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 3
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I have said that after the British captured Paulus Hoeck, they strengthened the works. As the Americans designed them, they were only to prevent the passage of the enemy's fleet. But its new occupants, intending to make this an important and perma- nent post, and to hold it, both as a defence to New York and a gate way into New Jersey, it was necessary to make the works more elaborate and thus render the place impregnable. The position was one of immense natural strength. It was bounded on the north by the cove of Ahasimus, on the east by Hudson's river, on the south by the cove of Communipaw, and on the west by a salt marsh several hundred feet in width, over which the tide ebbed and flowed. So low was this marsh that at ordi-
28-Rivington's Gazette, August 26, 1780.
29-Van Buskirk was with Arnold in his expedition to New London, and the traitor, in his official account of his deeds there, speaks of the volunteers, and of the exertions of Colonel Van Buskirk. He settled in Nova Scotia at the close of the war, and in 1784 was Mayor of Shelburne. He received half pay. He died in that Province. Sabine's Loyalists of the American Revolution, Vol. II., p. 376.
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nary flood tide, boats could pass over it from cove to cove.30 To overcome the difficulty of crossing this marsh for foot, an elevated walk was constructed east of and parallel to the road, and known as " Howe's Bridge." Winding through this marsh from the southeasterly corner of Morris and Van Vorst streets to the easterly side of Warren street, and then westerly through York street to a point near Van Vorst street ; then northerly until it crossed Newark avenue, was a tide creek. This creek had been enlarged, and a ditch cut across an elbow of the creek from York street to the centre of the block between Grand and Sussex, one hundred and twenty-five feet west of Warren. The creek and ditch were about twenty feet in width and of sufficient depth for the passage of ordinary oyster boats. In addition to this the bottom was oozy and of difficult passage even at low water. Jutting ont from the upland into the cove of Ahasimus was a peninsula, afterwards known as North Point, then in part salt marsh and in part rocky, but all covered by the flood tides. To render the place yet more difficult of access, the British cut a ditch abont twenty feet in width through the marsh from . a. point on the river fifty feet north of Mercer and fifty feet west of Greene street to the main ditch north of Warren street.31 Over the ditch on the line of Newark avenue was a draw-bridge, and on the easterly side of the marsh in the line of the abatis was a strong barred gate.32 This was the only entrance to the Hoeck by land. Along the edge of the upland was a line of abatis of great strength, extending from Communipaw cove around the westerly and northerly side of the upland to the river.33 Within and along
30-Ex-Sheriff Jaquins, yet living, recently informed the writer that he has frequently. rowed his boat up to the lot on which Trinity M. E. Church now stands in York street, between Washington and Warren streets.
31-Vide Appendic, XVI. "Paulus Hook is by nature almost an Island, and the British had made it quite so, by cutting a ditch through the marsh, into which the tide flowed and rendered it impassable, except at low water." Dunlap's History of New York, II., 163.
32 -- Marshall's Life of Washington, IV., 136.
33-Pennsylvania Packet, August 28, 1779. " Interior of this runs a line of abatis of great strength which extends to the extreme verges of the isiand." Irving, Life of Washington, III., 513, says: "A creek fordable only in two places rendered the Hook difficult of access. Within this a deep trench had been cut across the isth-
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this abatis were three block-houses-one near Communipaw cove, one a little west of the road, the other east of the road, and all on the edge of the upland. These were designated by the British as the left-hand, centre and right-hand block-houses, numbering northerly.34 Along Communipaw cove was a chain of breast-works which covered every portion of that shore. Ex- tending from the southerly to the northerly side of Grand street, about one hundred feet west of Greene street, was an oblong work or fort mounting three 12-pounders and one 18-pounder, and which (except its gateway) was considered impregnable.85 Within this fort was the magazine. To the southwest of this work, on the line of Sussex street, about one hundred feet east of Washington street, was a hill about thirty feet above the present grade, on which was a round redoubt surrounded by an abatis. 86 On the westerly edge of the lot belonging to St. Mat- thew's Church, in the middle of the block between Sussex and Grand streets, was the Indian Spring. - On the westerly line of
mus, traversed by a draw-bridge with a barred gate ; and still within this was a double row of abatis extending into the water." Dawson, Battles of the United States by Land and Sea, I., 543, says : "On the margin of the marsh which separated the Hook from the mainland was a deep creek fordable only in two places ; a short distance inside of this creek a deep ditch had been dug from the river to the bay * * * about thirty paces within this ditch had been placed a heavy abatis, which extended around the eastern front of the Hook, both on the river and the bay." Marshall, Life of Washington, IV., 136, says : " Lee past first the creek and then the ditch." If from this is to be understood that between the creek and the upland a ditch had been dug, there is room to doubt the correct- ness of the statement. The northerly end of the creek which extended beyond Newark avenue at that point was very small. Vide Field Map in Winfield's Land Titles. When the causeway (now Newark avenue) was fitted for public travel in. 1764 the crossing of the creek I doubt not was filled in and the creek connected with Ahasinus cove by the ditch nearer Warren street. There is no pretence that there was a draw-bridge at the creek. If no draw-bridge, it was either spanned by a permanent bridge or filled in. In either case where was the necessity of fording the creek ? As to the ditch on the north side of the Hoeck, there never was a creek in that neighborhood.
