History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 20

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 20
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 20

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At the convening of the Legislature, Oct. 27, 1779, Livingston was the fourth time elected Governor of the State. Great efforts had been made by means of the press and otherwise on the part of his enemies to prevent his re-election. They could command in the Legislature, however, only nine of the thirty-right votes. The result was highly gratifying to his patri- otic townsmen, and all the true patriots throughout the State.8

Severe Winter of 1780,-With the commence- ment of the winter the main body of the army under Washington took up their quarters at Morristown. It proved to be one of the severest winters on record. The cold set in early, and storm succeeded storm, piling up the snow in every direction, until Jan. 3, 1780, when one of the most terrific storms ever re- membered set in, from which the army suffered dread- fully. The snow covered the earth to the depth of from four to six feet, the roads were everywhere oh- structed, and almost nothing could be had for the

1 N. J. Rav. Correspondence, pp. 143-54 ; 159-68. Sparks' Washington, vi. 252-55.

2 Sparks' Waellington, vi. 253, 255.

3 Marshall's Washington, iv. 65, 66. N. J. Rev. Correspondence, p. 176.

4 Gaines' Mercury, No. 1443. New Jersey Journal, No. 19. N. J. Rev. Correspondence, p. 176.

5 N. J. Journal, No. 19.

6 Ibid., No. 23.

" Guines' Mercury, No. 1452.

8 Sedgwick's Livingston. pp. 338-39.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

sustenance of the troops. Washington was compelled to resort to forced requisitions on the several counties of the State. Col. Matthias Ogden was appointed to collect the cattle and grain required of the county of Essex. The State, to its honor be it spoken, though so greatly impoverished by a four years' war, came nobly to the rescue. The crisis was firmly met and safely passed; the army was fed and furnished.1

The extraordinary severity of the cold and its stead- iness closed up the rivers, the Sound, Newark Bay, and even the harbor of New York. The isolation of the city and the island existed no longer. The ice, even in the bay of New York, was of such solidity that an army with all its artillery and baggage could cross with greater facility than on the firm earth. The authorities at New York were full of apprehen- sion, and took measures to concentrate their forces in case of an attack. Extraordinary vigilance was called for on both sides of the line. 2

As the troops had now received their needed sup- plies, and a portion of them might be favorably em- ployed in an attempt on Staten Island, Gen. William Irvine, who had been sent down some time before with a detachment to this post, was instructed to oh- tain information " of the enemy's strength, corps, sit- uation, and works" on Staten Island; to ascertain the state of the ice at Halstead's Point and at the Blazing Star Ferry, and to act in concert with Col. Dayton in making the necessary preparations. Great caution was to be used in keeping the design secret. A large number of sleds or sleighs-several hundred-were procured, with all the necessary ammunition, rations, tools, guns, and spare shoes. Various detachments were called in and detailed for the service, amounting to about two thousand five hundred men, all to rendez- vous in this town in the evening of Friday, the 14th.3

The expedition was put under the command of Lord Stirling, and it was designed to capture, if pos- sible, the entire force of the enemy on the island, sup- posed to be about twelve hundred men. It was be- lieved that the communication by water with the city was cut off. The expedition set off in good order early in the morning of Saturday, the 15th. They crossed safely on the ice at De Hart's Point to Mercereau's dockyard. At the forks of the Blazing Star road they divided, one column proceeding by Dougan's Mills, and the other by the back road towards the watering- place (Tompkinsville). Lieut .- Col Willet was de- tached to surprise Buskirk and his force of two hun- dred provincials at Decker's Ferry. But the enemy had obtained early intelligence of the invasion, and on all sides retired to their works. The two columns effected a junction on the heights above the works at

the same time. They found the enemy strongly for- tified, and intrenched also behind an abatis of snow about ten feet in height. Communication by water with the city also they found to be open. After fully reconnoitering the position and remaining overnight, they retired about sunrise the next morning, making good their retreat, and arriving at De Hart's Point about eleven o'clock A.M. At Decker's Ferry they cap- tured and destroyed nine sailing vessels. They took eight or ten prisoners, and received several deserters. One of the enemy was slain, as were three of their own men. Many of the men also were frost-bitten, and all suffered considerably from the severity of the cold, the snow being three or four feet deep.4

Taking advantage of this opportunity a number of worthless characters followed the troops to the island and committed various depredations upon the people, Rivington says to the extent of ten thousand dollars. Washington had given strict orders not to allow any- thing of the kind. After their return from the island, Lord Stirling reclaimed the property as far as possible, and issued orders that whoever had been guilty of plundering should restore what they had thus taken to the Rev. Mr. Caldwell, that it might be sent back to the owners.5

