USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time : including a brief historical account of the first discoveries and settlement of the country, Vol. I > Part 30
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Parliament voted one hundred and fifteen thousand pounds sterling, to be distributed at the pleasure of the king, among the northern and middle provinces, of which New Jersey received five thousand pounds.
The French, under Montcalm, captured the forts of Ontario and Oswego, and destroyed them in the presence of the Six Nation Indians, they being situated in their country. At the capture of the latter, Colonel Schuyler and half of the New Jersey regiment which formed part of the garrison, were taken prisoners and sent to Canada, from which place they were not released until the end of the campaign, and then on parol, that they would not again enter the field for the period of eighteen months.
The regiment was, however, recruited to its original state of five hundred men at the expense of the province early in the spring.
Discouraged and disconcerted by these events, Loudon re- linquished all offensive operations, and disposed his troops for the defence of the frontier. Renewed efforts to increase his force were rendered abortive by the appearance of the small pox at Albany, and the troops 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 terminated for a second time, in defeat and utter dssappointment, the sanguine hopes, formed by the colonists, of a brilliant and successful campaign. Much labor had been employed, and a large amount of money expended, in collecting, by land, from a great distance, troops, provisions, and military stores, at Albany, 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.
The treaty with Teedyuscung had neutralized the Delaware and Shawanese tribes on the Susquehana, but the country was still exposed to the inroads of the French and western Indians. During the spring and summer months of 1757, the county of
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Essex was kept in continual alarm by scalping parties, some of whom penetrated to within thirty miles of Philadelphia, many of whom paid with their lives the just penalty of their temerity. But their sufferings were not to be compared with those of the unfortunate inhabitants. Incessant anxiety pervaded every family in the invested districts ; their slumber was broken by the yell of demons, or by dread of attack, scarce less horrible than their actual presence.
They plowed their ground, sowed their seed, and gathered their harvest, in constant fear of the tomahawk and rifle of the savages. Even the women visiting their sick neighbors and relatives, were either shot or captured ; and the children driving home the cattle from pasture, were killed and scalped. Many of the wealthiest neighborhoods were deserted, and property of every kind abandoned ; extraordinary heroism frequently dis- played by men, women and children, in defence of themselves and their homes, and in pursuit of, and combat with the enemy. On the part of the authorities both of Great Britain and the provinces, great want of ability and energy was displayed. Had proper means been taken, much suffering might have been prevented, especially as it regarded non-combatants, who were innocent parties to the war. United counsels, and well directed efforts would have driven the barbarians to their savage haunts, and with the chastisement given them at Kittatining, they would have been compelled to sue for peace. The assembly of New Jersey, however, was not regardless of the danger and suffering of her frontier citizens, and kept on foot, for their protection, a body of rangers, consisting of one hundred and twenty men, under Captain Gardiner, who, although they were unable to prevent occasional irruptions of the foe, gave as much security to the frontier as circumstances would admit.
In the middle of January, Lord Louden summoned the gov- ernors of the New England provinces to New York, and in no very good humor, attributed to them the disasters of the late campaign. He told them that " their enterprise against Crown Point had not been timely communicated to the ministry, that their troops were inferior to his expectations, disposed to insub- ordination, and less numerous than had been promised that the
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true state of the garrisons 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. His demands were generally complied with, and in the spring he was placed at the head of a respectable army, thereby giving him no further cause for complaint on this account.
The force he required from New Jersey was one thousand men, but the assembly conceiving five hundred to be their full pro- portion, refused to do more than complete their regiment, and in answer to the proposal of Governor Belcher, that they should, as New England had done, authorize a draft or conscription, they peremptorily declared, by a vote of twelve to seven, " that they were determined not to oblige or compel any of the inhabitants by force to serve as soldiers."
Early in July, Admiral Holburn arrived at Louisburg with a large squadron of ships and five thousand land forces, and was after many delays joined by Lord Loudon, with six thousand regulars. Much was properly anticipated from this formidable army, but the procrastination of the commander-in-chief doomed the country to severe disappointment. For before his prepara- tions were completed, the French had occupied Louisburg with a superior force, dispatched from Brest, a fortified city and the strongest military post in France; and against which Lord Loudon was not disposed to contend. The enemy was not slow to avail himself of the advantages 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 neighboring forts, with some Canadians and Indians, invested Castle William on the southern shore of Lake George. This place was garrisoned by three thousand men, including the unfortunate. Jersey regiment ; was well fortified and supplied with necessaries, but Colonel Monroe was compelled to surrender it within six days after its investment. Montcalm's triumph was stained by the barbarities of his Indian allies, and though he exerted himself to protect his prisoners, the massacre of many will ever be coupled with his name. Major General Webb made
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strenuous exertions to relieve the fort by arousing the militia of New York and New Jersey. From the latter state one thousand men were immediately dispatched, and three thousand put in readiness to march in case they should be required.
