USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 11
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189
1777.]
REPULSE OF DONOP.
On the 21st of October, Count Donop, a dis- tinguished German officer, with twelve hundred picked men, crossed the Delaware at Cooper's Ferry, intending on the following day to attack the post at Red Bank. During the morning of the 22d he marched down the Jersey side and made ready to storm the works. Meanwhile, in accordance with the plan of a combined attack, several British war vessels ascended the river as far as the obstructions would allow, and opened a furious and incessant cannonade upon Hazel- wood's flotilla and Fort Mifflin.
Late in the evening Donop drew up his column preparatory to a desperate assault upon the main intrenchment of the Americans, into which, abandoning their outer works, they had with- drawn, in number about five hundred, on the first approach of the British. At length, led by their gallant colonel, the enemy rushed with great intrepidity to the attack. They were met by a deadly discharge of grapeshot and musket- balls. Fighting bravely they continued their assault until, involved in darkness and fatigued by their unavailing efforts, they were obliged to fall back in disorder, with a loss of nearly four hundred in killed and wounded. Early in the engagement Donop had fallen mortally hurt at the head of his column. Favoured by the night, the next officer in command, having collected many of the wounded, made good his retreat to
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1777.
Philadelphia, where he arrived early in the fol- lowing morning. During this spirited action, the first as yet in which they had repelled an as- sault, the Americans lost in all but thirty-six men.
Equal ill success had attended the naval at- tack upon Fort Mifflin. One of the ships en- gaged in it was blown up; another, having got aground, was set on fire and abandoned ; and the remainder were compelled to drop down the river with serious injury.
Five or six days subsequent to this event, the second legislature of New Jersey convened in primary session. Meeting in joint assembly, on the first of November, they re-elected Li- vingston as governor without a dissenting voice.
About the same time General Dickinson, having collected nearly two thousand of the militia, determined upon another attempt to cut off the loyalist brigade on Staten Island. But, though he observed the utmost secrecy, the enemy by some means became apprized of his design, and saved themselves by withdrawing into works too strong to be carried by assault. After a skirmish with the flying troops, in which three of his men were killed and ten wounded, Dick- inson wisely retired from the island. The loss of the loyalists was trifling, and consisted mainly of the. few prisoners brought off by the Ame- ricans.
191
FORT MIFFLIN EVACUATED.
1777.]
Flattering expectations were created by the gallant defence of Red Bank, that it would be possible to keep possession of the river. In the exultation of the moment, Congress voted a sword to each of the three commanders on that occasion. Meantime strenuous endeavours were made to relieve and reinforce the two forts, against which, after a brief intermission, the British had renewed active operations. Concen- trating their efforts against Fort Mifflin, they erected several batteries on a neighbouring island, from which they kept up a furious and unceasing cannonade. Toiling by night to re- pair the breaches made during the day, the be- leaguered garrison fought bravely, but without avail. At length the fort was declared untena- ble, but not until the vessels of the enemy were so close that the fire of their marines swept the platform. Under these circumstances an evacu- ation was deemed advisable. Accordingly, about midnight on the 16th of November, the garrison was safely withdrawn.
Hopes were yet entertained of holding the fort at Red Bank, but upon the approach of Cornwallis from Philadelphia with five thousand troops, it, too, was abandoned. Taking posses- sion of the evacuated posts, and removing the remainder of the obstructions, the British fleet and army were at length able to communicate.
Having collected a considerable quantity of
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1777.
fresh provisions, Cornwallis pitched his camp on Gloucester Point. While he was yet at this place a brilliant little action was performed, in conjunction with an equal number of Morgan's riflemen, by about one hundred and fifty New Jersey militia, under the command of Lafayette. Falling upon a picket-guard of the enemy nearly three hundred strong, they put them to precipi- tate flight, and drove them completely into the camp, killing between twenty and thirty, and wounding a much greater number. " I found the riflemen," wrote Lafayette to Washington on this occasion, "even above their reputation, and the militia above all expectation I could have formed of them."
The campaign of 1777 was now over. After having narrowly escaped a surprise by the British, Washington, on the 12th of December, went into winter quarters at Valley Forge, a high and strong piece of ground on the left bank of the Schuylkill, some twenty miles above Philadelphia.
193
SUFFERINGS OF THE ARMY.
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1777.]
CHAPTER XVI.