This expedition had the effect to increase the vigi- lance of the enemy, whose number in garrison was thereupon doubled, while, on the other hand, the forces on this side, disheartened by their failure, suf- fered a relaxation of both vigilance and enterprise. Preparations were accordingly made by the enemy for retaliatory raids on this town and Newark on the night of Tuesday, Jan. 25, 1780, and in both cases they suc- ceeded. The New Jersey Journal of the 27th makes the following statements :

"A party of the enemy, consisting of about three hundred infantry, under the command of Col. Van Buskirk, of the new leviee, and about sixty dragoons, said to be under the command of Capt. Steward, of the Seventeenth Light Dragoons, with several refugees, the whole in num- ber nearly four hundred, crossed on the ice from Staten Island to Trenhly's Point, about three miles from Elizabeth Town, last Tuesday night. From thence they were conducted by Corneline Hetfield, Joh Hetfield, and Smith Hetfield, their principal guides, the nearest aud must retired route to Elizabeth Town. They entered the town in two divisione before the alarm was sounded. As soon as the troops that were in town (consiering of about sixty meu) perceived their danger they re- treated; however they took a major, who was commandant of the place, and two or three captains that lodged in town that night, and a few troops. They then set fire to the Presbyterian Meeting- and court-house, which were consumed : plundered, insulted, and took off some of the inhaltants, oud tetreated with great precipitation by the way of De Hart's Point, whose house they likewise consumed." 6

"A gentleman at Elizabeth Town," in a letter written on the 29th, an extract from which was pub- lished iu the New Jersey Gazette, says,-

"The enemy paid us a vieit here last Tuesday evening; they were in . town between ten and eleven o'clock, under the command of Lieut .- Col.

1 Sparks' Washington, iv. 437-41. Thacher's Military Journal, pp. 176->2, 186. Barber's Hist. Coll. of N. J., pp 388-92. Gordon's Rev. War, ili. 42, 43.

2 N. Y. Col. Documents, viii. 781, 782, 785. Hist. Mag., viii 58.

3 Sparke' Washington, vi 411-47. Marshall's Washington, iv. 199- 200.

+ N. J. Journal, No. 51, N. J. Gazette, Nos. 109, 110. Rivington'e Gazette, Nos. 345, 347, 348, 350. Thacher'e Journal, p. 184. Marshall'e Washington, iv. 201, 202. Sparks' Washington, iv. 442-48. Sparks' Corr. of the Rev., ii. 380-81.

5 1hid., p. 3×1. Sparks' Washington, vi. 446.

6 N. J. Journal, No. 51.

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Buskirk, of the new levies. The plan was well concerted, and as well executed ; they evaded our guards, and were in town before any one knew it. They have taken forty or fifty privates and several officers, with ten or twelve of the iohabitants. Maj. Williamson and Capt. Gif- ford fell into their hands. Mr. Belcher Smith [son of William Peartree Smith] in attempting to escape was likewise taken. They burnt the Presbyterian Church and the court-house, pinmered Jecamiah Smith. but no other houses of any consequence, 88 they were afraid to enter them, and stayed but a little time before they pushed off."1

Rivington, in his paper of January 29th, gives the British version of the affair :

"Oo Tuesday night, the 25th inst., the rebel posts at Elizabeth Town were completely surprised and carried off by different detachments of the king's troops. Lient .- Col. Buskirk's detachment, consisting of about 120 men from the 1st and 4th battalions of Brig .- Gen. Skinner's brigade, with 12 dragoons under the command of Lient. Stuart, moved from Staten Island early in the night, and got into Elizabeth Town without being discovered between the hours of 10 and 11. With little resist- ance they made prisoners 2 majors, 3 captains, and 47 privates, among whom were 5 dragoons, with their horses, arms, and accontrements. Few of the rebels were killed, but several were wounded by the dra- goons, though they afterwards escaped.