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 regiment, after the capture of Colonel Schuyler, was commanded by Colo- nel Parker.
Governor Jonathan Belcher died on the 31st of August, 1757, in the 76th year of his age.
During the preceding two years, his health had been so infirm that he summoned the assembly to attend him at Elizabeth, which gave them considerable dissatisfaction.
The house was opposed to being made a secondary tool or the executive, to go wherever his convenience dictated, but they nevertheless attended Governors Morris and Belcher, when ill- ness prevented these officers from getting to Burlington or Amboy, with great reluctance, and protested at all times against their acquiescence establishing a precedent, and they explicitly refused to adjourn from Burlington to Trenton, on the request of his successor, Mr. Reading, although his health also required their indulgence.
Governor Belcher was a native of New England, and in early youth inherited an ample fortune, which enabled him to visit Europe, and to mingle extensively in the best society, until his lavish expenditure dissipated his wealth.
When he was governor of Massachusetts, his administration at Boston was distinguished by his fondness for ostentation and his imperious deportment, and he finally so disgusted the influ- ential men of that province, by rejecting several respectable per- sons nominated to the council, that they successfully united to effect his removal. He remained for several years unemployed, until he was appointed to the government of New Jersey. " He was now advanced in age, yet lively, diligent in his station, and circumspect in his conduct, religious, generous and affable. He affected splendor, at least equal to his rank and fortune, but was
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a man of worth and honor, 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."*
By the death of Mr. Belcher, the administration of the govern- ment devolved for the second time on Mr. John Reading, the oldest of the councillors, but, in consequence of his age and in- firmity, he at first refused, and finally assumed its duties with great reluctance. For more than a month the government was directed by the whole council, at whose instance, on the appli- cation of Lord Loudon, the Assembly voted one hundred rangers to be employed on the frontiers during the winter season. f
*Smith's New Jersey, p. 438.
+ The captain of this company received six shillings; the lieutenant five; sergeants four ; corporals three and six pence, and privates three shillings per day. And each officer and soldier was furnished at the expense of the colony, 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 twenty shillings was allowed to the captain for each Private he enlisted.
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CHAPTER XVI.
1758-1775.
French and English wars-New Jersey raises double the number of men called for-Governor Bernard pacifies the Indians- Five colonial governors appointed by the crown in as many years-The French surrender their possessions on this side of the water-Parliament undertakes to tax her American colo- nies-Stamp act-Its repeal.
W ITH the opening of the year 1758, a new era dawned upon the colonies, which were aroused by the voice of William Pitt, (Earl of Chatham.)
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. Lord Loudon was recalled. Abercrombie was commander-in-chief, with Amherst for his second, aided by brigadiers Wolf and Forbes. The fleet, consisting of one hundred and fifty sail, was commanded by Boscawen.
The objects designated by the campaign as the places of attack, were Louisburg, the forts on the lakes and Fort du Quesne. Major General Amherst with twelve thousand men, aided by the fleet, laid siege to the first, early in June, and captured 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. His first attempt was upon the forts at Ticon- deroga, which position was strong by nature, and well secured
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by art, being garrisoned by five thousand men. Here he was repulsed, with the loss of two thousand men, chiefly killed, among whom was Brigadier General Lord Howe, and many other distinguished officers.
Though his force was superior to that of the enemy, he made a hasty retreat, for which imprudence he was compensated by the capture of Fort Frontignac, on the north side of the river St. Lawrence. Although the garrison consisted of one hundred and ten men only, the fort contained a large stock of arms, stores and provisions, designed for the western posts. Nine armed vessels, some of which carried eighteen guns, were also taken. Lieutenant Colonel Bradstreet projected and executed this enterprise.
To Brigadier General Forbes was confided the reduction of Fort du Quesne. He had a detatchment from General Aber- crombie's army, still further strengthened by the militia from the south, the whole of which was computed at seven thousand eight hundred and fifty men .*
He was attacked, surrounded by the enemy, and lost above three hundred men, killed and taken prisoners, being himself among the latter, the remainder of whom retired in confusion.t
Colonel Boquet was attacked at Loyal Hannah, in his camp, by a force of twelve hundred French and two hundred Indians, commanded by De Vetri, on the 11th of October. De Vetri was compelled to draw off his force, with considerable loss, after a warm combat of four hours' duration. A second attack was made during the night, but some shells thrown from the camp com- pelled the enemy to retreat. . The loss of Colonel Boquet amounted to sixty-seven rank and file, killed and wounded.
