USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of the county of Hudson, New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 15
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1 Col. Hist. of N. Y., viii., 792.
2 When Washington street was graded many bones and a few military relics were dug up. Mr. George Dummer placed the bones in a hogshead and buried tliem at the intersection of Morris and Washington streets.
3 Marshall, in his Life of Washington, ¿v., 136, says there were one fort, three block-houses, and some redoubts.
156
IIISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
on a foraging expedition. This effectually disarmed suspicion, for such parties were frequent, and occasionally quite as large as his proposed force. He had taken the precaution to provide boats, which for the purpose had been brought from Plueki- min, and which were to be at Dow's Ferry at a certain hour in the night, under the command of Captain Peyton, for the pur- pose of taking his troops over the Hackensack ; for it was his intention after the attack to retreat by this ferry and the Belle- ville turnpike across the meadows to the high ground on the east bank of the Passaic, on his way to the New Bridge. To hold the place with the enemy in New York was impossible, and did not enter into the plans of Washington or Lee. The objeet was to swoop down upon the post, strike an unexpected blow, and retreat, thus giving éclat to the continental arms. He had four hundred infantry and a troop of dismounted dra- goons for the enterprise. Lord Sterling moved down to the New Bridge, to be in a position to cover the retreat if neces- sary. Lee moved from his encampment about four o'clock in the afternoon of August 18, 1779. He detached patrols of horse to watch the communication with the North River, and stationed parties of infantry at the different roads leading to Panlus Hoeck. He followed what was known as the lower road, which came into the present Hackensack road near the English Neighborhood church. When reaching the vicinity of Union Hill he filed into the woods. Here the guide, through timidity or treachery, prolonged the march to three hours ; the troops became harassed and discouraged, and in endeavoring to regain the proper route some parties in the rear became separated from the main body. As singular as it may seem, with all this marching and floundering in the woods, with detachments stationed at different points and patrols along the river, they were not discovered. This is the more wonderful since it is well known that at about the time Major Lee started for Paulus Hoeck, Colonel Van Buskirk left that place, with a force of one hundred and thirty men, on a raid to the English Neighborhood,1 and
2 Rivington's Gazette, August 21, 1779.
157
MAJOR LEE'S CAPTURE OF PAULUS HOECK.
yet the two forces missed each other in the darkness. A colli- sion between them would have put an end to the enterpise upon which Lee had set his heart, and which for its extent ranges among the most heroic actions of the war.1
Notwithstanding all the delays incident to a night march and ignorance or treachery of the guide, Major Lee reached Prior's Mill at three o'clock on the morning of the 19th. The day was near at hand, and the tide, which would fill the ditch and over- flow the road between Warren and Grove streets, was rising. Not a moment was to be lost. The punetilios of rank and honor were disregarded, and the troops ordered to advance in the positions they then held. Lieutenant Rudolph, who had been sent forward to reconnoitre the passages of the ditch, now reported to Major Lee that all was silent within the works, that he had fathomed the canal and found the passage possible. This intelligence was passed along the lines, and the troops pushed forward with resolution, order and coolness. Lieutenants M'Callister and Rudolph led the forlorn hope, who marched, with trailed arms, in silence. They reached the ditch at the intersection of Newark avenue and Warren street at half-past three o'clock on Thursday morning. The guards were either asleep or took the approaching force to be Colonel Van Bus- kirk's men returning from their raid. They were not undeceived until the advance plunged into the ditch. Immediately a firing began. The blockhouse guards ran out to see what was the matter and were seized. The forlorn hope, supported by Major Clarke, broke through all opposition, and soon became masters of the main work, with the cannon, &c. So rapid were they in their movements that the fort was gained before a piece of artil- lery was fired. The troops came pouring through the abattis, and in a few moments were victorious. Unfortunately, in cross- ing the ditch the ammunition was destroyed, and thus their fire- arms were useless. As soon as Major Sutherland, then in com- mand of this post, comprehended the situation, he threw himself into a small redoubt, with a captain, subaltern and forty Hes-