" The services wers performed withont loss. The following are the names of some of the rebel officers brought to town on Thursday last . . . from Elizabeth Town: Maj. Eccles, of the 5th Maryland Regiment; Col. Belt, of the 4th Regiment, from Prince George Co .; Mr. B. Smith, son of Peartree Smith ; Maj. Williamson and his brother." "

Rivington's statement as to the persons and the strength of the detachment engaged in this retalia- tory foray is probably to be accepted as at least semi-official. Abraham Buskirk, according to Gaines' Register for 1781, was lieutenant-colonel commandant of the Fourth Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers, or Tories, under the command of Brig .- Gen. Cortlandt Skinner, Esq. Neal Stewart was a lieutenant of Col. Bayard's Orange Rangers. The guides were natives of the town, familiar with all the roads and all the residents of the place.3

Washington speaks of the event, two days after, as " the late misfortune and disgrace at Elizabeth Town." Not less than two thousand men, under Col. Moses Hazen, were stationed that night along the shore of the frozen waters from Paulus Hook to Amboy, in small detachments, one of which, sixty only in num- ber, under Maj. Eccles, was detailed for this import- ant post.4

" The court-house" was "a small frame, shingle- covered building, which had never been adorned with

1 N. J. Gazette, Nos. 110, 112.

2 Rivington's Gazette, No. 348. Barber's Hist. Coll. of N. J., pp. 166- 67. Thacher's Journal, pp. 156-57.

3 llist Magazine, viii. 355, 356. The names of the persons captured, as subsequently reported, were " Major Eccleston, Major Williamson, Captain Gray, Captain Thomas Wood off, Captain Sammel Moorehouse, Captain Isaac Scudder, Captain W. (B), Smith, Captain Gilford (Gifford), John Culles, Ja. Knot, William Frucker, John Sullivan, Charles Gough, John Gurmond, John Roebly, John Lumox, Theodorik Lindsey, James Davison, Joseph Farson, John Blades, John Creaton, Juhu Ryon, Thomas Gordon, John King, Joseph Anstin, James Dues, Michael Coughlon, John Miles, Michael Rowland, John Fisk, E. Pruket, Isaac Dukeson, James Morrison, Jonathan Hackson, Benjamin Garrison, Philip KHolt, Abraham Rosier, John Brown, Andrew Patterson, Andrew McFarland, David Buddel, Albert Slarret, Henry Rendert, Ralph Price, Ab. Price, Jerub Price, John Gray, John Mulford, James Shuy." Not more than twelve or fifteen of these were residents. The remainder were soldiers. Gaines' Mercury No. 1470. Rivington's Gazette, No. 351.

4 Sparks' Washington, vi. 452, 453.

paint, and in the same condition and style of archi- tecture was the adjacent building, the Presbyterian meeting-house, both of which respectively occupied the ground whereon now stand the structures devoted to the same objects." Such is the description of these buildings as given by the late Capt. William C. De Hart. They were among the oldest and most ven- erable buildings of the town. The church was or- namented by a steeple, surmounted by a ball and weathercock, furnished also with a clock. It was the most conspicuous and the most valued building in the town, hallowed as the structure in which their pilgrim fathers had worshiped God, in which they themselves, so many of them, had been consecrated to God in baptism, and in which the great and revered Dickinson, the honored Spencer, and the still more renowned Whitefield had preached God's word 5

The destruction of these buildings is by common consent attributed to Cornelius Hatfield, Jr., whose venerable parents, Col. Cornelius and Abigail, were among the most excellent and honored members of the Presbyterian Church, and most thoroughly patri- otic. The father had been a trustee, and was then an elder of the church. The mother died on the 27th of April, in the year following, in the seventieth year of her age, greatly lamented. The renegade son was a man of great energy of character, and of command- ing influence among the refugees. During the pre- vious two years he had resided on Staten Island, con- tinually watching opportunities to molest and capture his former friends and neighbors.6

As the son had destroyed their church edifice, so the father opened the doors of a large "Red Store- house" that belonged to him, which was fitted up for the purpose, and used thenceforward as a meeting- house. It was on the other and most populous side of the creek, on the east side of Cherry Street, near West Water Street, and nearly opposite Capt. De Hart's house. It was afterwards removed to the op- posite side of the road, rebuilt and occupied by Mr. Edward Price.7

As soon as Washington heard of the affair he dis- patched Maj .- Gen. Arthur St. Clair, Jannary 27th, to investigate the causes of the disaster, to gnard against future inroads of the kind, and to ascertain the practicability of a retaliation, at the same time to take command of all the forces below the Hills. On Friday, the 28th, St. Clair reports from Crane's Mill as follows :

" I arrived at Col. Hazeu's Quarters the night before last, and yester- day with him visited the several posts, which I found to be Rahway, Crane's Mills, Connecticut Farms, Elizabeth Town, and Newark. Eliz- abeth Town and Newark ars occupied by small detuchments only, and guards are posted at De Ilart's and llalstead Points. A small guard is also kept at the New Blazing Star from the past at Rahway. . . . Ia Elizabeth Towa I find a four days' guard, consisting of one hundred men, with n Field Officer. This I reduced to a Captain and fifty, to be

6 Passages in the llistory of E. T., No. IHI. Murray's Notes, p. 46.

6 N. J. Journal, No. 115.

7 Passages in the History of E. T., No. II.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

relieved daily. . .. The guards at De Hart's and IIalstead Points are certainly much exposed."

