USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey, from its discovery by Europeans, to the adoption of the federal Constitution > Part 49
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At Springfield, Major Lee was advanced on the Vauxhall road, taken by the British right column; and Colonel Dayton, on the direct road, pursued by the left. As the enemy approached the town, a cannonade commenced, between their van and the American artillery, which had been posted to de- fend a bridge over the Rahway, guarded by Colonel Angel, with less than two hundred men. Colonel Shreve, with his regiment, occupied a second bridge, in order to cover the retreat of Angel. Major Lee, with his dra- goons, and the piquets under Captain Walker, supported by Colonel Ogden, defended a bridge on the Vauxhall road. The residue of the continental troops, were drawn up on high ground, in the rear of the town, with the militia on the flanks.
The right column of the British, advanced on Lee, who resisted their pas- sage until a body of the enemy had forded the river above him, when he withdrew his corps to avoid being surrounded. At this instant, their left at- tacked Angel, who maintained his ground with persevering gallantry, until compelled, after thirty minutes struggle, to yield to superior numbers; but he retired in perfect order, and brought off his wounded. Shreve, after covering Angel's retreat, rejoined his brigade. The English then took pos- session of the town and reduced it to ashes. The stern resistance he had encountered, the gallantry and discipline of the continental troops, their firm countenance displayed in continual skirmishing, and the strength of Greene's position, together with tidings, that a formidable fleet and army was daily expected from France, deterred Sir Henry from prosecuting his original design. He withdrew that afternoon from Elizabethtown; and in the same night passed over to Staten Island. In this battle the Jersey bri- gade and militia, bore a conspicuous and honourable part.
XVIII. There is, perhaps, no event connected with the American revolu- tion, of more extraordinary character, than the devotion displayed towards it, by the Marquis de La Fayette. Of high aristocratic descent, rich, and with every prospect of flattering consideration, at the court of his king, he became enamoured of the principles of freedom and equality, in a distant and a foreign land; and against the remonstrances of his friends, and the disappro- bation of his prince, devoted his life and fortune to their support. At the close of 1776, he communicated to the American commissioners, at Paris, his determination to repair to the United States. The encouragement which they gave to his wishes was retracted, when the reverses in New Jersey were known. But his enthusiasm was not to be thus extinguished; and he replied, that these circumstances rendered. even inconsiderable aids more necessary; and that if they could not furnish him with a ship, he would freight one himself, to convey him and their despatches. This he did. At the age of nineteen years, newly wedded to a wife whom he loved, and tempted by the pleasures of a luxurious court, he voluntarily rejected the ready enjoyments of his condition, and sailed to America. He was received with such sentiments as his disinterestedness merited. But, instead of using this grateful disposition, to obtain extraordinary distinction, in the rendition
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of his services, as was generally the case with foreigners, who then sought employment in America, he, modestly and generously, declined a commission, and requested leave to serve as a volunteer. Nor were the virtues of this extraordinary man, thus displayed, the temporary fruits of momentary and youthful excitement. His love of freedom and political equality, and his dis- interested pursuit of them, have rendered illustrious a long life; and it would seem, that with him, at least, the exercise of virtuons passions had the power to give increase of days. He became the friend of Washington. And if a nation's gratitude be the appropriate meed for national services, La Fayette has been rewarded, by his triumphal procession, of months, through the North American continent.
When war was declared between France and England, La Fayette deem- ed, that his duty required him to tender his services to his own sovereign. He obtained the permission of Congress, to return, preserving his rank of major-general, in the American army, and all his zeal for American inte- rests. He was received at court with favour and distinction, and success- fully employed his influence, in persuading the cabinet to grant efficient succours to the United States. There being no probability of active employ- ment in Europe, he returned to America, in April, 1780; bearing the grate- ful intelligence, that France would immediately despatch a considerable land and naval armament, for the ensuing campaign.
