USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey, from its discovery by Europeans, to the adoption of the federal Constitution > Part 21
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their children. And to stimulate the provinces to liberal appropriations, as occasion might require, Parliament voted £115,000 sterling, to be distri- buted at the King's pleasure, among the northern and middle provinces, of which New Jersey received five thousand pounds.
XXV. Though France and England had been engaged in the warmest hostilities, in America, since 1754, the peace was not openly and avowedly broken in Europe, until May, of the present ycar. The events in America, in 1754, had determined each to despatch considerable reinforcements to the colonies. The French, understanding that orders had been given to Bosca- wen, to intercept their squadron, declared they would consider the first gun fired as a declaration of war; and their minister was recalled from London, in consequence of an attack upon their fleet, by that admiral. The British government instantly issued letters of marque, under which a large number of French merchant ships, and seven thousand French sailors, were captured. A blow which had great effect upon the subsequent operations of the war, in Europe and America.
XXVI. Either from want of confidence in the military talents of General Shirley, or that, he might give them information on American affairs, the ministry removed him from his command, and summoned him to England. General Abercrombie succeeded him; with whom came out two additional regiments. But the chief direction of the war was soon after given to the Earl of Loudon, who was appointed governor of Virginia, and colonel of the royal American regiment, which had been lately formed from the German emigrants.
XXVII. In the mean time, Sir William Johnson had succeeded, by the mediation of the Six Nations, in disposing the Shawanese and Delawares to an accommodation. Hostilities against them were suspended, and the treaty of peace was soon after ratified at Easton. This was the withdrawal of one painful thorn from the side of the colonies; and the chastisement inflicted by Colonel Armstrong of Pennsylvania,* by the destruction of the den of the horde, at Kittanning, soon extracted another. The conflagration of that town, and slaughter of the Indian families there, was a severe stroke upon the savages. Hitherto, the English had not assailed them in their towns, and they fancied, would not venture to approach them. But, now, though urged by unquenchable thirst of vengeance to retaliate the blow, they dreaded, that, in their absence on war parties, their wigwams might be re- duced to ashes. Such of them as belonged to Kittanning, and had escaped the carnage, refused to settle again on the cast of Fort Du Quesne; resolving to place that fortress and the French garrison between themselves and the English.
XXVIII. Of the many enterprises resolved on by General Shirley, several were unattempted ; none were successful. Notwithstanding the exertions in the northern provinces, the recruiting service moved heavily. Much time was lost by the change of commanders; and the season for operation was nearly half spent, before the arrival of Lord Loudon. No preparations were made against Fort Du Quesne. The colonies of Virginia, Maryland, and Penn- sylvania, far from pursuing offensive measures, were unable to protect then- selves. The expedition against Ticonderoga and Crown Point, was confided to General Winslow, who had won golden opinions during his last campaign, in Nova Scotia. Seven thousand provincialists had assembled near Lake George, but their number was reduced by subtractions for the garrisons in their rear. Winslow refused to proceed without reinforcements; and though soon after strengthened by some British troops, under General Abercrombie,
* September 8th, 1756.
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he was perplexed and embarrassed by disputes relative to rank, which grew out of this junction. The regulations of the crown, on this subject, had given great offence in America; and such was the reluctance of the provin- cialists to serve under British officers, that, in the present case, in order to enable the troops to act, separately, the Americans were withdrawn from the garrisons to the army, and their places supplied with British forces. The expedition to Ontario was rendered hopeless by the successes of the French `under Montcalm, who had captured the forts of Ontario and Oswego, situate on either side of the Onondago river, at its junction with the lake. These forts in the country of the Six Nations, he, with sound policy, destroyed, in their presence. At the capture of Oswego, Colonel Schuyler, and half the Jersey regiment, which formed part of the garrison, were made prisoners and sent to Canada; from whence they were not released, until the end of the campaign, and then on parole, not to serve for eighteen months. The regiment was, however, recruited to its original state of five hundred men, at the expense of the province, carly in the ensuing spring.