Notwithstanding these precautions, another foray was made on Sunday evening, 30th of January, which is thus described in a Tory paper :

" Last Sunday evening a party, consisting of thirteen mounted refugees, went from Staten Island, and [at Rahway] in the vicinity of Elizabeth Town, New Jersey, surprised Mr. Wyantz, a lientenant of the rebel militia, and eight private men of Colonel Jacques' regiment [that had been on a party of pleasure with sume young ladies]. Few Republicane on this continent are more remarkable for theirimplacable opposition to his Majesty's government than some of these prisoners; they were all the same evening securely lodged on Staten Island, They were found at a faullango or merry-making with a party of lasees, who became planet struck at the sudden separation from their Damons. The further tro- phies of thie successful excursion are three handsome eleighs with ten good horses, all of which were yesterday driven to New York over the ice from Staten Island, an enterprise never yet attempted since the first settlement of this country." 1

The ice blockade continuing, the Tories took an- other ride into Jersey on the 10th of February with similar results :

"On Thursday night last the enemy, under the command of Generale Stirling and Skinner, visited Elizabeth Town entirely upon a plundering party. Among other houses they plundered Doctor Barnet's, Blessrs. William P. Smith, William Herriman, Matthias Halsted, and Doctor Wynantz, the two former in a mivet barbarone manner. The house of Mr. Smith they searched throughout for Mr Elisha Bouilinot, who they thought was concealed there, but fortunately both he and Mr. Smith lodged out of town. After terrifying the women and children, they heroically marched off with their plunder and five or six prisoners." 2

The horrors of that dreadful winter could not be forgotten by that generation. The condition of the people in their almost defenseless exposure to the barbarian incursions of the rapacious foe was deplor- able in the extreme. But the more they suffered for their country's cause the more fixed and deep-rooted was their determination never again to submit to the now more than ever hated rule of the cruel and haughty Briton.

It is surprising that any of the people should have continued, in these circumstances, to reside on the borders of the Sound, especially when it was every- where frozen over, and could be crossed over in per- fect safety by the refugee marauders. So long as this natural bridge lasted these incursions continned. The following statement, made on Wednesday, March 29th, shows what was now of not infrequent occur- rence :

" Last Friday night [24th] some villains from Staten Island came over to Elizabeth Town and carried off Matthias Halstead, Esq., a worthy citizen " 3

Even after the departure of the ice these forays were repeated. On the 26th of April a record is made as follows :

" A party of the enemy from Staten Island, consisting of about thirty men, attempted to surprise, last Sunday night [23d], a small guard at Halstead's Point, but through the alertness of the sentinels (one of which they killed) their plan was effectually marred. They plundered

1 Rivington's Gazette, No. 349, Gaioes' Mercury, No. 1477. Moore's Diary, ii. 257-58. N. J. Gazette, No. 111.

2 N. J. Gazette, No. 112. Mr. Smith's house was the former residence of Governor Belcher. Mr. Boudinot was the son-in-law of Mr. Smith. 3 N. J. Journal, No. 59.

MIr. Halstead of bede and bedding, the family's wearing apparel, and seven or eight head of creatures."

Thus passed in alarm and terror the ever memor- able winter of 1779-80, memorable for the severity of the season, and for the devastation made by the merciless foe.

CHAPTER XV.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION .- ( Continued.)