1 Gordon's Hist. Am. Revolution, iii., 283.
15S
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
sians. Major Lee had no time to dislodge him or remove or destroy property. Daylight was at hand, and he had some anxiety about the boats at Dow's Ferry. Besides this, the firing had aroused the British in New York, who could in a few minutes throw a large body of troops across the river. He therefore ordered an immediate retreat, and sent Captain Forsyth to Prior's Mill to collect such men as were most fit for action. and take a position on Bergen Heights to cover the retreat. Major Clarke was in the advance, with most of the prisoners ; Lientenants Armstrong and Reed formed the rear guard. Lee now rode forward to look after the boats at the ferry. To his dismay, not a boat was there to receive them. Captain Peyton, owing to the lateness of the hour, had removed them to Newark. He immediately countermarched his troops to the Bergen road en route for the New Bridge, communicated with Lord Sterling, and returned to the rear guard at Prior's Mill. His prospects were now discouraging. With troops worn down, ammunition destroyed, encumbered with prisoners, fourteen miles of retreat before him, on a route liable to be intercepted by troops from New York, with no way of escape to the left, he could only depend on the invincible conrage of his men. On reaching the heights opposite "Weehock," Captain Handy moved on the mountain road to facilitate the retreat. Here Captain Catlett came up, with fifty men and good ammunition. One party was then detached in the rear of Major Clarke on the Bergen road, and one to move along the bank of the river. In this manner a sudden attack was prevented. At the Fort Lee road Colonel Ball, who had been forwarded to Lee's assistance, met him with two hundred fresh men. Shortly afterward a body of the enemy appeared upon the right and opened fire on the retreating Americans. Lieutenant Reed immediately faced them, and Lieutenant Rudolph threw himself into a stone house which com- manded the road. This disposition checked the enemy, and gave the force time to cross the English Neighborhood creek. at the Liberty Pole, now Englewood. Just at that moment, Major Sutherland, who had followed Lee, came up, but halted, and finally fell back without venturing an attack. Major Lee
159
MAJOR LEE'S CAPTURE OF PAULUS HOECK.
arrived safely at New Bridge about one o'clock in the afternoon. He had captured one hundred and fifty-nine of the garrison, in- cluding officers, and lost two killed and three wounded.
In his report of the enterprise, he says : " Among the many unfortunate circumstances which crossed our wishes, none was more so than the accidental absence of Colonel Buskirk, and the greatest part of his regiment. *
* A company of vigilant Hessians had taken their place in the fort, which rendered the secrecy of approach more precarious, and, at the same time, diminished the object of the enterprise by a reduction of the number of the garrison. Major Sutherland fortunately saved himself by a soldier's counterfeiting his person. This imposition was not discovered until too late.
"I intended to have burnt the barracks; but on finding a number of sick soldiers and women with young children in them, humanity forbade the execution of my intention. The key of the magazine1 could not be found, nor could it be broken open in the little time we had to spare, many attempts having been made to that purpose by the Lieutenants M'Callister and Reed."?
1 The location of this magazine was in the vicinity of the present almshouse, at the foot of Washington street, near the canal.
2 In the Anecdotes of the Revolution, ii., 413, may be found a curious story concerning this attack. It appears that one Van Skiver, a native of New York, and a private in Col. Van Buskirk's regiment, was an unexceptionable example of original sin. For some cause, then unknown to the Americans, he deserted the tories He then joined the Americans, and showed so much zeal and such inveterate and deadly animosity against his former friends, and spoke with such confidence of the feasibility of injuring them by an attack on their outposts, that Major Lee listened to his plans and finally acceded to the proposal to at- tempt the capture of Paulus Hoeck. Entire confidence, however, was not placed in Van Skiver. Armed with an axe, he was placed at the head of the advancing column, a file of men with fixed bayonets following immediately in his rear to do speedy exeention upon him should he either falter or show the slightest symptoms of treachery. He was equal to the emergency, and ready to boldly attempt what he had proposed. With steady step and undaunted resolution he advanced and actually ent down two barriers in succession, giving free admission to the troops into the body of the place.
It might naturally be supposed that such a display of hostility to the British would have cansed Van Skiver to be ranked among the most determined of the
160
IHISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
This brilliant affair under the guns of New York was very galling to the British and tories. Sir Henry Clinton, in a letter to Lord Germaine, dated August 21, 1779, says : " On the 19th instant, the garrison at Powle's Hook being reinforced, Lieuten- ant-Colonel Buskirk was detached with part of the troops to cut off some small parties who interrupted the supplies of provision ; a considerable body of rebels availed themselves of that oppor- tunity to attempt the post. At three in the morning they ad- vanced to the gate of the works, and being taken for Buskirk's corps returning, entered without opposition. I fear they found the garrison so scandalously absorbed, in consequence of their security, that they made themselves masters of a block-house and two redonbts with scarcely any difficulty."