Discouraged and disconcerted by these events, Loudon relinquished all offensive operations, and disposed his troops for the defence of the frontier. Renewed efforts to increase his force were rendered abortive by the appear- ance of the small-pox at Albany. The troops which were on the march from New England, and the army at Lake George, were panic-struck by the irruption of an enemy more dreadful than the French; and it became necessary to garrison all the posts with British troops, and to discharge the provincialists, excepting one regiment raised in New York. Thus termi- nated, for a second time, in defeat and utter disappointment, the sanguine hopes, formed by the colonists, of a brilliant and successful campaign. Much labour had been employed, and much money expended, in collecting, by land, from a great distance, troops, provisions, and military stores, at Alba- ny, and in transporting them through an almost unsettled country, to Lake George; yet not an effort had been made to drive the invaders even from their outposts at Ticonderoga.
XXIX. The treaty with Teedyuscung, had neutralized the Delaware and Shawanese tribes on the Susquehanna, but the country was still exposed to the inroads of the French and western Indians, who, growing_ confident from the late disasters of the English, roamed, in small parties, avoiding or attacking the forts and armed provincialists, as they judged most safe. The counties of Cumberland, Lancaster, Berks, and Northampton, in Pennsyl- vania, and, occasionally, a part of Sussex, in New Jersey, were, during the spring and summer montlis of 1757, kept in continual alarm, and some of . the scalping parties penetrated to within thirty miles of Philadelphia. Many of these wretches paid with their lives, the just penalty of their temerity. But their sufferings were not comparable with those of the unfortunate in- habitants. Incessant anxiety pervaded every family in the districts we have named; their slumber was broken by the yell of demons, or by dread of attack, scarce less horrible than their actual presence. The ground was ploughed, the seed sown, and the harvest gathered, under the fear of the tomahawk and rifle. Women visiting their sick neighbours, were shot or captured ; children, driving home cattle from the field, were killed and scalped; whilst the enemy, dastardly as cruel, shrunk from every equality of force. Many of the richest neighbourhoods were deserted, and property of every kind abandoned : extraordinary heroism was frequently displayed by men, women, and children, in defence of themselves and their homes. and in pursuit of, and combat with, the enemy. There was certainly great want of ability and energy in the constituted authorities, British and Provin- cial. United councils, and well directed efforts, would have driven the bar-
A
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barians to their savage haunts, and repeated the chastisement, administered at Kittanning, until they sued for peace. The Assembly of New Jersey, however, was not regardless of the danger and sufferings of her frontier citi- zens, and kept on foot, for their. protection, a body of rangers, consisting of one hundred and twenty men, under Captain Gardiner ; who, though they could not prevent occasional invasions of the foe, gave as much security to the frontier as circumstances would admit.
XXX. Lord Loudon, in the middle of January, summoned the Governors of the New England provinces to New York. In no very good humour he attri- buted to them, the disasters of the late campaign. "Their enterprise against Crown Point," he said, "had not been timely communicated to the ministry; their troops were inferior to his expectations, disposed to insubordination, and less numerous than had been promised; the truc state of the forts and gar- risons had not been reported to him, and the provincial Legislatures had given him votes, instead of men and money.". He concluded this reprimand with a requisition for additional troops from New England, New York, and New Jersey. The spirit of the colonists, however, was not to be broken by misfortune, caused by the incapacity of the ministry of the parent state, and her delegated satraps, nor to be perverted by unmerited reproaches. His demands were, generally, complied with; and he was placed, in the spring, at the head of a respectable army, to tempt his fortune under his own star. The New England provinces' exerted themselves greatly at this time, and authorized a draft, or conscription, should their quotas not be completed by voluntary enlistment. The force required from New Jersey was one thousand men; but the Assembly conceiving five hundred to be their full proportion, refused to do more than complete their regiment; and in an answer to the proposal of Governor Belcher, that they should, also, authorize a draft, they peremptorily declared by a vote of 12, to. 7, "that they were determined not to oblige or compel any of the inhabitants by force, to serve as soldiers."
XXXI. The failures of the past year were attributed to the multiplied ob- jects of the campaign, and the consequent division of the forces. Unity of design, and concentration of the troops, it was presumed, would ensure suc- cess. It was therefore resolved, that Louisburg should be attacked; and Halifax was fixed as the rendezvous of the fleet and army. Early in July, Admiral Holburn arrived there with a large squadron of ships and five thon- sand land forces; and after many delays, was joined by Lord Loudon, with six thousand regulars. Much was properly anticipated from this formidable armament, but the procrastination of the commander-in-chief doomed the . country to severe disappointment. For before his preparations were com- pleted, the French had occupied Louisburg with a superior force, despatched. from Brest, against which his lordship was not disposed to make an effort.
