USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Jersey City > Memorial of the centennial celebration of the battle of Paulus Hook, August 19th, 1879 : with a history of the early settlement and present condition of Jersey City, N.J. > Part 2
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Was this great waste of life for nothing ? Is nature so prodigal of her energies ? Are there no results from so much destruction ; no moral to illustrate ? Yes, indeed ! We can recognize in this struggle the same unending conflict which always has been and still is going on everywhere ; to which, in fine, the lowest flower and the highest human institutions are alike subject. This conflict is the struggle for life, the principle at issue being the survival of the fittest ; that pitiless principle which dooms to ruthless destruction the organism, or nation, which fails to find or follow the narrow way of progress.
Our nation is now engaged in that struggle, and it depends on us, its citizens, whether its life shall be prolonged in honor unto the fullness of time, or that it shall perish prematurely. In so far as its citizens are more ready to sacrifice the individual to the community, more ready to imperil property, or life itself, for the public weal, for the preservation and prosperity of the Republic ; in fine, in so far as its citizens are more patriotic, the fitter is the nation for this struggle.
But patriotism, like other virtues, is a matter of growth. . It, may be encouraged by admiration, by praise, by reward, until it grows to be hereditary and instinctive.
" As quick to hear our country's call, As mother to her babe."
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Or it may be smothered by inattention and selfishness.
By honoring these patriots of one hundred years ago you are doing your duty to your country, for you are encouraging thereby the growth of patriotism. You are praising it in your ancestors ; you are holding it up to admiration and imitation; you are encouraging yourself and others in its practice ; you are showing to all that it exists in your hearts ; that you are ready to reward those who suffer for it by present praise, honor and reward. You show to the world that the patriotic deeds of this nation will not be forgotten, but shall be handed down from father to son as a rich and sacred legacy, a momment more lasting than the sculptured fanes reared to the kings and demigods of old.
" MY COUNTRY, HE OF THEE." - Ordiestra.
Oration, by the Hon. Charles H. Winfield.
MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ;
One of the ancient historians, when speaking of the insti- tutions and customs by which the young men of Rome were greatly animated to perform acts of bravery and to encounter every kind of danger in behalf of their country, mentions the following :
When any illustrious person dies he is carried in procession with the rest of the funeral pomp, to the rostra in the forum ; sometimes placed conspicuous in an upright posture ; and some- times, though less frequently, reclined. And while the people are all standing round, his sos, if he has left one of sufficient age, and who is then at Rome, or, if otherwise, some person of his kindred, ascends the rostra, and extols the virtues of the deceased. and the great deeds that were performed by him in his life. By this discourse, which recalls his past actions to remembrance, and places them in open view before all the multitude, not those alone who were sharers in his victories, but even the rest, who bore no part in his exploits, are moved to such sympathy of
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sorrow, that the accident seems rather to be a public misfortune, than a private loss. He is then burned with the usual rites ; and afterwards an image which both in features and complexion expresses an exact resemblance of his face, is set up in the most conspienous part of the house, enclosed in a shrine of wood. Upon solemn festivals, these images are uncovered, and adorned with the greatest care. . And when any other person of the same family dies, they are carried also in funeral procession, with a body added to the bust, that the representation may be just, even with regard to size. They are dressed likewise in the habits, that belong to the ranks which they severally filled when they were alive. If they were consuls or præetors, in a gown bordered with purple ; if censors, in a purple robe ; and if they had trinmphed, or obtained any similar honor, in a vest embroidered with gold. Thus appareled, they are drawn along in chariots preceded by the rods and axes, and other ensigns of their former dignity. And when they arrive at the forum, they are all seated upon chairs of ivory ; and there exhibit the noblest objeet that can be offered to a youthful mind, warmed with the love of virtue and of glory. For who can behold without emotion the forms of so many illustrious men, thus living as it were, and breathing together in his presence ? Or what spectacle can be conceived more great and striking ? The person also that is appointed to harangue, when he has exhausted all the praises of the deceased, turns his discourse to the rest, whose images are before him; and beginning with the most ancient of them, recounts the fortunes and exploits of every one in turn. By this method, which renews continually the remembrance of men celebrated for their virtne, the fame of every great and noble action becomes immortal ; and the glory of those, by whose services their country has been benefitted, is rendered familiar to the people, and delivered down to future times. But the chief advantage is, that, by the hope of obtaining this honorable fame, which is reserved for virtne, the young men are animated to sustain all danger, in the cause of the common safety.1
1-Polybius Lib. VI. Ex. III.
