USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey, from its discovery by Europeans, to the adoption of the federal Constitution > Part 41
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XXVII. The operations of the enemy against Fort Mifflin, were uninter.
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rupted. They had command of the Schuylkill, and of Province and Car- penter's islands, at its mouth. On both, batteries had been constructed, to play on the fort, from which they were separated by a narrow passage, be- tween four and five hundred yards wide, in which were floating batteries. They had driven thence the American moveable water force, originally re- lied on, for security in that quarter. Its chief employment, now, was to de- feat preparations making at Philadelphia against the fort, by descending the river. The garrison consisted of three hundred continental troops, only; a number insufficient to place a single line around the works.
On the 10th November, a new and large battery was opened from Pro- vince Island, which kept up an incessant fire throughout that day, and seve- ral successive days. The block-houses of the fort were reduced to a heap of ruins, the palisades were beaten down, and most of the guns dismounted, or otherwise disabled. The barracks were battered in every part, so that the troops could not continue in them. The night was spent in repairing the damages of the day, and guarding against storm, of which they were in per- petual apprehension. If in the day a few moments were allowed for repose, it was taken on the wet carth, rendered, by the heavy rains, a soft mud. The garrison was relieved by General Varnum every forty-eight hours, and one-half of his brigade was constantly on duty. Colonel Smith, with the concurrence of General Varnum, believed the garrison ought to be with- drawn. But the commander-in-chief cherished the hope that it might be maintained, until he, reinforced by the northern army, could make a success- ful effort for its protection ; and therefore he directed that it should be defended to the last extremity. Never were orders better obeyed. On the 11th, Colonel Smith was wounded, and was obliged to yield the command, which was taken first by Colonel Russell, and afterwards by Major Thayer. On the 15th, the enemy brought up their ships so far as the obstructions would permit, and having discovered that the channel between Mud and Province Islands would admit of large vessels, introduced a frigate and sloop of war, within one hundred yards of the works. They not only kept up a most de- structive cannonade, but threw hand grenades into them; and the musketry from the round-top of the frigate, killed every man that appeared on the platform. Orders were given to Commodore Hazlewood, to attempt the re- moval of these vessels, but he deemed it impracticable. The place was con- sequently no longer tenable, and at 11 o'clock of the night of the 16th, the garrison was withdrawn.
From the position of Fort Mercer, its safety depended, almost wholly, upon the possession of Fort Mitllin. Still it was resolved to defend it. On the 17th, Cornwallis marched against it by the way of Chester; and, notwith- standing General Washington was apprized of his intention, no effort which he could make could bring together, in season, a sufficient force to protect it, and the fort was evacuated. A few of the smaller American galleys escaped up the river, the rest were captured or burned. The passage of the Dela- ware was thus opened.
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Lord Cornwallis, with a force of about five thousand men, availed himself of this incursion, to collect large quantities of fresh provisions for the relief of the British army, and had taken post on Gloucester Point, which was en- tirely under cover of the guns of the ships. General Greene commanded an almost equal body of troops in New Jersey, a part of which was militia, and awaited the arrival of Glover's brigade from the north, in order to take of- fensive measures against Cornwallis. But an attack upon the British, in their present advantageous position, would have been unwarrantable. Yet, a small, but brilliant affair was performed, by a detachment of about one hun-
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dred and fifty men from Morgan's rifle corps, under Lieutenant-colonel But- ler, and a like number of militia, under the Marquis La Fayette, who served as a volunteer. They attacked a picket of the enemy, consisting of about three hundred men, and drove them, with the loss of twenty or thirty killed, and a great number wounded, quite into their camp; retiring themselves without pursuit. " I found the riflemen," said La Fayette, in a letter to Washington, "even above their reputation, and the militia above all ex- pectation I could have formed of them." Cornwallis, soon after, returned to Philadelphia, and Greene joined the main army under the conunander- in-chief.