On the 24th of November, the French being unsupported by
* The force was as follows :
350 Royal Americans, comprising four companies.
1200 Highlanders, thirteen companies.
2600 Virginians
2700 Pennsylvanians.
1000 Wagoners, comprising the sutlers and followers of the army. Penn. Gazette, 1758.
t This occurred on the 14th of September, 1758.
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their Indian allies, abandoned Fort du Quesne, burned it and escaped by the Ohio river, when General Forbes seized the ruined fortifications, hastily repaired and garrisoned them with four hundred and fifty provincial troops, under the command of Colonel Mercer.
The remainder of the army was marched into the interior, and quartered at Lancaster, Reading and Philadelphia.
In the preparations for this campaign, we see the power which an energetic spirit directed by wisdom, may obtain over the mass of mankind. The contributions of the provinces towards carrying on the continental war, had, for the last campaigns, been merely the cold returns of duty, but in this, the people dis- played all the zeal with which men pursue their interest when animated by well-founded hopes of success. They were assured their combined forces would be applied 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 dis- patch, and popular men only were commissioned as officers. This was done in accordance with the recommendations of Mr. Pitt, the prime minister.
Thus inspirited, the assembly of New Jersey, instead of raising reluctantly, five hundred men, doubled that number, and to fill the ranks in season, offered a bounty of twelve pounds per man, increased the pay of the officers and voted a sum of fifty thou- sand pounds for their maintenance. They at the same session directed barracks to be built at Burlington, Trenton, New Bruns- wick, Perth Amboy, and Elizabethtown, competent each for three hundred men. This complement of men New Jersey kept up during the years 1758, 1759 and 1760, and in the years 1761 and 1762, in addition to the one thousand men, they furnished six hundred more, besides in the latter year, a company of sixty- four men and officers especially for garrison duty, for which she incurred an average expense of forty thousand pounds per annum.
As has been previously stated, during the war between France and England for the possession of Canada, and to dislodge the French from governing on this continent, New Jersey erected barracks at Perth Amboy for the cantonment of British
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troops ; for the protection of Raritan bay and the Atlantic ocean ; at New Brunswick, for the protection of the Raritan river, at Burlington, to protect the Delaware river below that point, at Elizabeth, for the protection of Newark bay, and Staten Island Sound, and the one at Trenton, to protect the Delaware river above Burlington.
In addition to these, forts were built immediately on the rivers in the vicinity of the barracks.
On the Ioth of September, 1872, one of these forts was un- earthed in the city of Trenton, at the corner of South Warren and Ferry streets, a few rods east of the Delaware river. It was about twenty by forty feet. The walls on the inside were built of stone about two feet in thickness, with a stone bastion or bulwark on each corner and outside the stone wall, facing the river, was a brick wall, and the space between the two was filled with broken stones.
Quite a number of ancient relics were unearthed in this fort, prominent among which were two copper coins of Great Britain, bearing date 1737 and 1739; glass bottles of unique manufacture, also earthen jugs of very singular appearance. The bricks, of which the outer wall was composed, from their appearance, were brought from the old country.
Several bones, evidently of human beings, were also dug up ; and these relics of by-gone ages were found in levelling the property preparatory to building. The property now belongs to George B. Consolly.
There is no doubt but that among the ruins of the forts established during the colonial period of this state, many valuable relics may be found, and it would repay our Historical Society to cause excavations to be made in the several localities designated.
On the 13th day of June, 1758, President Reading was super- ceded by the arrival of Francis Bernard, Esq , who continued to govern the province in unbroken harmony with the legislature, until the 4th of July, 1760. The principal service rendered by this gentleman, was the aid he gave in the pacification of the Indians, at the treaty of Easton, in October, 1758. Upon his
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transfer to Massachusetts, he was succeeded by Thomas Boone, who continued in office a little more than a year, being removed to South Carolina, and his place in New Jersey was supplied by Josiah Hardy.
Upon his dismissal, and appointment to the consulate at Cadiz, he was succeeded by William Franklin, son of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, who was the last of the royal governors. Thus, in the space of five years, New Jersey had seen five colonial gov- ernors appointed by the crown. These frequent changes proved very unacceptable to the colony, which was fully satisfied with the three first we have named, and would have been satisfied to have spared the repeated gift of five hundred pounds usually made to the new governor on his arrival, in consideration of the expense and trouble of his voyage. This present was not made to Governor Franklin. But as the cost of living had considera- bly increased by the diminution of the value of money, conse- quent on the increased amount of the circulating medium during the war, the assembly added two hundred pounds to the annual salary, making it twelve hundred pounds.
