USA > New York > A geographical history of the state of New York: embracing its history, government, physical features, climate, geology, mineralogy, botany, zoology, education, internal improvements, &c., with a separate map of each county > Part 9
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In May, 1777, Colonel Meigs, by a well devised and happily executed enterprise, took possession of, and destroyed a large quantity of the enemy's stores at Sag Harbor, L. I., and cap- tured ninety men. This enterprise was accomplished with a force of only 234 men. Congress voted him a sword, for this gallant exploit.
In January, 1777, the territory known as the New Hamp- shire grants, assumed the title of the State of Vermont, and soon after adopted a constitution. On the 12th of March, a con- stitution, for the state of New York, was reported by a committee of the provincial Congress, which, on the 20th of April, 1777, was adopted.
A few of its more important provisions should be here noticed. They were, 1st, the requirement of a property qualification in the electors and the elected. 2d, The appointing power was vested in the Governor, and a council, of four per- sons, chosen from the senate. By this council, sheriff's, coroners, justices of the peace. judges, both of the superior and inferior courts, mayors and recorders of the cities, and all the officers of state, were appointed. This immense amount of patronage, thus thrown into the hands of five individuals, proved a very serious evil. 3d, The Governor was invested with the power of proroguing the legisla- ture when he saw fit. This constitution was revised and amended in 1821.
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On the 23d of March, 1777, a detachment of 800 British troops landed at Peekskill, and set fire to the principal store- houses there ; but finding that a large force of Americans were approaching, they retreated. On the 26th of April, Governor Tryon, with 2000 troops, tories and regulars, proceeded to Danbury, Ct., and burned eighteen house, and a quantity of stores ; but was attacked by the Americans, and compelled to retire with considerable loss.
Under the new constitution, George Clinton was elected Governor ; but, being at that time in the service of Congress, he did not meet the assembly, :tits session. John Jay was appointed Chief Justice, C. R. Livingston, Chancellor, John Morin Scott, Secretary of State, and Comfort Sands, Audi- tor General.
At the adoption of the state constitution, there were fourteen counties in the state, viz. New York, Richmond, King's, Queen's, Suffolk, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Albany, Tryon, Charlotte, Cumberland, and Gloucester. The last two, together with part of Albany and Charlotte counties, were within the limits of the present state of Vermont. The first six were mostly under the do- minion of the British, the Highlands being the limit, and were governed by Gen- eral Tryon till 1778, when he was succeeded by General Robertson. The Brit- ish had garrisoned most of the border posts, from which they kept up a sangui- nary and relentless warfare, upon the settlers, during the whole struggle.
General Schuyler and Rev. Mr. Kirkland were, about this time deputed to hold a conference with the Iroquois, who, un- der the instigation of Sir John, and Colonel Guy Johnson, and the Butlers, as well as the famous Indian chief Brant, were making serious ravages on the frontier settlements. As the result of this conference, the Oncidas remained faithful to the Americans, while the remainder of the tribes, under the influ- ence of the Johnsons, took up arms, on the side of the British.
Determined to leave nothing undone, to effect the entire sub- jugation of the rebel colonies, the English Ministers sent out a well appointed army, the flower of the English soldiery, to- gether with a numerous body of German troops, under the com- mand of General Burgoyne, an experienced officer, of known bravery, and of high reputation.
General Burgoyne was directed to start from Quebec, and, scouring the country with his Indian allies, to effect a junction with Howe, at some point on the Hudson. As this would cut off all communication between New England and the other colonies, it was thought, that the work of subduing that section, would be comparatively easy.
For the purpose of effecting this object, General Burgoyne detached Colonel St. Leger, with 1600 regular troops, tories, and Indians, to harass and destroy the frontier settlements. St Leger arrived, without opposition, before Fort Schuyler, which he besieged.
Meantime, he despatched Sir John Johnson, with a body of
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tories and Indians, against General Herkimer, who was ad- vancing to the aid of Colonel Gansevoort, the commander of the fort. They met at Oriskany. Herkimer's force was small and undisciplined. The battle was a severe one; Herkimer was wounded at the first fire; but the British were obliged to with- draw, defeated. Soon after, by a successful artifice, Arnold compelled St. Leger to raise the siege of Fort Schuyler, and re- treat into Canada, with the loss of his Indian allies.
Burgoyne had pursued his march, with the main body of his army, thus far, in triumph; but soon, his fortune began to change. The Americans, under General Schuyler, had ob- structed his progress, from Lake Champlain to the Hudson, by felling trees, destroying the roads, &c., so that he was necessa- rily a long time employed, in the transportation of his artillery and stores.
Finding that these were not sufficient, to last through the campaign, he dis- patched Colonels Baum and Breyman, with more than 1500 chosen troops, to obtain stores at Bennington. These were met, and defeated, on the 16th of Au- gust, 1777, by the Green Mountain boys, under General Stark, and Colonel War- ner, and over 1000 killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. This loss materially impeded Burgoyne's progress, disheartened his army, and prepared the way for his defeat and surrender.