XXVIII. During these transactions on the Delaware, General Dickenson, whose perfect knowledge of the country gave every hope of success, made another attempt to cut off Skinner's brigade of loyalists, stationed on Staten Island. He collected about two thousand men, and requested from Genera! Putnam, commanding the continental troops, a diversion on the side of King's Bridge, in order to prevent a sudden reinforcement from New York. As his success depended upon secrecy, he concealed his object even from his field officers, until eight o'clock of the night on which it was to be executed; vet, by three next morning, Skinner was apprized of his intention, and saved his brigade by retiring into works too strong to be carried by assault. In the flight, a few prisoners were made and a few men killed. General Dickenson returned with the loss of three killed and ten slightly wounded.
XXIX. By the capture of Burgoyne and his army, part of the force of the northern department might be called to Philadelphia. But neither General Gates nor General Putnam were disposed to part, readily, with their troops. A considerable portion of them, however, after some delay, reached the camp under General Washington, whose army, thus reinforced, amounted to twelve thousand one hundred and sixty-one continental troops, and three thousand two hundred and forty-one militia. The force of the enemy, with some detachments lately received from New York, has been stated, various- ly, at from twelve to fourteen thousand men. This equality induced many persons to urge upon the commander-in-chief, an attack upon Howe in Phi- ladelphia, notwithstanding that position was covered by the Delaware on the right, by the Schuylkill on the left, by the junction of these rivers on the rear, and by a line of fourteen redoubts on the front, extending from river to river, connected by abbatis and circular works. Happily, the prudence of the general, sustained by the advice of his superior officers, resisted the effort.
XXX. Master of the river Delaware, from Philadelphia to the sea, and of the country on both shores to the south, the British general was relieved of the apprehension of suffering from a scarcity of provisions, and was at leisure to turn his whole force upon the American army, circumscribing him on the north and west; which he proposed not only to force from its present posi- tion, but to drive beyond the mountains.
On the fourth of December, General Washington was apprized that an attempt would be immediately made upon his camp at White Marsh ; and on the evening of the same day, Sir William Howe marched from the city with his whole force. About eleven at night, Captain Allen M'Lane, who had been detached with one hundred men, selected from several divisions, fell in with and attacked the British van, at the Three Mile Run, on the German- town road, compelling their front division to change their line of march. At three next morning, the advancing army encamped on Chesnut Hill, in front of the American right, and distant from it three miles. Three days were spent in various manœuvres by the British forces, during which there were several skirmishes, with Morgan's riflemen and some militia under General
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Irvine of Pennsylvania. The general was wounded, and with a small por- tion of his detachment, made prisoner. A general action was hourly ex- pected, but Howe would not attack the American camp, admirably placed ; nor would Washington engage in a position less advantageous. He desired to be attacked, and felt confident that Sir William Howe, strongly enforced, would not march out with his whole army, only, to march back again. But, on the morning of the nineteenth, he filed off from the right by several routes, in full march for Philadelpha. This movement prevented the execution of a daring design of the American general, (formed on observing the caution of Howe,) to surprise and seize Philadelphia. *
XXXI. The season had now become extremely severe, and it was impos- sible, without intense suffering, for an army so wretchedly furnished as was the American, longer to keep the field, in tents. That it might still continue to cover the country, it was resolved to take a strong position at the Valley Forge, and there to erect huts in the form of a regular encampment. Thither the army was removed on the 12th of December. Its course from White Marsh, might have been tracked by the blood which flowed from the bare feet of the soldiery. Though somewhat more comfortable in their huts, their winter was one of great privation and suffering, the details of which are fo- reign from our present purpose.
In order to have a full view of the campaign of 1777, it will be necessary that we, successively, narrate the progress of General Burgoyne, and the circumstances which produced the important event of his capture.
XXXII. When General Carleton had retired into winter quarters, General Burgoyne, who had served under him, returned to England, to communicate fully to the administration, the condition of affairs in the northern depart- ment, and to make arrangements for the ensuing campaign. With the ca- binet, he digested a plan for penetrating to the Hudson, from Canada, by way of the lakes. A formidable army was to be put under his command, to pro- ceed against Ticonderoga as soon as the season would permit ; whilst a smaller force, under Col. St. Leger, composed of Canadians, American re- fugees, a few Europeans, and many Indians, should march from Oswego, by way of the Mohawk, and unite with the grand army on the North river.