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In imitation of that old and beautiful custom, we, as Jersey- men, come to extol the heroism of those who struggled here, and the brave act they here performed- - neither of which can we afford to forget. What they did in the early morning one hundred years ago, we, following the custom of the ancients, uncover to-day. While deeds of less worth, where so many were worthy, in that brave struggle, have stood out boldly ou the page of history, through all the century, and been rehearsed in song, what was here done has been suffered to sink almost from sight in the dull waters of forgetfulness. Even the name of the place, to many, sounds like a myth, and they wonder what and where was Paulus Hoeck. But with the rest of the American people, we in these centennial years, like the orator of old, turn to the images, brave deeds, carved out by brave men in their struggle to be free, and beginning with the old- est it began with Lexington and will go on until the last armed Briton left 'on shores -recount the circumstances, the canses and consequences of every one in turn. If the forms of illustrions men seated upon chairs of ivory inspired the youthful mind with the love of virtne and of glory, should not the heroic deeds and patriotic sacrifices which made us a free people command our profoundest admiration, and warm our hearts with a deeper love for our country and its institutions? They should make us more vigilant to preserve in its purity what we received as a spotless inheritance.
To-day we commemorate one of these heroic deeds. Upon me has fallen the lot to tell the story of the SURPRISE AND CAPTURE OF PAULUS HOECK, and if by its recital I may be able to place that event where it justly belongs in history, I shall be more than grateful for the labor to which my fellow-citizens have invited me. Although, like the recent and similar event at Stony Point, it had no direct effect on the issue of the campaign, yet the skill which planned it, and the andacity which executed it, contributed to inspire the Americans with confidence, and their foe with respect for brave men. It also manifested the aptitude of the young soldiers who for three.
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years had been trained under the cautious wisdom and bold exeention of the great chief of the Revolution.
In the search after material ont of which to construct a full and faithful account of that affair, I have been fortunate in discovering several interesting papers and letters, never yet published and hitherto unknown to the world. It is believed they will form an interesting contribution to our revolutionary history.
In 1779, Pauls Hoeck proper was a cironlar piece of npland composed of sand hills and containing about sixty-five acres. It was owned by Cornelius Van Vorst, popularly known as " Faddy." From it to the other side of the Indson, a public ferry had been established in June, 1764, as part of the recently erected stage ronte between New York and Philadelphia: Between this ferry, then at the foot of Grand street, and the road leading to Prior's Mill from the nplands of Ahasimus, a road over the sand hills and a causeway across the marsh, had been in nse many years.2
In 1766 this became a public road, when a thoroughfare was laid ont between Paulus Hoeck and Bergen Point, but the causeway between Warren and Henderson streets was to be " cleared and maintained " by, the owner of the ferry.3 Among these sand hills, in 1769, Van Vorst established a race course. It was one mile in length, and upon it, for the first time, on the 9th of October, 1769, appeared the fleet-footed steeds of some of the solid New Yorkers of that day ; such as Delancey, Rutgers and Morris. But " Faddy " was too liberal to give up the course exclusively to aristocratic blood. Now and then the native stock of Bergen, Ahasimus and Commmipaw met in honest competition, and the hammering of their heavy hoofs was heard among the hills.
When the ferry was established for public travel two peri- augers. were placed thereon for the transportation of passengers
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2-In a survey of the West India Company's farm, made for Evan Drummond. Feb. 26, 1724, a map of the survey shows the causeway across the marsh between Henderson and Warren streets.
3- Winfield's History of Hudson County, 359.
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and teams.4 The landing place was called a "ferry stairs." Down these stairs passengers clambered as the condition of the tide required, while horses and wagons were lifted or pushed in. Abraham Mesier, (who owned the landing place on the New York side,) and Michael Cornelison, were its founders and managers. Then came Cornelison to Paulus Hoeck and erected a lavern just east of the old Hudson House, afterwards erected on lots 6 and S Grand street, between Greene and Hudson,5 This tavern was the starting point of all the stages which left the Hoeck for Philadelphia and other points. It must have been well patronized, for passengers intending to take the stage in the morning were obliged to come over the river the night before. The perils of navagation across the raging Hudson would not permit the running of " periangers " between sundown' and sunrise. The manager of the ferry and " mine host " being the same worthy person, it is impossible to say how much the pence of the passengers had to do with the suspension of the ferry at sundown.