The tory newspapers in New York say that "early in the morning a detachment from the Brigade of the Guards, under command of Colonel Gordon, and the Hessians landed at Paulus Hoeck, and with the light infantry under Captain Maynard pur- sued Lee. The pursuit was continned for fifteen miles, and two of the prisoners recaptured. Ensign Barrett of the Seven- tieth Regiment, with a small detachment, captured Captain Meals at the Three Pigeons. Upon his person were found the orders and dispositions of Lee, relating to the march and attack on Paulus Hoeck. Barrett also destroyed at the English Neigh- borhood a rebel armory, gunsmith's implements, and a great quantity of musket locks, bayonets, &c."1
While the British and tories were galled, the Americans were overjoyed at the coup de main. Washington sent his congratu- lations to Lord Sterling, and, in a letter to Congress, said : " The Major displayed a remarkable degree of prudence, address
king's enemies. But even at that moment his appearance of zeal was merely intended as a lure to gain respect and confidence, for he had scarcely returned to camp when it was discovered that he was in treaty, and actually far advanced in a plan, to deliver Lee and his Legion into the hands of the enemy. Severe was the penalty which he paid. Sentenced to five hundred lashes, he had the greater part of them inflicted, and was then drummed out of the army. He re- turned to New York, and was heard of no more.
1 Rivington's Gazette, August 21, 1779.
161
CONGRESS COMPLIMENTS MAJOR LEE.
and bravery upon this occasion, which does the highest honor to himself and to all the officers and men under his command. The situation of the post rendered the attempt critical and the site- cess brilliant."
Under date of September 10, 1779, James Duane, in a letter to Alexander Hamilton, speaks of it as " One of the most daring and insolent assaults that is to be found in the records of chiv- alry ; an achievement so brilliant in itself, so romantic in the scale of British admiration, that none but a hero, inspired by the fortitude, instructed by the wisdom, and guided by the planet of Washington, could, by the exploit at Paulus Hook, have fur- nished materials in the page of history to give it a parallel."1
On the 24th of September Congress passed the following reso- lutions respecting the affair :
" Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be given to his Excel- lency General Washington for ordering, with so much wisdom, the late attack on the enemy's fort and works at Powles Hook.
" Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be given to Major-Gen- eral Lord Sterling for the judicious measures taken by him to forward the enterprise and to secure the retreat of the party.
"Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be given to Major Lee for the remarkable prudence, address and bravery displayed by him on the occasion ; and that they approve the humanity shown in circumstances prompting to severity as honorable to the arms of the United States, and correspondent to the noble prin- ciples on which they were assumed.
" Resolved, That Congress entertain a high sense of the disci- pline, fortitude and spirit manifested by the officers and soldiers under the command of Major Lee in the march, action and re- treat ; and while with singular satisfaction they acknowledge the merit of these gallant men, they feel an additional pleasure by con- sidering them as part of an army in which very many brave officers and soldiers have proved, by their cheerful performance of every duty under every difficulty, that they ardently wish to give the truly glorions examples they now receive.
1 Hamilton's Works, i., 86, 87.
11
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HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
"Resolved, That Congress justly esteem the military caution so happily combined with daring activity by Lieutenants M'Cal- lister and Rudolph, in leading on the forlorn hope.
"Resolved, That a medal of gold, emblematical of this affair, be struck, under the direction of the Board of Treasury, and pre- sented to Major Lee.
"Resolved, That the brevet and the pay and subsistence of Captain be given to Lieutenant M'Callister and to Lieutenant Rudolph respectively."
Congress also placed in the hands of Major Lee $15,000 to be distributed among the soldiers engaged in the attack.1
EGIONIS
3.3
EQUIT
NON OBSTANTIB
DINNIH
PREFECTO
FLUMINIBUS VALLIS
ASTUTIA & VIRTUTE BELLICA
PARVAMANU HOSTES VICIT
VICTOSO.
ARMIS HUMANITATE
DEVINXIT. WW MEM PUGN. ADPAUL
HOOK DIE. XIX
AUG. 1779,
COMITI
ICAMA
MEDAL AWARDED TO LEE.