* Mr. Marshall says, vol. iii. p. 2-0, Life of Washington, " Captain Allen M.Lane discovered, that an attempt was abont to be made to surprise the camp at White Marsh," &c. Another version is given of this matter, by the American Quar- terly Review, vol. i. p. 32. 1-27. Possibly the officer to whom information was given was M.Lane instead of Craig. Both accounts, however, may be true. By the last it seems, that some British officers occasionally met for conference, at the house of William and Lydia Darrach, Quakers, resident in the city. On the second of De- cember, they requested that the family would retire early in the evening, as they would be at their room, and remain late ; and added, that, when about to depart, they would call the wife to let them out. Curiosity, the first tempter, induced Lydia to approach the door of the conference chamber, shod in felt, only, and to put her ear to the key hole, where she heard, in detail, the plan of attack for the fourth. Under pretence of procuring flour from Frankford, she obtained a pass from Sir William Howe. Leaving her bag at the mill, she hastened towards the American lines, and encountered on the way. the American Colonel Craig, of the light horse; to whom she communicated the important information. The necessary preparations were, of course, made. Lydia returned home with her flour; and anxiously awaited news of the event ; but when the British returned, did not dare to ask a question. On the next evening, one of the officers who frequented the house, requested her to come to his room, that he might submit some questions to her. He inquired, earnestly, whether any of her family were up, the last night he was there. She told him, that all had retired at & o'clock. He observed, " I know you were asleep, for I knocked at your chamber door, three times, before you heard me. I am entirely at a loss, to imagine who gave General Washington information of our intended attack. When we arrived near White Marsh, we found all their cannon mounted, and the troops prepared to receive us, and we have marched back like a parcel of fools."
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The invading force, immediately under the commander-in-chief, amounted to about 9000 men. He was supported by Major-general Phillips, of the artillery. Maior-general Reidesel, and Brigadier-general Sprecht, of the Ger- man troops, together with the British Generals, Frazer, Powell, and Hamil- ton; all officers of distinguished merit. The detachment under St. Leger, consisted of about 1800 men; one-half of whom were Indians, and the greater proportion of the other half, American loyalists, under the command of Sir John Johnstone. A considerable force was left in Canada, under Sir Guy Carleton, whose military command was restricted to the province. This able and humane officer, though indignant at having been suspended, displayed the greatness of his mind, by his ready and effective assistance, in promoting the objects of the campaign.
XXXIII. The northern American army, which had been formed only for the year, dissolved with that term. So far from being in condition for of- fensive operations, scarce a show of defence could be preserved in the forts. The charge of this frontier was assigned to troops to be furnished by Massa- chusetts, New Hampshire, and the north-western parts of New York; but the recruiting proceeded so slowly, that it became necessary to call in the aid of the northern militia. General Gates, having joined General Washington, this department was solely under the command of General Schuyler, who failed in no effort to fulfil its duties. His plans for the ensuing campaign re- quired 15,000 men; a very small portion of which could be supplied to him in season. The services of this officer had been more solid than brilliant, and were not, generally, nor duly, appreciated. Dissatisfied with their ac- ceptation, his resignation was delayed, only, by patriotic motives. When the fear of a winter attack upon Ticonderoga had been removed, by the open state of Lake Champlain, he repaired to Congress to have his compli- cated accounts adjusted, his conduct inquired of, and his plans of future ac- tion approved and sustained. When his many and arduous services had, thus, became fully known, Congress deemed it essential to the public interests, to prevail on him to retain his commission. Repealing the resolution of the 6th March, 1776, which fixed his head-quarters at Albany, they directed him on 22d May, 1777, to assume the command of the whole northern department, consisting of Albany, Ticonderoga, Fort Stanwix, and their dependencies.