This tavern, the stables and ontbuildings connected with it, were the only buildings on the Hoeck at the breaking out of the war. The outbuildings were in the rear of the tavern on the westerly side of the road. Between the tavern and the river the road turned towards Grand street, and then by a short turu, to the ferry stairs. Here was a cirenlar plot or park, around which the stages turned on their way back to the road, after receiving or discharging passengers. This park, or its successor when the ferry slip was moved nearer York street- and Paulns . Hoeck became a settlement, was the seat of justice ; and here- petty
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4 . - These boats seem to have been converted into armed vessels for the protection of the post, shortly after Lee's surprise of Paulus Hoeck, as appears by the fol- lowing order to Major Bruch :
" NEW YORK, OF1. 8, 1779.
" Major General Pattison judging it necessary to have two Armed Vessels for the further protection of the Post at Paulis Hook, and Captain Laud having recom- inended the two Pettiaugers which attend there should be fitted up for this purpose, * * you will give orders for their being furnished with Oars and Swivelstocks. Captain Laud will take the trouble of giving directions for their boing properly ftted." N. Y. Hist. Soc. Coll. 1875, p. 277.
5 - Vide Manghi's Map of Powles Hook, made in 1801.
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offenders, while yet there was no lawyer to save, found the lash, told off' to the required number upon his bare back by the stal- wart constable, a very disagreeable, but inipartial and beneficient minister of justice.
These sand hills were an attractive place of resort in the early days of the New Netherlands, when they were occupied by tobacco planters.6 In 1699 they were added by purchase to the already many acres of the Van Vorst family, and were thence- forth in part cultivated as farm land. But the newly erected ferry had made the Hoeck a starting point of travel to the south, and the war which soon followed was destined to give it a prominent and enduring place in the annals of the country.
As soon as it was discovered that the British under Lord Howe were about to abandon Boston with the supposed inten- tion of making a descent upon New York, Lord Stirling, who was in the immediate command of that city and vicinity, following the suggestion of Washington, took measures to erect works for its protection. In such a proceeding, Paulus Hoeck was too important a point to be overlooked. Its situation directly opposite to Manhattan Island, and jutting far out into the river-in fact itself an island-suggested its fortification. Boats passing up the river would necessarily come within easy range of its guns. For the location and design of such works as would aid in the defence of the city, Lord Stirling personally examined Paulus Hoeck on the 22d of March, 1776, and proposed their immediate construction by the militia of the counties of Bergen, Essex and Middlesex. He promised to be over again in a few days and bring with him some assistant engineers to lay out the works.7 Nothing, however, was done toward their construction, for, as late as the 21st of May, Washington wrote to General Putnam that if new works could be carried on without detriment to the old, (for want of tools,) he would have that intended for Paulus Hoeck set about immediately, as he conceived it to be of importance.8 The work could not have
6-Winfield's History of Hudson County, 32.
7-Duer's Life of Lord Stirling, 157.
$- American Archives, 4th Series, Vol. VI., 534.
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been delayed many days after this, for the fortifications were ready for use when the time came. As their design was to prevent the enemy's shipping from passing up the river, they consisted of three earth works thrown up along the front, one above and two below the ferry. The lower one was constructed so as to command Cominnnipaw cove as well as the river. The central one of these works was mounted with guns, the number and calibre of which have not been ascertained, and was probably the one known, during the British occupancy, as the round redoubt.
On the 29th of June, 1776, the British entered the lower bay and shortly afterward took possession of Staten Island. General Mercer, who was now in command in New Jersey and had his flying-camp at Bergen, placed a guard of five hundred men on Bergen Neck to prevent the enemy's approach by that pass, and made arrangements for the proper disposition of the Pennsylvania militia as they arrived at Paulns Hoeck. But the British quietly lay upon the Island awaiting reinforce- ments. By the 12th of July their forces amounted to 30,000 men and the harbor was filled with their shipping. On the afternoon of that day they opened the game for the possession of New York. The Phoenix, carrying forty guns, under com- mand of Captain Parker, and the Rose, carrying twenty guus, under command of Captain Wallace, with their decks protected by sand bags, and accompanied by three tenders, came sweeping up the river, having the advantage of both wind and tide." Then for the first time the god of war thundered among the sand hills of Paulus Hoeck. The battery opened a lively fire upon the ships, which returned it with broadsides as they sailed harmlessly by. It does not appear that damage came to either side in this exchange of salutations.