XIX. These tidings gave, indeed, a new impulse to Congress, the State Legislatures, and the people. The first adopted vigorous resolutions for raising money and troops, which were transferred into the laws of the seve- ral States. But, unfortunately, the energy displayed in the enactment, did not extend to the execution of the laws; the troops being slowly raised, and in numbers far less than the service required. Several patriotic individuals contributed largely to the public funds. The citizens of Philadelphia establish- ed a bank, subscribing £315,000, Pennsylvania currency, payable in specie; principally, with a view to provide the army with provisions, and without contemplation of profit to the founders. The ladies of that city set a splen- did example of patriotismn, devoting large sums for the relief of suffering soldiers, which was, generally, followed throughout the country .* Yet, despite of all these exertions, the condition of the army continued de- plorable.
XX. On the 10th of July, before Washington could fill his ranks, or had prepared any plan for the campaign, the first division of the French auxilia- ries arrived at Newport, with more than five thousand troops, and intelli- gence, that a second division might be speedily expected. The instructions of General Rochambeau, placed him, entirely, under the command of Wash- ington, and required his forces, as allies, to cede the post of honour to the Americans. In reliance on the French naval superiority, Washington pro- posed a joint attack on New York ; fixing the 5th of August, for the re- embarkation of the French troops, and the assembling of his army at Morris- ania. But this design was procrastinated and finally defeated, by the suc- cessive arrival of British squadrons, which gave them the command of the sea, and confined the French to the harbour. In its prosecution, however, the commander-in-chief visited Hartford, that by personal conference with the French officers, he might concert measures for this and other objects.
During his absence from camp, the long meditated treason of General Arnold exploded, destroying, however, only, the most active auxiliary of his
* On the 4th of July, the ladies of Trenton appointed Mrs. Cox, Mrs. Dickenson, Mrs. Forman, and Miss Cadwalader, to open a subscription, and to correspond with the ladies in the different counties of the State, whom they named on committees.
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guilt; whose merit caused him to be wept, even by his enemies. General Arnold possessed great courage, enterprise, patience, and fortitude, with other qualities essential to the able soldier. But without moral principle, or sound judgment, he estimated greatness to consist in ostentatious display, and the liberal indulgence of the senses. Previous to the revolution his poverty denied these enjoyments. His sudden elevation, whilst stimulating his appetites, gave him, justly or unjustly, the means for their gratification.
A short period of success filled him with that disposition, which leads inevi- tably to ruin. He became prodigal of his own, and avaricious of the pro- perty of others. The wounds he received at Quebec and Saratoga, unfitted him for active service; and having large accounts to settle with Congress, he was, on the evacuation of Philadelphia in 1778, appointed to the com- mand of that city. Here, yielding to his vain propensities, he incurred large . expenses, for a sumptuous table and splendid equipage. To sustain these, with the spirit of the gambler, he embarked in perilous and unfortunate com- mercial speculations, and in unsuccessful privateer adventures. Ilis ac- counts with the United States were intricate, and the enormous balances he claimed, were reduced, not only by a committee of Congress, but by the House, on the report of its committee. Charged with various acts of' sstor- tion upon the citizens, and peculation in the funds, detected and degraded, he reproached his country with ingratitude, and giving general offence, was arrested, tried, and sentenced by a court martial, and publicly reprimanded by the commander-in-chief.
From this hour, his haughty spirit is supposed to have devoted his country to the direst vengeance. Knowing well the importance of the post at West Point, he deliberately and successfully sought its command, with the view of betraying it to the enemy. To this end, a correspondence was for some time carried on, under mercantile disguise, in the names of Gustavus and All- derson, between him and Major John Andre, aid-de-camp of Sir Henry Clinton, and adjutant-general of the British army. To facilitate their com- munication, the Vulture, sloop of war, took a station on the North river; and the visit of General Washington, at Hartford, was improved, for adjusting their plans by a personal interview. Andre landed from the sloop, without the American lines, under a flag sent by Arnold. Their conference having been protracted, into the succeeding day, it became necessary that Andre should be concealed, until the night afforded him a safe opportunity to re- embark. He refused, peremptorily, to enter within the lines, but the respect promised to this objection, was not preserved. They continued together during the day, in which the Vulture shifted her position, in consequence of a gun having, without the knowledge of Arnold, been brought to bear upon her. The boatmen, on the following night, refusing to carry Andre on board, he attempted to reach New York, by land. Reluctantly yielding to the representations of Arnold, he exchanged his uniform, which he had hitherto worn beneath his surtout, for plain clothes, and set forth with a per- mit, authorizing him, under the name of John Anderson, to proceed on the public service to the White Plains, or lower, if he thought proper.