XXXII. The enemy, however, was not slow to avail himself of the ad- vantages which might accrue to him by the withdrawal of the British troops from the northern frontiers of New York. Montcalm, at the head of nine thousand men, drawn principally from Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and the neighbouring forts, witth some Canadians and Indians, invested Castle Wil- liam on the southern shore of Lake George. The place was garrisoned by three thousand men, including the unfortunate Jersey regiment, was well for- tified and supplied with necessaries, but Colonel Monroe was compelled to surrender it within six days after its investment. Montcalmi's triumph was stained by the barbarities of his Indian allies, and though he exerted himself' to protect his prisoners, the massacre of many of them will ever be coupled with his name. Major-general Webb made strenuous exertions to relieve the fort by arousing the militia of New York and New Jersey. From the latter province, one thousand men were despatched, and three thousand were
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put in readiness to march, should they be required. By these reinforcements he was enabled to hold Fort Edward, check the progress of the enemy, who retired when he had learned the return of Loudon to New York. The New Jersey regiment with other prisoners were released, and returned to New York under parole, not to serve again during eighteen months, and being thus rendered useless, were, at the instance of the Assembly, disbanded. This regi- ment, since the capture of Colonel Schuyler, had been commanded by Colo- nel Parker. .
XXXIII. On August 31, 1757, died Governor Jonathan Belcher, in the 76th year of his age. His health had been so infirm, during the preceding two years, that he summoned the Assembly to attend him at Elizabethtown, much to their dissatisfaction. The House seemed apprehensive of being made a mere satellite of the Executive, to revolve around him, in whatever sphere he chose to move, and they therefore attended Governors Morris and Belcher, even when illness prevented these officers from getting to Burlington, or to Amboy with great reluctance; protesting at all times, that their acquiescence should not be drawn into precedent; and they explicitly refused to adjourn from Burlington to Trenton, on the request of his successor Mr. Readington, al- though his health also required this indulgence.
Governor Belcher was a native of New England, and inherited, in early youth an abundant fortune, which enabled him to visit Europe, and to mingle extensively in good society, until lavish expenditure dissipated his wealth. He joined the popular side in the colony of Massachusetts, in the long con- test with Governor Burnet, on the question of fixing his salary, for an inde- finite time, and was sent as an agent of the Assembly to represent their views to the King. Upon the death of Governor Burnet he was appointed to succeed him, and then maintained the pretension of his predecessor, which he had been employed to repel, and with the like ill success. His adminis- tration at Boston was distinguished by his taste for ostentation, and his imperious deportment, and he finally so disgusted the influential men of that government, by rejecting several respectable persons nominated to the coun- cil, that they successfully united to effect his removal. He afterwards re- mained several years unemployed, until he was named to the government of New Jersey. "He was now advanced in age, yet lively, diligent in his sta- tion, and circumspect in his conduct, religious, generous and affable. He affected splendour, at least equal to his rank and fortune: but was a man of worth and honour, and though, in his last years under great debility of body from a stroke of the palsy, he bore up with firmness and resignation, and went through the business of his government, in the most difficult part of the . war, with unremitting zeal in the duties of his office.">
XXXIV. By the death of Mr. Belcher, the administration of the govern- ment again devolved on Mr. John Reading, the first named of the counsellors; who being aged and infirm, at first refused, and finally assumed, its duties with great reluctance. For the space of more than a month, the government was directed by the whole council, at whose instance, on the application of Lord Loudon, the Assembly voted one hundred rangers, to be employed on the frontiers during the winter season. t
* Smith's Hist. of N. J. 433.
t The captain of this company received six shillings, the lieutenants five, ser- jeants four, corporals three and six pence, and the private soldier three shillings per day. And each officer and soldier was furnished at colonial expense, with a blanket, a half thick under jacket, a kersey jacket lapelled, buckskin breeches, two check shirts, two pair of shoes, two pair of stockings, a leather cap, and a hatchet; and 20 shillings was allowed to the captain for each private he should enlist.
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CHAPTER IX.