Distress of the American prisoners in New York-Sufferings of the army-Measures taken by the state for their relief- Articles of confederation brought before the legislature of New Jersey-Alliance between France and the United Co- lonies-Objections of the legislature to the Articles of Con- federation-British foraging party under Mawhood enters Salem county-Conflict at Quinton's Bridge-Gallant ex- ploit of Andrew Bacon-British forces a second time re- pulsed at Quinton's Bridge-Americans massacred at Han- cock's Bridge-Correspondence between Mawhood and Colonel Hand-British return to Philadelphia-Expedition · against Bordentown-Narrow escape of Lafayette at Barren Hill-Clinton ordered to evacuate Philadelphia-He retreats across the Jerseys-Washington starts in pursuit-Battle of Monmouth Court House-Lee's conduct during the action censured-He is arrested, tried, suspended, and finally dismissed from the service.
MEANWHILE the legislature of New Jersey re- mained in session, devising means to meet va- rious demands that were now made upon them. The most pressing of these demands related to the condition of the American army at Valley Forge, and to the wants of that class of suffer- ing citizens whom the enemy had carried off and confined in the prisons of New York.
With regard to the condition of the army, it was deplorable. Frequently, during their en- campment, the soldiers were destitute of meat,
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1778.
while vegetables and other articles requisite for their health, were procured with difficulty. Nor were their sufferings less from want of clothing. On the first of February, 1778, nearly four thousand men were reported unfit for duty on that account alone. " A man of sensibility, said Livingston to the legislature, "cannot but feel for these brave men, fighting for their country, at this inclement season, many of them without shoes, stockings, warm clothing, and even blankets to lie upon."
Steps were immediately taken by the assembly to meet these emergencies, so far, at least, as it was possible for a single state to move in the matter. For the relief of the prisoners at New York, Abraham Van Neste was appointed a special commissioner, with authority and means to provide them with such necessaries as they most needed ; while, to supply the wants of the suffering army, bills were passed to raise a sum of money by taxation, and by leasing the real estate of such persons as had left the state and joined the enemy.
In order to successfully continue the contest in which they were engaged, Congress had already, on the 15th of November, 1777, adopted certain " Articles of Confederation," creating a more perfect union between the thirteen states, under the style and title of the " United States of America." To render these articles binding, it was
195
ALLIANCE WITH FRANCE.
1778.]
necessary that they should be first sanctioned by the several states. Brought before the New Jersey legislature, the question of agreeing to them was yet pending, when Governor Livings- ton, on the 27th of May, communicated to the two houses intelligence of the most cheering character.
From the beginning of the war, an alliance with France had been sought after, but with ill success, by the American commissioners at Paris. Moved, in part, by the tenacity of purpose ex- hibited by the revolted colonies, and still more by the probability of Parliament's sanctioning certain conciliatory bills in which the right to tax America was virtually relinquished, Ver- gennes, the French minister, finally concluded with the commissioners of Congress, two treaties, one of defensive alliance, and the other of friend- ship and commerce.
It was the intelligence of this alliance that Livingston introduced to the assembly, exhort- ing them to make " but one more spirited and' general effort" to " emancipate themselves into complete and uninterrupted liberty." Inspiriting as it was to them, it was no less so to the country at large, entirely neutralizing whatever effect had been expected from the conciliatory bills, and rendering still more determined the re- solution of the Americans to be free and in- dependent.
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1778.
At length, on the 15th of June, a committee from both houses of the New Jersey legislature, having been previously appointed for that pur- pose, made a full and able report in regard to the new "Articles of Confederation." Several amendments were proposed to the congressional plan of union, the most important of which were to prohibit a standing army in time of peace; to invest Congress with the sole and exclusive power of regulating the trade with foreign countries ; and to authorize that body to dispose of vacant and unpatented lands, for defraying the expenses of the war, and for other such public and general purposes. This report having been adopted, and a copy of it forwarded to Congress, the question was for a time suffered to remain at rest.
Meanwhile, as the spring opened, the enemy began to show signs of life. Pressed for pro- visions, Clinton, now in command at Philadel- phia, found it necessary to send out strong forag- ing parties into the surrounding country, which suffered extremely from the extent and wanton- ness of their devastations.