XXXIV. Sensible of the dangers which surrounded him, he made every exertion to meet them; visiting in person the several posts, and ob- taining supplies of provisions. He was at Albany, for these services, and for hastening the march of reinforcements, when he received intelligence, from General St. Clair, commanding at Ticonderoga, that General Burgoyne had appeared before that fortress .*
The royal army approached by the unimpeded route of the lake; and advanced from Crown Point, with equal caution and order, on both sides of the strait, through which their naval force proceeded. In a few days they surrounded three-fourths of the American works at Ticonderoga and Mount Independence, and erected a battery on Sugar Hill, commanding both positions. The defence of the lines required ten thousand men; the actual force within them, was twenty-five hundred and forty-six continentals, and nine hundred militia, badly equipped, worse arined, and with provisions for twenty days, only. Had it been practicable to obtain an accurate know- ledge of the strength of the besieging army, in due season, prudence would have required the abandonment of the post and removal of the stores, before its close approximation. Under existing circumstances, speedy retreat of the garrison was indispensable to the safety of the troops; and though General
* July Ist, 1777.
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St. Clair knew, that the whole country relied, confidently, on the mainte- nance of the post, he wisely and heroically resolved, with the unanimous consent of his officers, to abandon it, and to preserve his army, if possible, for a future service. The execution of this resolution astounded and dis- gusted the nation; but its propriety became evident, so soon as circum- stances permitted inquiry. A few days before the place was invested, General Schuyler, from the inspection of the muster rolls, and other reports alike erroneous, had stated the strength of the garrison at five thousand men, and its provisions abundant; and the invading force was, generally, sup- posed to be inferior. When, therefore, it was known, that the fortifications, on which much money and labour had been expended, and which were deemed the key of the whole western country, had been abandoned without an effort to sustain them-that an immense train of artillery, consisting of one hundred and twenty-eight pieces, and all the baggage, military stores, and provisions, had fallen into the hands of the enemy-that the army on its retreat, had been attacked, defeated and dispersed, astonishment pervaded all ranks of men, and the conduct of the officers was universally condemned. Congress directed a recall of all the generals of the department, and an in- quiry into their conduct. Through New England, especially, the most malignant aspersions were cast on them; and General Schuyler, who, from some unknown cause, had never been viewed with favour in that part of the continent, was involved in the common charge of treason, to which this accumulation of unlooked for calamity was generally attributed, by the mass of the people. On the representation of Washington, the recall of the officers was suspended, until he should be of the opinion, that the state of things would admit such a measure. Gates, however, was directed to take the place of Schuyler. This substitution was warranted by policy ; since it put . at the head of the department, a general who enjoyed the public confidence, in the place of one who had lost it.
On abandoning the fort, St. Clair retreated rapidly to Castletown, thirty miles from Ticonderoga. . In the pursuit, the enemy, with eight hundred and fifty men, under General Frazer, came up with his rear guard, under Colonel Warner, which, amounting to about one thousand men, had halted six miles short of that place. A sharp action ensued, terminating in the dispersion. of the Americans, with great loss, by the aid of General Reidesel, who arrived with his division of Germans, during the heat of the contest. About the same time, Colonel Long was driven, with his de- tachment, from Skeenesborough, and the stores there collected, comprising nearly all that had been saved from the garrison, were destroyed. Long retired to Fort Anne, and soon afterwards to Fort Edward, the head-quarters of General Schuyler; whither St. Clair, after collecting the scattered remains of his army, also, retreated.
XXXV. Burgoyne remained some days at Skeenesborough, to collect and refresh his men; whilst Schuyler employed himself in removing the stores from Fort Edward, sweeping the country of every thing which could sus- tain an enemy, and throwing obstructions into the streams and roads, to check his course. Nor did he cease his endeavours to arouse the surround- ing country to activity. Great exertion was also made by General Wash- ington, to re-establish the northern army. Troops, artillery and ammunition, were despatched from Massachusetts and Peck's-kill. Generals Lincoln and Arnold, popular officers, especially, with their countrymen, and the not less popular Colonel Morgan, with his indefatigable rifle corps, were ordered to repair to it. In the very success of Burgoyne, this able and prudent man saw the source of his defeat, and foretold " that the confidence derived from success," would hurry him into measures that would effect his ruin.