On one side is a bust of the hero, with the words HENRICO LEE, LEGIONIS EQUIT. PREFECTO. COMITIA AMERICANA. " The Ameri- can Congress to Henry Lee, Colonel of Cavalry." On the re- verse : NON OBSTANTIB. FLUMINIBUS VALLIS ASTUTIA & VIRTUTE BEL- LICA PARVA MANU HOSTES VICIT VICTOSQ. ARMIS HUMANITATE DEVINXIT. IN MEM. PUGN. AD PAULUS HOOK, DIE XIX AUG., 1779. "Not- withstanding rivers and intrenehments, he with a small band conquered the foe by warlike skill and prowess, and firmly bound by his humanity those who had been conquered by his arms. In memory of the conflict at Paulus Hook, nineteenth of August, 1779."2
1 Journal of Congress, v., 368.
" The joy does not seem, however, to have been universal. There is and al-
163
MEDAL STRUCK IN HONOR OF LEE.
From this time until the opening of the campaign in the spring of 1780, but little of a general character transpired in Bergen. In December following the attack on Paulus Hoeck, General Wayne moved down from the vicinity of Tappaen and encamped at Ber- gen. For a short time he kept a vigilant eye on Paulus Hoeck, and then moved back to Westfield into winter quarters.1 The raids by both parties were kept up on the people of this vicinity. Money and valuables were buried and hidden, but now and then
ways will be an undertow continually working to destroy great reputations. Jealousy is all-sufficient in small minds to justify the meanest action. The fol- lowing letter indicates an undertow to the popular wave :
" CAMP NORTH OF SMITHI'S CLOVE, " August 22, 1779.
" DEAR SIR :
" I suppose you have had a variety of accounts of the sacking of Powel's Hook, which was taken by surprise about 3 o'clock the morning of the 19th inst., and instantly evacuated again by us, after doing no greater damage than taking 7 officers and about 160 Rank and File prisoners, and killing about 20 in the Gar- rison. We have about 7 privates missing. Had not the officer who commanded -- Major Lee-been in so great a hurry from the Garrison, much more execution might have been done, as they did not take time to carry off all the prisoners, or even to take a Major and party of men who were then in their power. Not the least damage whatever was done to the Garrison. The Magazine was not blown up, the Barricks not sett on fire, the Cannon not spiked, no article of Stores, Clothing, &c., &c., of which a great plenty were there, was the least damaged ; in fact, nothing further was done than rushing into the Garrison in confusion and driving out the prisoners, mostly without their clothes. Perhaps there will be an inquiry into the reason of the confusion and great haste the party made to get out of the fort without destroying so many valuable stores as were in their possession. Several officers have been much injured in the Vir- ginia line, on account of giving Major Lee the command of 300 of our men to reduce Powel's Hook, and unjust methods taken by him to have the command, by telling one of our Majors, who marched with the 300 men, that his commis- sion was older than it really is-otherwise he would not have had the command over him. I believe Major Lee will be arrested. I marched with a covering party, but did not go near the garrison. Lord Sterling, who commands here, is very uneasy at our complaints on this affair. Several letters have passed between his lordship and the officers of our line concerning his ordering 300 of our men under Major Lee. * *
" Mr. Barnard Gratz, Phila."
Ilist. Mag., 180.
" W. CROGHAN.
1 N. Y. Mercury, Jan. 10, 1780.
164
HISTORY OF HUDSON COUNTY.
the secret places of these treasures would be revealed by the tory neighbors. In the house of the late Captain Howe, near Cavan Point, lived George and Garret Vreeland, father and son. One night the tories came to the house, locked them in the kitchen cellar (the kitchen is yet standing), and robbed the house of a large number of silver dollars. The next morning they were set free by their faithful old slave.
In these times, for the accommodation of the British, the people of Bergen were permitted to take provisions over the river. On these occasions they would take the opportunity to purchase what things were needed by their families. This fact was soon found out by the tories, who, whenever they could, would rob these Bergen merchants of their return eargoes. The strategists of Communipaw were equal to the emergency. There was a barn just south of Communipaw avenue, the doors of which they used for a code of signals. These doors were then made in two parts, and if, on the return of the skiff's from New York, the men in them saw the upper part of the door open, then they knew that all was right and their freight safe. But if, on the contrary, it was closed, then they might know that the tories were about, and they must tarry at Ellis Island. The tories finally found out the secret, but were uncertain if the door should be open or shut to signify a " welcome home " to the voyagers across the river. At one time, when they were waiting for the return of the richly laden argosies, a contention arose among them whether the door should be open or shut to signify that the coast was clear. Be- tween the two the door was opened and shut and shut and opened in such rapid succession that the men in the boats, doubting as to the condition of things on shore, gave themselves the benefit of the doubt, pulled back to the island, and left the "gude vrouws" to fight it out with the tories.