As the militia were now pouring in for the protection of New York, General Mercer was kept busy in transferring them over to that city, and as Paulus Hoeck was in the line of passage, it grew in importance. He suggested to his superior the propriety
9-Irving's Life of Washington, II., 260.
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'of stationing a body of four hundred men, well accoutred, from the Delaware counties at this place, and four hundred of the Jersey men for the flying-camp at Bergen.10 On the 27th of Angust he received orders to march with his whole army to the Hoeck. His force at the time numbered 8,300 men.11 The battle of Long Island was being fought when he ordered the concen- tration. On the night of the 29th, he had at Bergen, ready to pass to New York, between three and four thousand of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey militia, but, on learning of the retreat from Long Island, retained them on this side of the river, and strengthened the posts at Paulus Hoeck and Bergen Neck " to the complement of twenty-five hundred men.12
The British took possession of New York on the 15th of September. On the morning of that day three ships of war, the Roebuck and Phoenix each of forty guns, and the Tartar of twenty guns stood up the Hudson, " causing a most tremendous firing."18 The raw militia on Paulus Hoeck were little prepared for the peltings of such a pitiless storm. It was said by those who desired to make the troops believe that they had acted in a most becoming manner, that the vessels " were roughly treated by the American battery at Panlus Hoeck."14 But the old soldier, who had learned his lesson of war on the field of Culloden, took a different view of the deeds of these doughty heroes. He accused them of having " behaved in a scandalous manner, run- ning off from their posts on the first cannonade from the ships of the enemy."15 In consequence of such conduct he was obliged to send a detachment of the men enlisted for the flying-camp to this post. During the firing two shots from the ships struck the tavern, then occupied by Verdine Elsworth. What more urgent invitation to quit the premises could have been required by those who were not over fastidious in the ethics of practical warfare ? I cannot doubt that these raw troops thought it greatly to their
10-American Archives, 5th Series, Vol. I., 964.
11-Ibid., 1193.
12-lbid., Vol. II., 158.
13-lbid., Vol. I., 1193.
14-Freeman's Journal, October 5th, 1776.
15-American Archives, 5th Series, Vol. II., 367. These men were from Delaware.
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credit, that they stood not upon the order of their going, but went at once. Certainly they were justified in their sudden retirement by the metrical philosophy :
" Ile who fights and runs away May live to fight another day ; But he who is in battle slain Can never rise and fight again." 1
It. was manifest, after the occupancy of New York by the British, that Panlus Hoeck had lost its importance to the Americans. General Mercer made preparation for abandoning the post, being convinced that the enemy were determined to attack it by a stronger force than he could oppose. He removed all the stores and useful cannon, so that nothing could fall into the 'enemy's hands but the guns that had been rendered unfit for further service.16 Ile kept at the post, however, for purposes of observation, a small guard, who had orders to evacuate the place at the first approach of the enemy.17 On . the afternoon of the 23d of September, the British came up and began a cannonade on the Hoeck, and after cannonading " for half an hour or a little more," they landed a party from the ships. This accomplished, they sent over from New York twenty boats and took possession of the abandoned post ..
At this time the Americans were posted at the town of Bergen, with an advanced party in possession of Prior's Mill, then sitnate on Mill Creek, at the Point of . Rocks. This position they held until the 5th of October, when Washington found it necessary to colleet his forces preparatory to his retreat to the Delaware. Then Bergen was abandoned to the enemy. They stationed a considerable body of troops at Paulus Hoeck and strengthened the defences. They afterwards occupied the works on Bergen Neck, which they named Fort De Laneey, in honor of Oliver De Lancey, of Westchester.18 These two posts
16-American Archives, 5th Series, Vol. 11., 523.
17-Ibid., 494.
18-Winfield's History of Hudson County, 147.