Containing Events from the Presidency of Mr. Reading to the repeal of the Stamp Act-from the year 1746 to the year 1766 .- I. Influence of Mr. Pitt and his Policy upon Colonial Affairs-New hopes infused into the Colonists .- 11. Suc- cessful Attack of the English upon the Northern Forts .- III. Capture of Fort *** - Du Quesne by General Forbes .- IV. Cheerful and ready aid of the Colonies .- V. New Jersey supplies one thousand Men, and builds Barracks for the King's Troops .- VI. President Reading superseded by the arrival of Governor Ber- nard-His treaty with the Indians-Succeeded by Thomas Boone-He, by Josiah Hardy-He, by William Franklin, the last of the Royal Governors .- VII. Efli- cient Preparations for the Campaign of 1759 .- VIII. Conquest of the French Colonies in North America .- IX. Honourable share of the Provincialists in this Result .- X. Treaty of Peace with France and Spain .- XI. New Confederacy and Hostilities of the Indians-Six hundred Troops raised by New Jersey .- XII. Iin- pressions on the English Ministry, by the Wealth and Power displayed in Ame- rica .- XIII. Proposition of Mr. Grenville to tax the Colonies .- XIV. Conside- ration of the Principles relating to Colonial Taxation .- XV. Mr. Grenville communicates his purpose to the Colonial Agents in London .- XVI. Views taken by Colonics of this Proposition .- XVII. Propositions by several of the Colonies to raise Money, rejected by Mr. Grenville .- XVIII. Act of Parliament for Tax on Colonial Imports and Exports .- XIX. Effect of the Measures in America-Proceedings of Massachusetts and Rhode Island .- XX. Stamp Act passed-Its reception in the Colonies .- XXI. Temporary suspension of legal proceedings and of the publication of Newspapers .- XXII. Anti-Importation Associations .- XXIII. Organization of the " Sons of Liberty."-XXIV. Proposi- tion of Massachusetts for assembling a Congress of Deputies from the Colonies- Action of New Jersey on this proposition .- XXV. Proceedings of the Con- gress-Messrs. Ruggles of Massachusetts, and Ogden of New Jersey, refuse to join in a General Petition .- XXVI. The Assembly of New Jersey approve the Pro- ceedings of Congress-adopts Resolutions condemnatory of the Stamp Act .- XXVII. Efforts in England for Repeal of the Stamp Act .- XXIX. Inquiry be- fore the House of Commons-Repeal of the Stamp Act.
I. With the opening of the year 1758, a new era dawned upon the colo- nies, which were roused from a state of apathy by the voice of William Pitt. The enterprise, judgment, and firmness, which had raised England from the depths of humility, were now employed for the reduction of the American continent. The plan of the campaign was wisely matured, and committed for execution, to men who had reputations to lose and fortunes to gain. Loudon was recalled. Abercrombie commanded in chief, with Amherst for his second, aided by Brigadiers Wolfe and Forbes. The fleet, consisting altogether of one hundred and fifty sail, was commanded by Boscawen.
Il. The designated objects of the campaign were Louisburg, the forts on the lakes, and Fort du Quesne. Major-general Amherst, with twelve thou- sand men, aided by the fleet, laid siege to the first, carly in June; and cap- tured it, after an obstinate defence of seven weeks. General Abercrombie, with seven thousand regulars and ten thousand colonial troops, undertook the expedition against the northern forts. He first attempted that at Ticon- deroga, which had been reared by the French in 1756, on the narrow neck of land dividing Lake George from Lake Champlain. Its position, strong by nature, was well secured by art, and by a garrison of five thousand men. Relying on his superior force, the British general made his attack without artillery, which, from the badness of the roads, could not keep pace with the army. He was repulsed with the loss of two thousand men, chiefly killed; among whom were Brigadier-general Lord Howe, and many other officers of distinction. Though still superior to the enemy, he made a hasty retreat ; R
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but compensated for this ill-timed prudence, by the capture of Fort Fron- tignac, situate on the north side of the river St. Lawrence, at its entrance · from Lake Ontario; commanding the river, and serving as a magazine for the more southern castles. The garrison consisted of one hundred and ten men only ; but the fort contained a large stock of arms, stores, and provi- sions for the western posts. Nine armed vessels, some of which carried eighteen guns, were also taken. The enterprise was projected and executed by Lieutenant-colonel Bradstreet.