It is said that one day the British sent a flag from Paulus Hoeck to General Wayne, then on New Barbadoes Neck, which " Hop" Jerolamon, of the latter place, in his mistaken zeal, cap- tured, and took the saddle and bridle as lawful prize. Mad Anthony, in turn, captured the indiscreet " Hop," put the saddle on his back (tradition puts the bridle in his mouth, vide Proverbs.
165
PARTICULAR INCIDENTS.
xxvi., 3), and sent him to Paulus Hoeck to be punished at the discretion of the British. "Hop " keenly felt the mortification, but a " military necessity " pushed him along over the meadows and hill until he came to Prior's Mill. Here he encountered the enemy's pickets and wished to lay down his burden, thinking he had carried the joke far enough. Not so thought his captors, and he was forced to trudge along to headquarters " accoutred as he was."
Jacob Van Wagenen, living at Bergen, had everything stolen from him by the tories and British. One day they were driving off twelve of his cattle toward their barge, which lay in the Hackensack, just above the present bridge of the New Jersey Railroad. One of his faithful negroes endeavored to prevent them. They seized the courageous fellow, and hung him to a tree until he was willing to withdraw all opposition to the de- parture of his master's property.
The winter of 1779-80 was of unusual severity.1 The British in New York were in great want of fuel. It became so scarce
1 The river between Paulus Hoeck and New York was frozen over. Six per- sons, in attempting to cross over, were carried into the East river, " and provi- dentially got on shore by the ice lodging on Black well's Island."-Riv. Gaz., Jan. 15, 1780. Governor Tryon caused the river between Paulus Hoeck and New York to be measured, and found it to be 2,000 yards wide .- Valentine's Manual, 1853, 464. The river has since been filled in to some extent on both sides. Imitating Governor Tryon, two inhabitants of Communipaw measured the distance from that place to Ellis Island, and found it to be 82 chains. They left the following record of their exploit :
"JANUARY 24th, 1780.
" De winter heel hart zynde die Rivier all over Gevrosen Wy die personen Genamt Cornelius Garrabrants en Giliam Outwater had der Gedocht om te meeten hoe veer het was van de oost hoeck van Hendrick Blinkerhoff een huys tot het Klin Ilant is 82 Kettings." A ketting is one chain.
It is worthy of notice that during the last 130 years the river has been pass- able on the ice only four times, viz., 1740-1, 1764-5, 1779-80, and 1820-1. In January of the latter year an enterprising vender of whiskey opened shop in the middle of the river. A " drouty crony," going from Jersey City for a glass, broke through the ice. A wag standing at the door of the saloon said to the proprietor : " Sir, there has a man just slipped down cellar-you had better look after him, or your liquors will be in danger." C'entinel of Freedom, Jan. 30, 1821.
166
HISTORY OF HUDSON COINTY.
that the commandant was obliged to limit the maximum price to four pounds sterling per cord ! The high price for wood was a great temptation to the tories. At that time the hill from Fort Lee to Bergen Point, except what had been cleared for the farms, was covered with a fine growth of thrifty timber. This they de- termined to eut off and sell to the shivering British. To make it safe for them to enter upon the business, it was necessary to have redoubts, breastworks or block-houses into which they could retire at night, and to which they might fly in case of attack by day. They therefore constructed the block-house at a place since called Block-House Point, near Bull's Ferry. They also threw up earthworks on the old Bergen road, just below Wood- lawn avenue. They also had earthworks at Bergen, east of the town, near Blakeley Wilson's residence. Besides these, they had the fortifications on Paulus Hoeck, and at Fort Delancey, on Ber- gen Neck. At the latter place Captain Tom Ward held com- mand.1 His force consisted of negroes and vile characters of his own race. They became as notorious as himself. They were a band of plunderers, thieving and raiding by night over to Eliza- bethtown, Newark, New Barbadoes Neck, and along Bergen Hill as far up as Closter and New Bridge. He is represented as having been a terrible wretch. It is said that he once hired three ne- groes to kill a man in Bergen to whom he was indebted. "Little Will," owned by Van Ripen, was one of the three. Tom Cad- mus, another tory, was sergeant, and ordered the fire. The ne- groes were afterward caught and hung in the swamp north of Brown's Ferry road, near the present Glendale House, and the bodies left hanging for weeks.
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