34-The right hand block-house was also known as " No. B," which seems to indicate that the fortifications were numbered. There is a tradition that the logs of these block-houses were used In corduroying the causeway across the marsh.
35-Appendix, XVI.
36-Lee says, in his report, "After most of the troops had retired from the works, and were passed and passing the canal, a fire of musketry commenced from a few stragglers who had collected in an old work on the right of the main fort." There can be no doubt but this firing came from Major Sutherland and the
2027488
AHASIMUS
PLAN OF THE FORTIFICATIONS ON
PAULUS HOOK,
COPIED FROM THE ORIGINAL.IN CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY
WASHINGTON, 'D: C.
COVE
Road
Ditch
Block Houre
www.Creek
Carpenters
Pioneers
₹18;Par
Ferry
Borracha
Block House
HOOK
0
NORTH RIVER
COMMU
TIPAW COVE
PAULUS'S
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Washington street, between Sussex and a point a little south of Morris street, was the burying ground.
I have now described the situation of Paulus Hoeck, and as far as I am able, the works for its defence, at the time of Major Lee's assault. From this description it will be seen that the position should have been impregnable. Naturally diffienlt of access except by water, it had been fortified by the appliances of labor and skill until it would seem that nothing more was needed than ordinary care and watchfulness. But this. very strength of the post proved its ruin, by inducing a negligence of which the watchful Americans were swift to take advantage.
What troops garrisoned the post in August, 1779 : The prisoners taken by the Americans, as we shall presently see. were credited to the 64th Regiment, the Garrison Regiment, Van Buskirk's Regiment and the Artillery. As to the 64th: but one man belonging to that regiment was taken. Jmlging
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Hessians. The round redoubt then must be the old roth referred to by Lee. IT it was an old work, it must have been the one constructed by the Americans in 1776, in which was placed the artillery which they removed or rendered unfit for service before evacuating the post.
Mr. Lossing, Field Book of the Revolution, II., 62, says the circular redoubt mounted six heavy guns. Mr. Dawson, in Battles of the Revolution, Se., and myself in History of Hudson County, adopted this statement. In the absence of proof to support it I now present the following reasons why I hesitate to readopt it :
1-The two works were so close together that artillery in both would have been unnecessary and useless
2-Not a piece of artillery was fired that night. Had this round redoubt mounted six guus as described, it is almost certain they would have been fired, for two reasons : a, to drive of the assailants; b, to give the signal agreed upon between Gen. Pattison and Major Sutherland.
Again, the artillerymen were captured in the fort. This was their proper place. If both works mounted artillery, it is reasonable to assume that there were artil- lerymen in both places. Lieut. Cockburne. the artillery officer on duty at the Hoeck, on receiving the alarm, ran to the fort where bis men were-and found Lee's force in possession. Why did he not then run to the circular redonbi, where, if artillery was placed, he had men and means of defence? The Map of Paulus Hoeck herein inserted is a fac simile of one now in the Congressionai Library at Washington. It is withont date and there is ro ovldence how It got into that Library. But from the fact that the Sith Regiment is marked thereon as stationed at the Hoeck, I conclude that the map was made in I555. The right hand block-house is not shown on the plan, and this is another proof that it was made before 1779. This map shows artillery in the oblong fort only. Huum- eratio unius est exclusiv alterius. This maxim would seem to be conclusive that there was no artillery in the round redoubt but for the fact that it might have been placed therein after the map was made, if, as I believe, it was made prior to 1779. But the fact that no artillery was fired from that redoubt seems to be sufficient to warrant the assertion that there was none in it.