On the 19th of September, a fierce and bloody battle was fought between the American forces, under General Gates, (who had now succeeded General Schuyler, ) and Burgoyne's army, which resulted in severe loss on both sides, and the maintenance of their ground by both armies. The loss of the British, however, was much the largest. In this contest, Gen- eral Arnold and Colonel Morgan distinguished themselves, by acts of the most daring personal bravery.
Burgoyne now fortified his position, and sent to Sir Henry Clinton, for reinforcements and supplies. The American army also entrenched themselves strongly, on Bemis' Heights, Sa- ratoga Co. On the 7th of October, Burgoyne, finding his stores failing, and receiving no intelligence from Sir Henry Clinton, resolved to attack the American entrenchments, and attempt to force his passage through to the Hudson. The battle was a severe one, but he was defeated, with the loss of 200 killed and wounded, and about the same number taken prisoners.
On the 17th of the same month, after repeated attempts to escape from his perilous position, finding himself surrounded on every side by a victorious enemy, General Burgoyne surren- dered to General Gates, his entire army, consisting of 5792 men, together with 5000 stands of arms, 42 field pieces, and large quantities of ammunition. This splendid victory did much to- wards achieving our nation's independence.
On the 17th of November following, Congress adopted the ar-
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ticles of confederation, for the different states. These were ap- proved, by the legislature of New York, February 6th, 1778.
The repeated incursions of the Indians upon the frontier set- tlements, particularly the cruel outrage at Wyoming, called loudly for retributive justice. But their crimes were still to as- sume a deeper dye. In November, 1778, Colonel Alden, the commander at Cherry Valley, received intelligence that an at- tack was intended, upon that place. With a fatal and unac- countable stupidity, he paid no attention to the report. On the 10th, the Indians and tories, under the command of the blood- thirsty Walter Butler, and the Indian chieftain Brant, ap- proached the settlement, killed Colonel Alden, butchered about twenty of the inhabitants, mostly women and children, took nearly forty prisoners, and, after plundering and burning all their houses, departed.
To punish these depredations, General Sullivan, in August, 1778, at the head of an efficient force, visited the country of the Senecas, destroyed eighteen of their villages, laid waste their whole territory, and most signally defeated them.
In April of the same year, Colonel Van Schaick attacked the Onondagas, who had been the most troublesome of the border tribes, destroyed their villages, took between thirty and forty prisoners, and killed twelve of the Indians. These severe blows, for a time, put these tribes in check.
On the 28th of September, 1778, two detachments of the enemy's troops, sent by Sir Henry Clinton, surprised a part of Colonel Baylor's regiment of cavalry, stationed at Tappan, by night, and butchered sixty-seven out of one hundred and four men, unresisting and asking for quarter.
In May, 1779, Sir Henry Clinton made an expedition in per- son, up the Hudson, compelled the garrison at Verplanck's Point to surrender, after a short but spirited resistance, and took possession of Stoney Point, which was abandoned by the Americans. At his return, he garrisoned both forts.
On the 16th of July, 1778, General Washington commis- sioned General Anthony Wayne to storm the British fort at Stoney Point, a strong fortress, which was the resort of tory refugees, who sallied out occasionally, and ravaged the neigh- boring settlements. The fort was carried at the point of the bayonet, and with trifling loss. Owing to the weakness of the American force, however, it was soon found necessary to aban- don it, and it was afterwards re-occupied by the enemy.
Soon after, Major Lee made a daring and successful expe- dition against Paulus Hook, (Powles Hook,) now Jersey City, and captured the British garrison, consisting of 150 men, di-
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rectly under the guns of the British ships of war, lying in the Hudson river.
General Arnold had been, thus far, distinguished in the Revo- lution, for his reckless daring, his chivalric bravery, and his ap- parently ardent patriotis n ; but amid all, the private character of the man was known to be vicious and corrupt. His reputa- tion was stained by dishonesty, rapacity, and meanness. In consequence of a severe wound, received in the last battle with Burgoyne, he was disabled from active service, and in the sum- mer of 1778, General Washington assigned to him the com- mand of the city of Philadelphia. His extravagance, reckless- ness, and dishonesty, drew down upon him the displeasure of the citizens, who were loud in their complaints against him; and in March, 1779, he resigned his command.
In April, he married Miss Shippen, a lady who had been a distinguished belle, had received the attentions of the British officers, during their occupancy of that city, and was at heart a loyalist. Through her correspondence with some of the Brit- ish officers, an opportunity was offered to Arnold, to communi- cate with the enemy ; and he finally took the resolution to sell himself, and his country, for British gold, in order to rid himself of his pecuniary embarrassments. To make his treachery more valuable, in August, 1780, he solicited, and obtained the com- mand of the strong and important post of West Point, the key of the Hudson.
In order to settle finally the terms of his treachery, Sir Henry Clinton despatched Major Andre, an Adjutant General in his army, (who had been Mrs. Arnold's correspondent, and with whom, over a feigned signature, Arnold had also corresponded, ) to have an interview with the traitor, and agree upon the de- tails of his infamous treason. They met, made their arrange- ments, and parted; Arnold to return to his post, and Andre to New York.