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were garrisoned principally by tories, or " refugees," as they called themselves. They were active and unscrupulous in the cause of the King. Their zeal, however, exhibited itself more in plundering and murdering their old neighbors than in honor- able warfare. Yet, though they were in possession of these posts and generally of the surrounding country, their. possession was not one of undisturbed repose. The " rebels," though cast down, were neither subdued nor discouraged. In small but intrepid bands they hovered around the outposts of the enemy, swooping down upon now a tory and then a red-coat. In fact, from 1776 to 1780 the territory between the Liberty Pole19 and the town of Bergen was a debatable land. It was overrun, and its inhabitants, with judicial impartiality, harried by scouting parties from both sides. A few references to the exploits of these parties, as described by either side, will show that, to the inhabitants, it must have been a matter of indifference as into whose hands they fell. To them it was a matter of some diffi- culty to distinguish friend from foe, so far as present loss of personal possessions went, and from each it would not have been inappropriate to pray the good Lord for deliverance.
"The rebels came down to Secancus last Wednesday, and carried away all the grain, horses, cows and sheep they could get together, which they were obliged to swim over the Hack- ensack for want of boats.">20
"A party of about forty rebels came down to Colonel Bayard's Mills last Friday, moving near Hoebuck Ferry, and carried off some cattle, but being pursued by a few of the 57th Regiment, now stationed at Powles Hook, took to their heels and made off.">21
"The rebels were as low down in Bergen last Friday night as Mr. Van Ripen's, the blacksmith, and carried off from thence some horses."22
19-The pole stood a few hundred feet west of the depot at Englewood, New Jersey.
20-New York Mercury, April 7, 1777.
21-Ibid., June 30, 1777.
22-Ibid., November 24, 1777.
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" On Sunday, March 22d, a party of rebels came as near Powles Hook as Prior's Mill and attempted to carry off some cattle. They are under command of one Johnson and act on their own hook."23
" On Sunday night, May 10th, a small party of rebels were as far down as Prior's Mill, and carried off two negro men, who were coming to market with eggs and butter."24
These numerous and petty depredations of the rebels were casting a shade over their enterprizing foes So in September, 1777, Sir Henry Clinton, acting " on his own hook," made a more pretentious steal from the inhabitants. He came over in four columns, having New Bridge for the point of rendezvons. The result of this steal was 400 cattle, 400 sheep and a few horses. 25
Now again we have a little offset on the other side, by way of impartially balancing accounts with the inhabitants:
"A party of rebel light horse came down as far as Bergen Point last Tuesday night and returned next morning toward Hackensack. They visited Hoebuck on their way and carried off a great number of cattle from the inhabitants. ">26
We are now privileged to hear again from the other side :
" Last Sunday night a party of about thirty men belonging to Lieutenant Colonel Van Buskirk's corps of tories and embodied refugees * went out as far as Closter on a horse stealing and thieving expedition. "27
Change the picture once more :
"At the late irruption of the rebel light horse (about sixty) to Bergen, on Sunday, the 13th inst., they found the inhabitants going to the church ; some they insulted, others they robbed, and condescended to such pitiful exploits as changing hats and clothes, taking the buckles from their shoes, and in one instance
23 -- New York Mercury, March 30, 1757.
24-Ibid., May 18, 1778.
25-Remembrancer, V., 420.
26-New York Mercury, August 3. 1778.
27-New Jersey Gazette, April 28, 1779.
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of stripping off a man's breeches and leaving an old pair of trowsers to cover his nakedness."28
But the efforts of these predatory bands were not confined exclusively to property. They and their friends were respect . ively liable to capture, and now and then cruelty and murder followed. The headquarters of the British and their general starting point in all these excursions was Paulus Hoeck. Among the other troops here stationed was a body of tories at whose head was Lieutenant Colonel Abraham Van Buskirk, of Saddle River.29 He had formerly been friendly to the American cause, but when New York was captured he made his peace with the King. With the zeal of a new convert, or. repentant backslider, he sought to atone for past sins by sustain- ing those whom he formerly despised, and seeking the ruin of his former associates. Being well acquainted with the people and this portion of the State, by night and by day he and his tory followers prowled over the country as far north as Para- mus. If he failed to capture a patriot, his ardent soul was satisfied with a few cattle. If he could not capture or disperse a rebel camp, his patriotic impulses to serve his King found consolation in a hen-roost.
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