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from this and other evidence, we may safely conclude that the 64th was not stationed here at the time. The Garrison Regi- ment spoken of was the Invalid Battalion. Van Buskirk's Regiment was the 3d Battalion of Skinner's Provincial Brigade, or in plain words, a lot of New Jersey tories.37 There was also a detachment of artillery under Lieutenant Cockburne.38 Major William Sutherland, of the Invalid Battalion, was in command of the post.
On the 18th of August Major Sutherland determined to send out that night a detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel Van Buskirk to capture or disperse a body of one hundred "rebels " near the English Neighborhood." As the detaching a suffi- cient body of. troops for that purpose would dangerously weaken the garrison, he applied to General Pattison for a captain and forty men as a reinforcement for that night. General Pattison granted the application, and sent the number from Knyphausen's Hessian Regiment, with Captain Von Schal- lern.10 Thus made up, the total strength of the garrison, after Lientenant-Colonel Van Buskirk marched out with one hundred and thirty men, was about two hundred. This change in the' forces at the Hoeck was entirely unknown to the Americans, and Major Lee afterwards lamented, as among the many unfor -. tunate circumstances of that night, the absence of Van Buskirk and the greater part of his regiment. . Well trained and vigilant Hessians had taken the place of the negligent tories. . This rendered the approach more precarious, and at the same time diminished the object of the enterprise by a reduction of the number of the garrison.41 To provide for assistance in case of
37-Sabine, Loyalists of the American Revolution, 11., 306, says that only three battalions were raised by Skinner, numbering a total of 1,101 men. Skinner had the privi- lege of naming his own officers. Van Buskirk's battalion is sometimes spoken of as the Fourth.
38-Vide Appendix, XI.
39-Vide Appendic, XX.
40-Vide Appendix, XXX.
41-Vide Lee's Report. The British pretended to believe that Lee seized the occasion of Van Buskirk's absence. "The absence from the Hook of Van Buskirk was communicated to Lee and he resolved to avail himself of the opportunity." Stedman's History of the American Revolution, 11., 153. Vide Appendix, XV.
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possible attack at any time, a mode of signal had, a short time before, been agreed upon between General Pattison and Major Sutherland, which would, without delay, bring from New York the needed snccor. The signal agreed upon was the firing of two pieces of artillery and hanging out. three lights. We will presently see how the best laid plans of British officers as well as of mice " gang aft aglee."
Shortly after the capture of Stony Point, plans began to take shape for the surprise of Paulus Hoeck. In Lee's Legion, as captain of the Fourth company of Foot, was the discreet, active and untiring Allen M'Lane, of Delaware.2 It seems to have been the fortune of this vigilant officer-perhaps misfortune, - for 'in this position he made himself so useful that his superiors could not afford to assign him to other duty when this was to be done --- to be assigned to observation of the enemy and scouting over the territory between the two armies. While the contending forces lay at Philadelphia and Valley Forge, at New York and the Highlands, and in Virginia, he was espe- cially useful. Nothing escaped his sleepless eye, nor could he be deceived by appearances. He was in command of a party of observation from 1777 to 1781, under the direction of Wash- ington, except from July, 1779, to February, 1781, when he was attached to Lee's Legion, in command of a company of infantry. It was to him that Washington owed much of his information as to the condition of the enemy's works at Stony Point, and which led to the success of that brilliant assault. It was also through him that Major Lee obtained information of the negligence of its garrison which suggested the attack on Panhis Hoeck. 'True, his name does not stand above the ordi- nary level in the bulletin announcing its successful assault. 43 . The
F Congress, Tuesday, July 13, 1719: " Resolved, That Captain M'lane's company, now attached to the Delaware regiment, and the dismounted dragoons belonging to Major Lee's partizan corps, be formed into a fourth troop and added to the corps; this troop to be commanded by Captain M'Lane, and to serve on foot." به *
13-He seems to have been dissatisfied with this want of especial mention. In his Mas., now in possession of the N. Y. Historical Society, he says : " M'lane also discovered the situation of Powles Hook in August + which led to the * surprise of the post ; and Major Lee was the only officer mentioned of the Legion in Lec's report." .
