was ordered to join the main army at Wilmington, Del. A small force only was left in this quarter to guard the long line of coast exposed to the depredations of the enemy.

An invasion of the State by Clinton at Elizabeth Town Point and other places, September 12th, showed the necessity of keeping here a large body of troops, to be ready for such emergencies. Gen. Dickinson writes to Washington from this town, Sept. 20th,-

" Your Excellency will be much surprised to hear that there are not more than one thousand of our militia now embodied, all of which are at this post. I shall order all the guards called in before day, and march with the utmost expedition the rontes directed. I have ordered General Wines to collect and march his brigade to this post with all despatch."4

2 Gaines' Mercury, No. 1347.

3 Pa. Jom nal, No. 1806. Remembrancer, v. 483-85. Sparks' Washing- ton, v. 47. Gordon's Rev. War, 220-23. Moore's Diary, 4:2-86 Mar- shall's Washington, iii. 135-37. Gordon's N. J., pp. 246-47. Irving's Washington, iii. 195.

4 Rivington's Gazette, No. 155. Remembrancer, v. 420. Hall's Vivil War in America, p. 325. Gordon's Rev. War, ii. 236. Gordon's N. J . p. 252. Sparks' Washington, v. 64. Sparks' Correspondence of the Revo- Intion, i. 434.

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Four days after, on Thursday, September 24th, a reinforcement of about three thousand British and foreign troops from Europe arrived at New York. Dickinson was then on his way to join Washington in the vicinity of Philadelphia; but this event com- pelled him to retrace his steps with a part of his troops, sending on the remainder, six hundred, in command of Gen. Forman, and onee more take post at this town. Writing to Washington from this place November 1st, he informs him that there are not more than one hundred militia from West Jersey at this post, that the reports of his intended march to Red Bank on the Delaware had lessened the number of his troops, and that Gen. Winds, who had gone on an expedition to New Windsor on the North River, had not yet returned. He suggests an expedition against Staten Island, and says, "I have boats now ready to transport five hundred men at a time, and could increase my present numbers (about six hun- dred men) to twelve hundred men upon such an oc- casion." 1

The Americans at this time were in high spirits. Tidings had come nine or ten days before of Gates' vietory, October 7th, at Stillwater, near Saratoga, and of the surrender of Burgoyne's army, October 17th. The news created a great and joyful excite- ment in this town ; salutes were fired, bonfires kin- dled, and, as Rivington's lying chronicle reports, " rum was given to the rabble."?

Gaines says, Nov. 24, 1777, ---

" We hear that orders have been sent to a Place called Westfield, a few miles frum Elizabeth Town, in New Jersey, for the Inhabitants of that place to prepare Quarters for a large Body of Men, and to cut down five hundred Cords of Fire Wood. . . . Ou Tuesday, Wednesday, Thure- day, and Friday last (18-21) Partiee of Rebels landed on Staten Island fromn Elizabeth Town, but were as olten beaten off." 8

These "Parties" were probably employed in this way to keep the enemy from learning the object of the encampment at Westfield. Dickinson, having obtained the consent of Washington, was preparing for an invasion of Staten Island. Volunteers were called in and a force gathered (with those on duty at this post) of fourteen hundred men. He designed, if possible, to surprise Skinner's corps of provincials, sta- tioned along the western shore of the island, and cap- ture them. For this purpose, early in the morning of Thursday, November 27th, he embarked at Hal- stead's Point, effected a landing in three divisions on the opposite shore, and marched seven miles to a ren- dezvous, hoping to get in the rear of the provincials and cut them off. The utmost seerecy had been ob- served, his own officers not having been apprised of the object until eight o'clock of the evening before. Skinner, however, got word of it at three o'clock in the morning and made good his retreat. On arriv- ing at the rendezvous the Americans found Gen.

Campbell in force with artillery and two war vessels to cover the fortifications. Disappointed in his plans, Dickinson returned in good order, five or six of the Tory brigade having been słain and twenty-four taken prisoners. The troops were eight hours on the island. In the skirmish they lost three men taken prisoners, and fourteen were slightly wounded. With this exception, they got back " without the loss of man, horse, or boat." 4

A few days before this occurrence (20th), Abraham Clark and Elias Boudinot were elected to Congress. Mr. Boudinot had served, since his appointment by Congress, June 6, 1777, as commissary-general of pris- oners. This town thus became, during the greater part of the war, the headquarters for negotiations re- speeting the exchange of prisoners, and hither large numbers, officers and men, from both sides were sent for this purpose. Mr. Boudinot, however, continued in service until his successor, Maj. John Beatty, was appointed, May 28, 1778, and did not take his seat in Congress until July 7, 1778.5

Through the instigation and artifices principally of the refugees, some of their old neighbors and asso- eiates, who still retained their residence and property in the town, were induced to carry on an illicit trade with Staten Island, of which Governor Livingston, who had been re-elected November 1st, writing to Washington, Nov. 21, 1777, uses this foreible and indignant language :

"This evil. instead of being checked, has growo to so enormous a height that the enetny, as I am informed, is jdentifully supplied with fresh provi-ions, and such a quantity of British mannfactures brought back in exchange as to enable the persone concerned to set up shops to retail them. The people are outrageone, and many of our officere threaten to resigu their commissione." 6

This traffic was called " London trading," and all who engaged in it were regarded as enemies of their country, and when discovered subjected to severe penalties. It was carried on mostły by night, and so secretly as almost always to evade detection. The possession of British gold was looked upon as prima facie evidence of complicity in the contraband busi- ness.

The extent to which private property in the town, especially in the absence of the owners, had suffered by military occupation appears from what one of Gov- ernor Livingston's daughters wrote, Nov. 29, 1777:

" Kate has been at Eliz .- Town; found our house in a most ruinons situation. Gen Dickinson had etationed a captain with his artillery company in it, and after that it was kept fur a bullock's guard. Kate waited on the general, and he ordered the troops removed the next day, but then the mist hief was done ; every thing is carried off that mamma had collected for her accommodation, so that it is impossible for her to go down to have the grapes and other things secured; the very hinges, locks, and panes of glaes are taken away."7

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 18

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