He had safely passed the posts, when he was arrested by one of three militiamen, on a scouting party. With a self-abandonment, extraordinary in one equally brave and intelligent, instead of producing his pass, he hastily asked the soldier, who had seized his bridle, " where he belonged to?" The reply, " to below," designating him to be from New York, Andre said, " And so am 1;"-and declaring himself to be a British officer, on urgent business, begged that he might not be detained. The other militiamen coming up, he discovered his mistake too late to repair it. His most tempting offers for permission to escape, were rejected by his captors, who, on searching him,
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found concealed, in his boots, among other interesting papers, exact returns, in the hand-writing of Arnold, of the state of West Point, and its dependen- cies. Carried before Colonel Jameson, who commanded the scouts on the lines, he, anxious for the safety of Arnold, requested, that he should be in- formed, that Anderson was taken. An express was despatched with the communication. On receiving it, Arnold took refuge on board the Vulture, whence he proceeded to New York. Sufficient time being allowed for his escape, André no longer affected concealment, but avowed himself the adju- tant-general of the British army.
This gallant and unfortunate man suffered the penalty which would have more justly fallen upon the fugitive traitor. He was condemned as a spy, by a court-martial, of which General Greene was president, and La Fayette, Steuben, and others, were members. And notwithstanding the earnest en- deavours of Sir Henry Clinton, to save him, and the tears even of his judges, the sentence, sternly exacted by duty, was executed. Arnold became a bri- gadier in the British service, imiversally contemned as a vile and sordid traitor, who had been redeemed from the gallows, by the blood of one of the most accomplished officers of the British army.
The thanks of Congress were given, with a silver medal, bearing an in- scription, expressive of their fidelity, to John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Vanvert; and subsequently, a pension of two hundred dollars per annum-a reward, better proportioned to the state of the treasury, than their services-was settled upon them, respectively.
XXII. Early in December, 1780, the American army retired to winter quarters. The Pennsylvania line was stationed near Morristown, the Jersey line about Pompton, on the confines of New York, and the troops of the New England States, at and near West Point, on both sides of the river. The line of New York remained at Albany, to which place it had been sent to aid in opposing a temporary invasion from Canada.
XXIII. In Europe, Great Britain, at war with France and Spain, was threatened by the northern powers, Russia, Sweden, and Norway, who, in the summer of 1750, entered into the celebrated compact known as " The armed neutrality." Holland showed a disposition not only to join this alli- ance, but to enter into a treaty with the United States of America. Both were offences which the English ministers were not disposed to overlook, and war was declared against that nation.
XXIV. The state of the American army was little improved during the year 1780. Discontent gained ground, and even the officers could not always restrain their repinings, in contrasting their condition with that of other classes in the country. These had, inevitably, an influence upon the dispo- sition of the soldier. In addition to the general causes of dissatisfaction, the Pennsylvania line had one, almost, peculiar to itself. When Congress di- rected enlistments to be made for "three years or during the war," the re- cruiting officers of that line engaged many men on those ambiguous terms. As a consequence, the soldier claimed his discharge, at the expiration of three years; whilst the officer insisted, upon detaining him during the war. The imposition, as the soldier viewed it, was more impatiently borne, whilst he wit- nessed the large bounties given to the new recruits. The discontent which had been long fomenting, broke out on the night of the first of January, 1781, in open and almost universal revolt of this line.