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In dispersing the American army, the British general had not completed half that was necessary, to enable him to reach the Hudson. The country through which he was to pass was in a great measure, in a primitive condi- tion. Its roads bad, at the best, were obstructed by hundreds of trees, which had been felled across them. The bridges were broken down, and his pro- visions, bateaux, and artillery, were to be transported over this alnost im- passable route. Checked by these impediments, he did not reach that river, in the neighbourhood of Fort Edward, until the 30th of July. Schuyler. who had been daily gathering strength, but not yet strong enough to meet him, on his approach, retired over the Hudson to Saratoga, a few miles below that place, and soon after, to Stillwater, near the mouth of the Mohawk ; where he fortified a camp, in hopes that he should soon be in condition to defend it.
But he did not confine himself wholly to defensive operations. The ad- vance of Burgoyne left the posts in his rear uncovered, and General Lincoln was ordered, instead of immediately joining Schuyler, to attempt. with about two thousand men, to cut off the communication of the British with the lakes; whilst Arnold was despatched with three continental regiments to raise the siege of Fort Schuyler, which had been commenced by St. Leger, and to prevent the junction of the two portions of Burgoyne's army.
XXXVI. On the 3d of August, St. Leger invested Fort Schuyler, formerly Fort Stanwix. It was garrisoned by six hundred continental troops, com- manded by Colonel Gansevoort. On his approach, General Herkimer assembled the militia of Tryon county, for the purpose of relieving the gar- rison. Gansevoort, apprized of this intention, resolved on a vigorous sortie, to second it. . Unhappily, St. Leger had learned the movement of the former, and formed an ambuscade, into which Herkimer fell. His party was de- feated with great slaughter ; and the general and many officers were wounded. Its entire destruction was prevented by the timely sortie, under lieutenant- colonel Willet, who fell upon the feebly guarded camp of the besiegers, drove the soldiery into the woods, and brought off considerable plunder, several Indian weapons, and other articles much valued. His party killed several of the enemy, of whom were some Indian chiefs.
But a change was about to come over the fortune of Burgoyne. His star had reached its culminating point, and its decline was as rapid as its ascen- sion. Fort Schuyler was well fortified, and held out. The Indians of St. Leger, always fickle, never persevering in continuous labour, became dis- gusted with the service, and impatient of the losses which they had sustained in the late skirmishes. At length, learning that Arnold was advancing, and a report prevailing, that Burgoyne had been routed, part of them slunk away, and the remainder threatened to follow. The siege was raised with great pre- cipitation; the tents left standing, and the artillery, with great part of the baggage, ammunition, and provisions, fell into the hands of the Americans. The retreating army was pursued by a detachment from the garrison ; and the Indians plundered the remaining baggage of the officers, and massacred such soldiers as could not keep up with the line of march. St. Leger re. turned to Montreal, whence he proceeded to Ticonderoga, with intention to join Burgoyne by that route.
XXXVII. To prevent relief to the garrison of Fort Schuyler, an attack on the American army was suggested by St. Leger; and Burgoyne was well disposed to an immediate and rapid movement down the Hudson, in hopes thereby, to drive his enemy before him, and free the whole of the upper country. But his supply of provisions was with great difficulty kept up, and such a movement would greatly increase that difficulty, as the communica- tion with Fort George, already endangered by the body of militia assembling at White Creek, must be preserved by larger detachments from his arm Athan
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he was in condition to make. In this dilemma, he resolved to attempt the large magazines of provisions at Bennington. Lieutenant-colonel Baum, with about five hundred men, was detached upon this service, to facilitate which, Burgoyne moved down the Hudson, and threw part of his army across it to Saratoga; and Lieutenant-colonel Brechman with his corps, was ordered to support Baum. Happily, General Stark, with the New Hampshire militia, was now at Bennington, on his way to camp, together with the remains of Colonel Warner's continental regiment; making in the whole, a force of two thousand men. Apprized of his danger, Baum entrenched himself four miles from the town, and despatched an express for a reinforcement. But before Brechman could arrive, Stark carried the works by assault, and the greater part of his detachment was killed or taken prisoners. Brechman came up in time to encounter the pursuing Americans, and he also, was compelled to retreat with the loss of many men, his artillery and baggage. Five hundred and sixty-four privates were taken prisoners, but the number of killed could not be ascertained; the most important acquisition, at the moment, of one thousand stand of arms, and nine hundred swords, was obtained.
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