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world does not yet know the full extent of his connection with that coup de main, for "it seldom happens that the reapers of the harvest concern themselves about those who sow the seed."44 But as long as Stony Point and Paulus Hoeck shall stand asso- ciated with the " most daring and insolent assaults that are to be found in the records of chivalry," the name of Allen M'Lane cannot be forgotten.
When the idea of assaulting this post was first conceived I do not know, but it seems to have assnmed shape in the latter part of July.45 From that time until the eventful night the work to insure the enterprise went quietly and cautionsly forward. The first care of Major Lee was to be informed of the condition of the roads leading from New Bridge to Bergen, and the passes from the river to the top of the mountain, through which an enemy might approach his line of march. . As to the roads : One extended from the New Bridge by way of the Liberty Pole, English Neighborhood and Three Pigeons to Bergen. This was the only well-established road. From this road at what is now Leeonia a road extended eastward to Fort Lee. From the Hackensack turnpike at Union Hill up to Bull's Ferry was a rough mountain road. This was on the east brow of the mountain, but ran down the hill just below the ferry, and thence along the river to Fort Lee. There was a rude continuation of this road also on top of the mountain to the road from Fort Lee to the main road. There was also a road which bore to the left from a point just above the Bull's Ferry pass across the mountain to the English Neighborhood. There was also a rough wood road made by the Bergen farmers, over which they hauled their fuel in the winter, on the west-
44 -- Richard Peters to Capt. M'Lane, May 7, 1816. M'Lane Max.
45- MAJOR LEE TO CAPT. M'LANE:
"CAMP HAVERSTRAW, July 30, 1770. .
"Sin: You will move your troop to the vicinity of Bergen Town. The object you are to have in view is the interruption of the correspondence and Trade now sub- sisting between the Enemy and the disaffected of the County. You are to communi- cate with Captain Peyton dally. You are to keep with you two expresses from the militia who well know the country, necessary guides to be provided. Conduct your- selt with perfect caution, or you meet with sure loss and disgrace. Wishing you success, I am, &c." M'Lane Mss.
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erly brow of the mountain, and generally along the line of the present Dallytown road. This probably extended but a short distance, dying out in the woods south of the way or path lead- ing from the ferry to the English Neighborhood. In his report Lee designates this as the " central ronte."
There were three passes between Fort Lee and Paulns Hoeck through which an enemy could pass from the river to the top of the mountain, and thence by a short march from one to three miles through the woods to the road leading from Bergen to the Liberty Pole. The first one going north was the ravine of the Awilhaken, the second one was the ravine which lies between Guttenberg and Block-house Point, and the third one was the break or depression in the mountain at Bull's Ferry. Through these passes a retreat along the Bergen road could be easily intercepted.
The plans and preparations for the surprise of Paulus Hoeck seem to have been left in a great measure to Major Lee. Before these plans were submitted to Washington, Major Lee entered upon practical preparation to carry them out. For this pur- pose he issued the following orders to Captain M'Lane :
".DR. SIR-It is his Excellency's command that yon cause the Roads leading from Fort Lee to Bull's Ferry and the intermediate passes from the shore to be obstructed by the falling of trees, (the four months men will be ordered for this service). The Mountain Road from near Fort Lee through the mountains to the Old Bridge near Hobuck to be recomoitred, and reported whether convenient for the march of Horse and Foot. The distance to be also known. The Marsh at Van Horn's Mills to be examined, the direct route from the New Bridge to the mills to be used and the distance to be ascertained."
The report upon this order is as follows : "Exeented the within orders, the 8th and 9th of August, 1779. Find the passes leading through the Mountains from Fort Lee to Bergen to be difficult for foot and impassable for horse; the distance abont , nine miles to the Hobuck bridge. The road by way of Van Horn's Mills, likewise difficult for foot and impassable for horse ;
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the marsh near the Mill being miry. The distance through the fields, three miles. "46
Captain M'Lane was the person on whom Major Lee seemed to rely in preparing for the grand assault which was soon to be made on Paulus Hoeck. He left Haverstraw in the latter part of July and moved toward " Bargain Woods "" to enter upon . his work. From this time until the morning when he took part in the capture of the post, he was, by night and by day, scouting over the territory between Hackensack and Prior's Mill. On the morning of the 18th he received from Major Lee the follow- ing instructions : " Take down fifteen good Men including the Riflemen, to proceed by the most secret Route to the Vicinity of Bergen, get a private interview with Van Riper, or-(the for- mer's the man,) engage him to go into the Hook any time after Dinner and return in the Evening, meeting Captain McLane at the place to be fixed on. . Van Riper to enquire the News from New York, if the fleet is come, etc., etc. Captain McLane to leave Mr. Neil with the Riflemen, either posting them himself, or giving such Directions as they can with secresy throw l'einselves in or close to the communication leading from Bergen to Prior's Mills after Dark, and there act as Mr. Neil has been particularly informed.