III. The reduction of Fort Du Quesne was confided to Brigadier-general Forbes, with a detachment from General Abercrombie's army, strengthened by the southern militia; the whole computed at seven thousand eight hun- dred and fifty men .* He began his march from Carlisle in the middle of July, to join Colonel Bouquet at Raystown; who, with two thousand five hundred inen, was advanced to Loyal Hanna, fifty miles further to the west- ward. The march of the main body was delayed until September, in con- sequence of the difficulty in procuring carriages and military stores, and of the tardiness with which the orders to the Virginia regulars, under Colonel Washington, had been given. In the mean time, Major Grant was detached by Bouquet, with eight hundred men, to reconnoitre the fort and adjacent country. He was attacked. surrounded by the enemy, and lost above three hundred men, killed and taken, and was himself among the prisoners ; the remainder retired in great confusion. t Colonel Bouquet still continuing at Loyal Hanna, the enemy resolved to attack him, in his camp. A force, esti- mated at twelve hundred French, and two hundred Indians, commanded by De Vetri, assailed him on the eleventh of October with great vivacity, but was compelled to draw off with considerable loss, after a warm combat of four hours. A second attack was made during the night, but some shells thrown from the camp compelled them to retreat. The loss of Colonel
Bouquet amounted to sixty seven rank and file, killed and wounded. Upon the twenty-third or twenty-fourth of October, General Forbes proceeded from Raystown to Loyal Hanna. He continued there until the seventeenth of November. On the twelfth of that month Colonel Washington, being out with a scouting party, fell in with a number of the enemy about three miles from the camp, whom he attacked, killing one, and taking three prisoners : among the latter was one Johnson, an Englishman, who had been captured by the Indians in Lancaster county, from whom was derived full and correct information of the state of the garrison at Du Quesne. A most unfortunate occurrence happened to the provincials upon this occasion. The fire of Washington's party being heard at the camp, Colonel Mercer, with a num- ber of Virginians, were sent to his assistance. The two parties approach- ing, in the dusk of the evening, reciprocally mistook each other for enemies; a number of shot was exchanged, by which a lieutenant and thirteen or four- teen Virginians were killed. On the thirteenth of November, a force of one thousand men, under Colonel John Armstrong, was pushed forward, and the general followed on the seventeenth, with four thousand three hundred effec- tive men, leaving strong garrisons at Raystown and Loyal Hanna. For want of practicable roads, the whole march was tedious and difficult-the advance of ten miles a-day being deemed extraordinary progress. The
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* 350 Royal Americans; four companies. 1200 Highlanders; thirteen companies.
2600 Virginians.
2700 Pennsylvanians.
1000 Wagoners, sutlers, and followers of the army.
# 14th September.
Penn. Gazette, 1758, No. 1553.
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army was greatly afflicted by sickness, and weakened by desertion. Ne- glecting the road formerly cut by Braddock over the mountains, General Forbes opened a new one, by which he approached the fort. The capture of Frontignac, and the detection of the Indians from the French interest, had already prepared the way for his success. The garrison of Fort Du Quesne, unsustained by their savage allies, and hopeless of reinforcements, the Cana- dian force lately engaged at Loyal Hanna having retired, held the place, only, until the approach of the English army should justify its abandonment. Accordingly, on the twenty-fourth of November, when Forbes was within a day's march of the fort, they burned and abandoned it, and escaped, by the Ohio river, to the French settlements upon the Mississippi. The ruined fortifi- cations were seized by the English, on the next day, and, being hastily repaired, were garrisoned by four hundred and fifty men, chiefly provincial troops, from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, under the command of Colonel Mercer. The remainder of the army was marched into the interior, and quartered at Lancaster, Reading, and Philadelphia.
IV. In the preparations of the colonies for this campaign, we have new evidence of the power which an energetic spirit, directed by wisdom, may obtain, over the mass of mankind. The contributions of the provinces, to- wards carrying on the continental war, had, for the last campaigns, been merely the cold returns of duty ; but in this, the people displayed all the zeal with which men pursue their interests, when animated by well founded hopes of success. Their combined forces, they were now assured, would be ap- plied to remove the enemy from the frontiers; and instead of being required to furnish a specific quota of troops, each colony was directed to raise as large a force as was in its power, with the greatest possible despatch. To render such force effective, Mr. Pitt recommended to the respective gover- nors, to commission popular men for officers, and in bestowing military ap- pointments, to have regard, solely, to the public service. Arms, ammuni- tion, tents, and provisions, were to be furnished by the crown; and the expense of levying, clothing, and pay, was to be borne by the provinces. But, even these charges, he promised to recommend the Parliament to pay, as the vigour and efforts of the provinces should merit.
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