Knyphausen's Invasion .- Early in the spring of 1780, Gen. Knyphausen, then chief in command of the British forces at New York, began to make vigor- ous preparation for the invasion of New Jersey, with the view of driving out the patriot army. The fol- lowing report of the inception of the movement was made by Governor Robertson, of New York, to Lord Germain :

"On the 6th of June we "ailed with as many troops as could safely be epared from the defense uf this province-6000-to Stiten Island; from thence we landed our advanced guard the same night at Elizabeth Town, where they waited the landing ot a second embarkation by the return of the boats. These Bodya moved on, with orders to try to surprise Max- well's brigatls of Jer-ey trompe, stationed near to the road we marched hy, to endeavor to get possession of the strong pust at Short Hills, to wait there the arrival of the third embarkation of the army, from whence if our intelligence should show circumstances favorable it was intended to march directly with the whole against Washington, who had been sending his stores from Morristown, but was still incumbered there with s great many." 4

The Coldstream Guards, under the command of Gen. Edward Matthew, sailing down the bay disem- barked at Staten Island, where they were joined by other troops, regulars and provincials. Here they were formed into three divisions, the first under com- mand of Brig .- Gen. Stirling, the second under Brig .- Gen. Matthew, the third, comprising the Coldstream Guards and others, under Maj .- Gen. Tryon, the whole under the general command of Maj .- Gen. Knyphan- sen. As soon as formed they marched forward to the landing opposite Elizabeth Town Point, arriving in the night and unobserved. The first division crossed the Sound in flat-boats, and landed on the meadows near the Point, where they halted until in like man- ner the second and third, with the light artillery, had crossed before day. Early on Wednesday morning the whole force were in motion. Stirling, being the youngest general, led the advance.

In the mean time word was brought to Col. Dayton, of the Jersey Brigade, that the British were at the Point. Having reconnoitred the position he stationed a guard of twelve men at the eastern terminus of Water Street (now Elizabetlı Avenue), where the two roads leading to the Old and New Points diverge, with orders to arrest the advance of the foe as long as practicable and then retire. Dayton hastened back to the town and mustered his troops as quickly as pos-

+ N. Y. Col. Docmts, viii. 793.

HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

sible, to be ready for the emergency and fall back if outnumbered.

As the enemy came marching forward at the break of day, Gen. Stirling at the head of his division, the guards at the forks of the road allowed them to ap- proach within musket-shot, when they fired and fled to town. One of the balls unhorsed Stirling and frac- tured histhigh. The whole column was thus brought to a halt until the wounded general could be cared for. Knyphausen now placed himself at the head of the division, and just as the sun was rising upon the earth the squadron in advance entered the town, passing up Water Street (Elizabeth Avenue) and so into Broad Street.

" Au øye-wituess of the passage of the troops through the village de- scribes it as one of the must beantiful sights he ever beheld. In the van marched a squadron of dragoons of Simcon's regiment, known as the ' Queen's Rangers,' with drawn swords and glittering helmets, mounted on very large and beautiful horses, then followed the infantry, composed of Hes-ians and English troupe, the whole body amounting to nearly six thousand men, and every man, horseman and fout, clad in new nni- forma, complete in panoply and gorgeous with burnished brass and pol- ished steel." 1

Passing from Broad into Jersey Street, the columns of the enemy on their way to the Short Hills and Washington's camp were led by the guides along the most frequented way, known as the Galloping Hill road, which leaving the Westfield road on the line of the present Central Railroad, at the extreme west point of the town as now bounded, and running northwesterly enters the village of Union or "Con- necticut Farms" south of the Presbyterian Church. In passing through the town the troops were kept in perfect order, committing no deeds of violence.

As soon as it was known that the foe had landed word was sent as quickly as possible to Prospect Hill in the rear of Springfield, when the eighteen-pounder signal-gun and the tar-barrel on the signal-pole were fired, and the whole country on both sides of the mountain was roused. Instantly the drums in the camp at Morristown beat to arms, and Washington and his troops marched with all speed to the post of danger. The militia in every direction seized their firelocks, swords, or whatever weapon was at hand, hastened to their respective mustering-places, and were soon proceeding by companies to the field of action. The whole town, from the Sound to the Passaic, with all its villages, from Springfield to Rahway, was thor- oughly aroused and preparing to resist and drive back the invading foe. Col. Dayton and that por- tion of the Jersey Brigade that was stationed in and about the old town made good their retreat from the superior numbers of the enemy, and effected a junc- tion with the other portions of the brigade under Gen. Maxwell at Connecticut Farms. On the way up they were joined by militiamen, and with in- creasing numbers kept up a continual skirmishing.

On the rising ground just beyond the west branch

of Elizabeth River, and about a quarter of a mile southeast of the Farms' Church, a stand was made by a party of the militia, about sixty in number, armed only with muskets, who succeeded in giving a tempo- rary check to the column. Maxwell, with his brigade and some of the militia, took post on the high ground beyond the Farms' village, where they not only brought the enemy to a halt, but drove back their advance a short distance, annoying them considera- bly by their firing.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 20

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