Upon a signal given, all the regiments, except three, turned out under arms; avowing their determination to march to the seat of Congress, and obtain redress for their grievances, or to serve no longer. The officers en- deavoured, in vain, to quell them. Several were wounded, and a Captain Billing killed, in the attempt. General Wayne presented his pistols, as if
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about to fire; but the bayonet was put to his breast, whilst, with expressions of respect and affection, he was told, " If you fire, you are a dead man. We are not going to the enemy ; should he approach, we will fight him under your orders. But we will be no longer amused, and are resolved to obtain our just rights." In this temper, thirteen hundred men marched from Mor- ristown to Princeton, with their arms and six pieces of cannon, in good order, with officers appointed from themselves, a sergeant-major, who had deserted from the British, being commander. They resisted attempts at ac- commodation, made, severally, by General Wayne and a committee of Con- gress. But, at length, at the instance of President Reed of Pennsylvania, they marched to Trenton, and submitted, on condition,-1. That those en- listed for "three years or during the war," should be discharged; such enlistment to be determined by commissioners mutually chosen, on the oath of the soldier, where the written contract could not be found; 2. That cer- tificates for the depreciation of their pay should be immediately given, the arrearages to be paid as soon as circumstances would permit; 3. That certain specified articles of clothing, greatly needed, should be immediately furnished. In consequence of the irksomeness of this affair, the whole of the artillery, and of the five first regiments of infantry, were discharged before the con- tracts of enlistment could be brought from Morristown. On their production, it appeared, that the engagements of the remaining regiments did not entitle them to their discharge, and that, of those actually dismissed, the far greater number had enlisted for the war. The discharges, however, were not re- voked, and those who were to remain in service, received furloughs for forty days, with orders to rendezvous at designated places in Pennsylvania.
Sir Henry Clinton, apprized of the revolt, on the third of January, sont his emissaries, with highly tempting offers, to the line, to engage them in his service. The offers were communicated to General Wayne, the agents seized and confined, and after the accommodation, they were tried and exe- cuted as spies.
General Washington, who, for prudential reasons, did not approach the mutineers, took measures to avail himself of the regular troops, and the mi- litia of New York, for offence or defence. And, on the first notice of the mutiny, the militia of New Jersey, under General Dickenson, took the field, for the purpose of opposing any incursion which might be made in the State, and of co-operating with such of the regular troops as it might be necessary to employ.
'The danger of yielding, even to the just demands of soldiers, with arms in their hands, was soon evident. The success of the Pennsylvania line stimu- lated part of that of Jersey, many of whom were foreigners, in the hope of like advantages, to a similar attempt. On the night of the 20th of January, part of the Jersey brigade, stationed at Pompton, rose in arms, and making the same claims which had been granted to the Pennsylvanians, marched to Chatham, where another portion of the brigade was posted, in expectation, that it would join in the revolt. But, the commander-in-chief, chagrined at the result of the late mutiny, and confident in the faith of the eastern troops, resolved on strong measures to stop the further progress of a spirit which threatened the total destruction of the army. A detachment, under General Howe, was immediately sent against the mutineers, with orders to bring them to unconditional submission, and to execute some of the most active of the leaders. Howe marched from Kingwood about midnight, and by the dawning of the next day, had so posted his force as to prevent the escape of the revolters. Colonel Barber, of the Jersey line, cominanded them to parade without arms, and to march to designated ground. Upon their hesitation, Colonel Sprout advanced, giving them five minutes, only, for com-
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pliance. Intimidated, they instantly obeyed. The Jersey officers gave a list of the leaders of the revolt, from whom three of the most active were selected, who were executed upon the spot, by the other prominent mutineers. The vast disparity of numbers engaged in these mutinies, accounts for the dif- ference in the results. The disaffected in the Jersey line did not exceed one hundred and sixty men.
Sir Henry Clinton offered to the Jersey mutineers the same terms as to the Pennsylvania line; and General Robertson, at the head of three thousand men, was detached to Staten Island, for the purpose of entering Jersey, and covering any movement which they might make towards New York. The emissary employed, proved to be in the American interest, and delivered his papers to Colonel Dayton, commanding at the first station to which he came. Other papers were dispersed among the mutineers, promising rewards to every soldier who should join the British troops when landed at Elizabeth- town; but the mutiny was crushed so suddenly, as to allow no time for the operation of these proposals.
The vigorous steps now taken, were, happily, followed by such attention, on the part of the States, to the wants of the army, as checked the further progress of discontent. Although the army was reduced to almost insup- portable distress, by the scantiness of supplies, the discontents of the people were daily multiplied, by enforced contributions, and the offensive manner in which they were levied. Every article for public use, was obtained by impressment, and the taxes, being chiefly specific, were either unpaid or col- lected by coercion. Strong representations were made against this system, and committees were, in some places, raised to express the public complaints. The dissatisfaction, therefore, which pervaded the mass of the community, was scarcely less dangerous, than that which had been manifested by the army.