On the 17th of March, a British detachment, some twelve hundred strong, under the command · of Colonel Mawhood and Majors Simcoe and Sims, having landed at Byllingsport, made a rapid march to Salem, in the expectation of sur- prising Colonel Wayne, who, with a few Ame- rican troops, was posted at that place. Unsuc-
197
CONFLICT AT QUINTON'S BRIDGE.
1778.]
cessful in this, Mawhood, at daybreak of the 18th, despatched Simcoe to cut off a small party of the militia under Colonel Holmes, who were intrenched at Quinton's Bridge, on the southern shore of Alloway's Creek, about three miles from Salem. By a successful stratagem, Simcoe drew the militia from their works across the bridge, and into an ambuscade. A fierce con- flict ensued. Surprised and outnumbered, and with a loss of forty men, the Americans re- treated to their intrenchments, bravely contest- ing every foot of the way. As their rear left the bridge, one of the most courageous of the party, Andrew Bacon by name, seized an axe, and heedless of the storm of balls that whistled around him, resolutely cut away the draw, thus rendering immediate pursuit by the enemy im- possible. Scarcely was this gallant action per- formed, when the hero of it received a wound by which he was crippled for life. In the mean time, Colonel Hand, with a reinforcement of militia, had arrived on the ground, and now opening upon the enemy a heavy fire from two pieces of artillery, he compelled them to fall back upon the main body at Salem.
Chagrined on account of Simcoe's ultimate failure, Mawhood determined to pass the bridge at all hazards. Accordingly, early in the fol- lowing day, he attacked it with his whole force. But cheered by their late success, and so posted
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198
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1778.
that both flanks as well as the front of the at- tacking column, were exposed to their fire, the Americans obstinately stood their ground, and Mawhood, after a desperate attempt to gain his point, was obliged to retreat in considerable disorder.
Late in the evening of the next day, a party of Tories and regular troops, under the conduct of Simcoe, was despatched to surprise a small body of Americans stationed at Hancock's Bridge, about two miles below Quinton's. The success of this expedition was complete and san- guinary. Wearied out, and unsuspicious of danger, the Americans were sound asleep. A few only woke in time to escape. The remainder, between twenty and thirty in number, some yet asleep, others half aroused, and none offering resistance, were bayoneted in cold blood.
But a few hours after this massacre, Mawhood addressed a note to Hand, now in command at Quinton's Bridge, summoning him to lay down his arms and surrender. In case of refusal, he threatened to arm the Tories, and to "attack all the militia wearing arms, burn their houses, and reduce them, their unfortunate wives, and their children to beggary and distress."
" Your proposal," was the American colonel's spirited reply, " we absolutely reject. We have taken up arms to maintain our rights, and we will not lay them down until success has crowned
199
EXPEDITION TO BORDENTOWN.
1778.]
them, or we have met an honourable death. Your plan of arming the Tories we have no ob- jection to, for it will fill our arsenals with arms. Your threat to burn and destroy, induces me to imagine that I am reading the orders of a barba- rous Attila, and not of a gentleman, brave, ge- nerous, and polished. If executed, it can only render our people desperate, and increase your foes and the American army."
Not choosing to risk another engagement, Mawhood now turned his whole attention to plundering the neighbouring farmers. Having thus collected an immense store of hay, grain, cattle, horses, and other articles, he soon after embarked in his transports, and returned without molestation to Philadelphia.
Early in May, seven hundred British troops were sent up the Delaware. Landing at White Hill, just below Bordentown, they burned a con- siderable number of vessels, including two un- finished continental frigates, which had been con- veyed to that place for safety. After remaining a few hours in Bordentown, during which time they destroyed no little property, and murdered four unresisting prisoners, the British, having collected their plunder, re-embarked, intending to proceed against Trenton. But meeting with unexpected opposition from the militia, they re- turned hastily down the river to Philadelphia.
While these events were transpiring, Wash- "
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1778.
ington was still encamped at Valley Forge, wait- ing the arrival of the French fleet, which was already on its way to America. Aware of this, Clinton, fearing that the Delaware might be · blockaded, meditated an evacuation of Phila- delphia. Rumours of such an intention having reached the American camp, Washington de- tached Lafayette, with two thousand chosen troops, to gain intelligence, and to annoy the rear of Clinton, should he put his rumoured de- sign into effect. Lafayette having taken a mo- mentary position at Barren Hill, some ten miles in advance of the main army, the British com- mander, observing his isolated situation, sent a much stronger force to cut him off. But, dis- covering his peril, the young and gallant French- man, by a well-timed and dexterous movement, gained a position which the surprise party would not venture to assail.