" When Van Riper returns, Captain McLane will convey him to the place in the Woods where Major Lee, Major Burnett and all hands sat down on our Return from Reconnoitre. There Major Lee will be found and will expect to see Captain McL., and the remainder of the men, who are on no account to .chal- lenge on the approach of any Person or Persons.
" The greatest Secresy to be observed, a seeming indifference to be put on.
" Mr. Neil and Party will not take post till after Dark. If Captain McL., meets with the guides, etc., he will send 'em back to meet Major Lee.
46 -- M' Lane Mss , vide Appendie, XXXII.
47-The " Bergen Woods" lay on the mountain adjoining the North river, and ex- tended from the Hackensack road, at Union Hill, on the south, to Bull's Ferry. These woods were so called, because nearly all this part of the common land was allotted to the people owning land around Bergen,
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" No other necessary hints occur to me. Captain McL., will easily perceive the Degree of Secresy and address to be made use of on the occasion.
"Mr .. Neil's party never to challenge on any account."48
The position of Cornet Neil was at Prior's Mill, and his duty there was to "lay the bridge " over Mill creek and communi- cate with the boats at Douw's Ferry.
On this night Captain M'Lane lay in the woods near Three Pigeons, waiting for the arrival of Major Lee to condnet him to Paulus Hoeck.
While the work of preparation was going on, Major Lee had conferences with the commander-in-chief, and on the 9th of August submitted his plan, both of attack and retreat. It was well concerted, but did not entirely satisfy Washington. What this plan was does not appear; but from the fact that on that very day Lee's inen were throwing obstructions in the roads and passes between Fort Lee and Wechawken, it is probable that it embraced the route which he was afterwards forced to take on his retreat. On looking over this plan Washington deemed " the attempt too hazardous and not warranted by the magnitude of the object." In a letter to Major Lee, written on the 10th of August, Washington suspended the attempt unless it could be made in a manner less hazardous than that shown on Lee's plan. The British were encamped in full force on the opposite bank of the IIndson, and by throwing troops across the river and penetrating the mountains through the passes already described, could strike a damaging blow, if not entirely cut off a retreat on the Bergen road. Washington, therefore, suggested an approach and retreat by water, a collection of boats at Elizabethtown as if for an attack upon Staten Island, and then at night to move up Newark bay and land at a point within two miles of the post. He desired Major Lee to turn his " thoughts this way." It is possible that this suggestion first opened to Lee a retreat by way of Douw's Ferry,50 Schuy-
48-M' Lane Mss.
49-Vide Appendix, Il.
50-Douw's Ferry was on the Hackensack river a little above the bridge of the Pen- nsylvania Railroad. From this ferry Schuyler's road led to Belleville.
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ler's road, Polly Fly and Hackensack. This route would place, at the commencement of the retreat, an impassable river between himself and his pursuers, To make this way feasible, Captain Peyton51 was detached to provide boats and have them at the ferry on the Hackensack in time to carry over the retreating forces and their prisoners. He brought them from Plnckemin to Newark on the preceding evening and during the night they were taken to the appointed place. It was not the object of the expedition to fight a battle or hold the post after it was taken, but to strike a sudden blow, capture the garrison and immediately retreat, without losing time to remove or destroy property, or even to collect those who might skulk and hide.52
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Thus the way is prepared for the approach of the attacking force. Let us now go to the headquarters of Major Lee, and join him in his approach to Paulus Hoeck. He was stationed about two miles from the Paramus church on the road leading to Kakiat.58 From this point he took up his line of march, on Wednesday, the 18th of August, at half-past ten o'clock in the morning, en route for the New Bridge, with two companies of Maryland troops under Captain Levin Handy. At this place he was joined by three hundred Virginians under Major Clark5 and Captain M'Lane's dismounted dragoons,55 numbering in all
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