Great Britain having resolved to annihilate the French power in North America, made adequate preparations for the campaign of 1759. An army of eight thousand men, under General Wolfe, was destined to attack Quebec, while General Amherst, with twelve thousand regulars and provincial troops, should reduce the forts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, cross Lake Champlain, and by the rivers Richelieu and St. Lawrence, join Wolfe and General Prideaux, assisted by Sir William Johnson, at the head of some friendly Indians, were to capture the fort at the Falls of Niagara, and proceed by Lake Ontario and Montreal, to unite with the other generals. To General Stanwix, was confided the southern department, with orders to watch the western frontier and to erect proper forts for its defence.
This stupendous plan was only partially carried into execution. Quebec was purchased with the life of the gallant Wolfe, who fell at the Plains of Abraham. General Amherst obtained pos- session of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, but too late in the season to permit him to accomplish the remainder of the plan
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assigned to him. General Prideaux invested Niagara, but was slain in the trenches by the bursting of a shell. Sir William Johnson succeeding him in command, captured the fort. But it was not until September of the succeeding year, that the great object was entirely gained, when by the union of three British armies before Montreal, the Marquis de Vandreuil was compelled to surrender, by capitulation, the whole of the French possessions to his Britanic Majesty. Thus fell the great power of France in America.
The share of the provincials in this result, gave lustre to the colonial history of the American States. They had kept in the field an average force of twenty-five thousand men during the war; had lost thirty thousand of their young men, and contri- buted three million five hundred thousand pounds sterling to the payment of its expenses .*
The merit of the victories achieved and of the important posts captured, is due solely to the provincial troops. In all the marches and battles, they were the principal sufferers, and where honor was to be gained, the provincial was distinguished by his fortitude in adversity, and his promptitude and courage in the hour of peril.
In January, 1772, Spain became a party to the war, but the conflict against the united house of Bourbon was of short dura- tion, peace being made with France and Spain on the 3d of November, of the same year. Our interest in the treaty was only so far as it affected the colonies. France surrendered her pretensions to Nova Scotia, and ceded Canada, including Louisiana. Spain yielded Florida. In exchange for this mighty domain, France received the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon near Newfoundland, with a restricted privilege of the fishery, and the islands of Martinique, Guadaloupe, Mariagalante, Dese- ada and St. Lucia. Spain obtained the restoration of Havana, which was more than adequate for Florida, which would not have been · paid, but with the design of preserving the eastern shore of North America from foreign influence.
* Of this sum, parliament reimbursed, at several times, one million, thirty- one thousand. six hundred and sixty-six pounds sterling.
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Being in exclusive possession of this immense territory, com- prehending nearly one-fifth of the globe, Great Britain and her colonies rationally looked forward to its peaceful enjoyment, in full confidence that the aboriginal inhabitants, no longer exposed to dangerous solicitations, nor supported by alien power, would not dare to provoke the resentment of those upon whom they must entirely depend for the gratifications supplied by the whites. But the cupidity of the savage had been highly excited during the late conflict, and as deeply indulged. The present unprotected state of the frontier held forth irresistible tempta- tions to his whetted appetite for plunder. His barbarities had been rather rewarded than chastised. Every treaty brought him rich presents, and his detention of prisoners, whom he had again and again promised to surrender, was overlooked on slight apolo- gies, though obviously done to afford opportunity for new treat- ies and additional gifts. They beheld the French driven out of the whole country, and themselves in danger of becoming wholly dependent upon a power, which, already commanded by its forts the great lakes and rivers, and they no doubt felt that an immediate and mighty effort was necessary to restrain the tide, which, if unimpeded, would spread itself over the continent, overwhelming all their nations in its course.
A secret coalition was formed among the Shawnees, the tribes upon the Ohio and its tributary waters, and about Detroit, to attack, simultaneously, the English posts and settlements upon the frontier. The plan was deliberately and skillfully projected. The settlements were to be invaded during harvest, the inhabi- tants, with their corn and cattle to be destroyed, and the out- posts to be reduced by famine. The Indians fell suddenly upon the traders, whom they had invited among them, murdered many, and plundered the effects of all to an immense amount. The frontiers of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia were over-run by scalping parties, committing their usual enormities. The out-forts, even the most remote, were assailed about the same time, and all immediately fell into the hands of the enemy, except Niagara, Detroit, and Fort Pitt, which, being larger and better garrisoned, were enabled to stand a longer siege.
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