At length the intention of Clinton to abandon Philadelphia and retreat through the Jerseys to New York, became evident. Washington's plans were soon laid. While Maxwell, with the New Jersey brigade, having united with the militia under Dickinson, was engaged in breaking down bridges and felling trees across the roads to im- pede the progress of the enemy, the commander- in-chief himself prepared to lead the main army in pursuit, when they should take up their line of march.
201
1
1778.]
RETREAT OF CLINTON.
Having sent part of his baggage and stores, together with many loyalist non-combatants, by sea to New York, Clinton left Philadelphia on the 18th of June, and, with ten thousand well- appointed troops, commenced his retreat across . the Jerseys. The weather was hot and rainy. Harassed in front by Dickinson and Maxwell, and incumbered with a long line of provision and baggage wagons, the enemy moved slowly, spending six days in reaching Imlaystown, four- teen miles south-east of Trenton.
Meanwhile Washington was not idle. Cross- ing the Delaware at Corryell's Ferry, now Lam- bertville, he immediately detached Colonel Mor- gan, with a select corps of six hundred men, to reinforce Maxwell, and marched himself, with the main body, toward Princeton. Doubtful as to the road Clinton would follow, he halted at Hopewell, five miles from Princeton, for the threefold purpose of resting his troops, securing his choice of a position, and of ascertaining what course the enemy would take.
Washington's earnest desire was to give the enemy battle ; and his men, though reduced by sickness and privation, badly equipped, and barely outnumbering the British, were equally eager for the contest. But two councils of war, in which the wishes of the chief were seconded by Lafayette, Greene, Wayne, and Cadwallader only out of fourteen general officers, decid-
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202 1
HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1778.
ed it advisable that nothing more should be attempted than to harass the progress of the enemy. At the head of those opposed to Wash- ington's plan, was Lee, whose exchange had been . recently effected, and who held the second rank in the continental service. Taking a wide view of the circumstances, Washington resolved, how- ever, upon his own responsibility, to take such measures as might induce a general engage- ment.
On the 24th of June, Maxwell was further re- inforced; and, during the following day, the main army advanced to Kingston. Here certain intelligence was received of Clinton's design to march by way of Monmouth Court House to Sandy Hook. One thousand additional troops were immediately sent forward to join those al- ready hanging upon the British rear. As Lee, upon whom the command of this division by right devolved, declined accepting it, Washing- ton intrusted it to Lafayette, ordering him to press upon Clinton's left, and crowd him down into the low grounds.
The same evening the main body moved on to Cranberry. A heavy rain-storm and excessive heat delayed its march on the 26th, but that night the advanced corps rested within five miles of the British rear.
Clinton having now brought his best troops to the rear, Washington determined to reinforce
203
RETREAT OF LEE.
1778.]
still farther his leading column. Accordingly, on the 27th, Lee was sent forward with two brigades. He, of course, took command of the whole advanced division, now swelled to about five thousand men. That evening the commander- in-chief encamped within three miles of English- town, where Lee was resting with the advance.
Clinton at the same time took a strong po- sition on the high grounds in the vicinity of Monmouth Court House, or Freehold ; his right resting in the borders of a small wood, while a dense and somewhat extensive forest sheltered his left. Another wood protected his entire front. Twelve miles distant were the Heights of Middletown, which he was anxious to gain ; for if he could once reach them, he knew that he would be unassailable.
In the gray of Sunday morning, the 28th of June, Washington received information that the enemy were marching off toward Middleton Heights. Anticipating this, he had ordered the advance to- be ready to move at a moment's no- tice. Promising to support him with the whole army, he directed Lee to assault the British rear, " unless there should be powerful reasons to the contrary." Lee at once pushed on to obey; but, confused by contradictory intelli- gence, it was ten o'clock before he came up with the enemy. Received by a galling fire, his troops, after a series of disastrous manœuvres,
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1778.
fell back, and no steps being taken to check this retrograde movement, the whole division was soon in full retreat.