XXV. The year 1781 commenced in gloom and despondency. The hopes founded on French aid had been disappointed; the sufferings of the army were unalleviated, and the prospect of its increase, discouraging. Of thirty- seven thousand troops, voted by Congress, to be in camp on the first of January, not more than fourteen thousand, two-thirds of whom, only, were effective, had been raised, in all the Union, in June, when the campaign opened. Food and raiment were still scantily supplied; the latter, contracted for in France, having been unaccountably delayed. In the mean time, the country was threatened from every quarter,-in the west, by new combina- tions of the Indians-in the north, from Canada, and the discontented resi- dents of Vermont, whose contention for jurisdiction, with the State of New York, made them cold in the common cause-on the eastern border, by the increased force of Sir Henry Clinton-on the south, by Rawdon and Corn- wallis. To supply the American army with food, would, perhaps, have been impossible, but for the efforts of the financier, Mr. Robert Morris; whose mercantile capital and credit were, judiciously, called to aid his official duties, without which, the decisive operations of the campaign, might have been de- feated.
XXVI. Washington still cherished the design of attacking New York, and the French troops were ordered from Newport, late in June, for this purpose, The intention was abandoned, however, in August, in consequence of large re- inforcements having been received, from Germany, by Clinton, the tardiness with which the American ranks were filled, and the prospect of striking a suc- cessful blow in the south. A large fleet, commanded by the Count de Grasse, was expected, daily, to arrive in the Chesapeake, affording, if conjoined in operation with the army, the most flattering hopes of the capture of Corn- wallis.
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The appearance of an attack on New York, was still kept up, whilst the allied army crossed the North river, and passed, by way of Philadel- phia, to Yorktown. This march would, probably, have been interrupted, had not Sir Henry Clinton, relying, confidently, on some intercepted letters, developing the plan of the intended attempt on New York, believed the present movement to be a feint, until it was too far completed to be opposed. The order observed by the French troops, has, with great reason, called forth the plaudits of the historian. In a march of five hundred miles, through a coun- try abounding in fruit, not a peach nor an apple was taken without leave. General Washington and Count Rochambeau, reached Williamsburg on the 14th of September; and visiting Count de Grasse, on board his ship, the Ville de Paris, concerted the plan of future operations.
De Grasse arrived in the Chesapeake, from Cape Francoise, late in August, . with. twenty-eight sail of the line, and several frigates. At Cape Henry, an officer from La Fayette informed him of the situation of the armies in Vir- ginia. Lord Cornwallis, who had received notice that a French fleet was to be expected on the coast, had collected his whole force at Yorktown and Gloucester Point; and the Marquis had taken a position on James River, for the purpose of opposing any attempt, which the British might make, to escape into South Carolina. Four ships of the line and several frigates, were de- tached for the purpose of blocking up the mouth of York River, and of con- veying the French land forces, under the Marquis of St. Simon, up the James River, to form a junction with La Fayette. In the mean time, the fleet lay at anchor just within the capes. On the 25th of August, the Count de Barras sailed from Newport for the Chesapeake.
Admiral Rodney, who commanded in the West Indies, supposing that the greater part of the fleet of De Grasse, had proceeded to Europe, and that a part, only, of his own squadron, would suffice to maintain an equality of force in the American seas, detached Sir Samuel Hood to the continent, with four- teen sail of the line. That officer made land south of the capes of Virginia, a few days before De Grasse's arrival, and proceeded, thence, to Sandy Hook, which he reached on the 28th of August. Uniting with the force under Ad- miral Greaves, who, as senior officer, took the command, the whole fleet, amounting to nineteen sail of the line, set sail, immediately, in hopes of falling in with De Barras-or De Grasse, wholly unsuspicious of the force of the latter. On the morning of the fifth of September, the fleet of De Grasse was discovered, consisting of twenty-four sail of the line, in the mouth of the Chesapeake. An engagement ensued, for several hours, in which neither party could claim the victory. Some days were spent in manœuvres, during which De Grasse, having the wind, might have brought on another battle : but it was declined, that the capture of the British army, now deemed almost certain, might not be put to hazard. In the mean time, De Barras arrived with his squadron, and fourteen transports laden with artillery and stores, proper to carry on the siege. The English fleet retired before this superior force, and returned to New York.
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