Washington was, in the mean time, hurrying up with the main army. About noon, after a march of five miles, he met the broken regiments of the advance. His indignation was extreme. Riding to the rear, he encountered Lee. Ab- ruptly, and in a tone of stern reproach, he asked the meaning of the confusion and retreat he be- held. Lee replied with haughtiness ; when, ut- tering a sharp reprimand, Washington rode dis- dainfully by, rallied the flying troops, placed them in line, ordered Lee to take command, and hurried back to form and bring up the main division.
The aspect of affairs was now changed. Though furiously attacked by the enemy, Lee maintained his ground until the second American line was formed, when he effected an orderly retreat. Washington's second line was next assailed ; but, as the British crossed a morass in 'front, Stir- ling's artillery, opening from the left, and aided by several infantry corps, effectually checked their advance in that direction. Repulsed. at this point, the enemy turned upon Greene, who commanded the right wing ; but here again they were met by artillery, the fire from which swept their files, and a second time brought them to a stand. At this juncture Wayne came up with a
205
DESERTION OF HESSIANS.
1778.]
body of infantry, attacked the assailants in front, and drove them back to the position they had occupied in the morning.
The day was now far advanced. Both armies were utterly exhausted. During the contest the heat had been excessive; so much so, indeed, that numbers of the combatants on both sides had fallen upon the field dead, without a wound. Washington, however, determined to renew the fight at once, and become the assailant in turn .. But before his plans could be perfectly arranged, the night came on, and further operations were postponed until the next day. The whole army laid upon their arms on the field of battle, ready to make a new effort for the victory they had so nearly won. But when the morning dawned, Clinton was many miles upon his way to the Highlands of Nevisink. Pursuit was vain. Thus ended what narrowly missed being one of the most momentous battles of the War of In- dependence.
Upon the field the enemy left four officers and two hundred and forty-five privates dead, and their total loss in killed and wounded could not have been less than four hundred. That of the Americans was three hundred and thirty-two, of which seventy were killed outright. Indepen- dently, however, of their loss in the action, the British were materially weakened during their re- treat, when full a thousand of their number, prin-
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HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY. [1778.
cipally Hessians, who had married in Philadel- phia, took occasion to desert.
Clinton safely reached the Highlands of Middletown, whence, in a few days, he marched to Sandy Hook. From his position at this place, he found a speedy passage to New York in the fleet of Admiral Howe, who had just arrived from Philadelphia with the stores and baggage, narrowly escaping the French squadron, under D'Estaing, which appeared off the Delaware a few days later.
Lee's conduct during the recent action was severely condemned ; more so, perhaps, than it justly deserved. Though the indecisive charac- ter of the battle was properly to be attributed to his retreat, Washington would probably have overlooked the whole affair ; but the pride of Lee had been wounded by the public rebuke of his chief, and the day after the action he wrote Washington a highly disrespectful letter. Wash- ington's reply elicited a second letter, still more arrogant in its tone. Lee was presently arrested and tried by a court-martial, for disobedience of orders, for making an unnecessary, disorderly, and shameful retreat, and for writing two disre- spectful letters to the commander-in-chief. He defended himself with remarkable ability; but the court, acquitting him of having made a " shameful" retreat, found a verdict of guilty as to the remaining charges, and sentenced him to -
207
ARRIVAL OF FRENCH FLEET.
1779.]
be suspended for a year. Scarcely had the term of his suspension expired, when Lee. addressed an insolent letter to Congress. For this he pre- sently apologized, but Congress at once dismissed him from the service.
CHAPTER XVII.
D'Estaing arrives with a French fleet-Sullivan's unsuccessful attempt against Newport-Massacre of Baylor's cavalry re- giment near Tappan-British expedition against Little Egg Harbour-Chestnut Neck burned-Pulaski's legion sur- prised in the vicinity of Tuckerton-New legislature elected -Livingston re-chosen governor-Articles of confederation approved-French fleet sails for the West Indies-Campaign of 1779-Difficulty with the Jersey brigade-Capture of Stony Point by the British-Recaptured by Wayne-Major Lee surprises the English garrison at Paulus Hook-Sulli- van's expedition against the Indians of New York-Fierce partisan contest in New Jersey-Operations in the south- Financial difficulties of Congress-New Jersey legislature orders nine millions of dollars to be raised-Distress of the American army at Morristown-Washington's requisition upon New Jersey for supplies-Unsuccessful attack upon Staten Island.
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