Before reaching that city, however, the latter was arrested by three militia men, and having been convicted by a Court Martial, was hanged as a spy. Arnold succeeded in making his escape, though not in surrendering the important post which he commanded, and his base treachery was rewarded by the British Government, with the office of a Brigadier General, and the sum of £10,000 sterling. But he was never trusted im- plicitly by the British, and so strong was the feeling of loathing, on the part of the British officers, of his meanness, that many of them refused to serve under him.
In the hope of securing him and bringing him to a just punishment ; and with a view to save the gifted, but unfortunate Andre, from the fate he had brought
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upon himself, General Washington commissioned Mr. Champe, a Sergeant Major in Major Lee's regiment, to proceed to the British camp, professedly as a deser- ter, and to endeavor to seize the person of Arnold. The attempt was unsuc- cessful.
In 1780, 81, Brant, the Mohawk chief, in conjunction with Sir John Johnson nd Walter Butler, made several incursions upon the frontier settlements, in the Schoharic and Mohawk valleys. In August, a force under Colonel Marinus Willet pur- sued and routed these marauders, and killed Butler, whose sav- age cruelties had rendered him notorious. The remaining scenes of the war of the Revolution, mostly occurred in the southern states, and therefore do not come within the scope of this historical sketch.
In 1782, the English Government resolved to relinquish the hopeless contest with their colonies. On the 30th of November of that year, provisional articles of peace were agreed upon; and on the 25th of November, 1783, the British troops evacu- ated New York, and Washing ,, with his army, entered in triumph. On the 4th of December, Washington took an affec- tionate farewell of his officers; and after resigning to Congress, then in session at Annapolis, Maryland, his commission, retired to Mount Vernon, to spend the remainder of his days in retire- ment and domestic felicity.
Events which transpired, soon after the Revolution, demon- strated, most conclusively, that the compact, which had con- nected the different states of the Union together, during the war, would not suffice, to maintain that connection, in time of peace. In 1787, therefore, in accordance with a resolution of Congress, delegates were elected from this state to meet those of the other states, in convention at Philadelphia, in May, to frame a new constitution. The delegates chosen from this state, were Messrs. Yates, Lansing, and Alexander Hamilton.
The constitution prepared by this convention was not at first satisfactory to a majority of the citizens of New York. But the' powerful exposition and de- fence of it, by Mr. Hamilton, John Jay and others, in the essays published under the title of " The Federalist," tended to bring about a change of feeling, in regard to it ; and on the 26th of July, 1788, it was ratified, in convention, by the state, not, however, without the recommendation of several amendments, which were not adopted.
During this period, and until 1795, George Clinton, whose services in the Revolution had been so eminent and valuable, held the office of Governor.
A general organization act was passed, in 17SS, by the legis- lature, dividing the state into fourteen counties, which were subdivided into townships .. The western and central portions of the state, now free from the hostile inroads of savages, pros- pered, and rapidly increased in population and wealth.
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In 1790, the difficulties, which for twenty-six years, had exist- ed between New York and Vermont, and which had been the cause of bloodshed and bitter hostility, between the citizens of the two states, were amicably adjusted.
But for the patriotism and prudence of her leaders, Vermont would probably have been, to this day, an integral portion of the British empire. In addition to other and more patriotic motives, it cannot be denied that the jealousy of the in- creasing influence of the southern states in Congress, tended to predispose New York favorably, to a settlement.
Commissioners having been appointed, by both states, in 1789, met and reported in October, 1790, in favor of the payment, by Vermont, to New York, of the sum of $30,000, for the extinction of the land claims, held by the latter ; and that New York, upon such payment, should relinquish all claims, either to land, or jurisdiction, in Vermont, and acquiesce in her admission to the Union. This report was approved by both states, and in 1791, Vermont was received into the confederacy.
In 1791, the agriculture of the state received a new impulse, from the organi- zation of a society for the promotion of agriculture, arts and manufactures.
The same year, a committee was appointed by the legislature, to inquire into the most eligible method, of removing obstructions from the Hudson and Mohawk rivers. The next year, (1792,) two companies were formed, styled the Northern and Western Inland Lock Navigation companies, to improve the navigation of the Hudson and Mohawk, and to connect the Oneida and Ontario lakes with the lat- ter, and Lake Champlain with the former. For the purpose of aiding them in this enterprise, the state became a subscriber to their stock, to the amount of $92,000. This, though productive of no great practical results, was the first step, in that system of internal improvement, so ably advocated and carried out, by the genius and perseverance of De Witt Clinton.
During this period manufactures did not prosper; and our country was supplied with most of the products of art, from England and France. In 1785, Governor Clinton having de- clined being a candidate for re-election to the office of Gover- nor, John Jay, whose patriotic services in the Revolution, as a statesman, have been already noticed, was chosen his successor.
The legislature, in 1796, granted to the Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga, and Brothertown Indians, $9852, to extinguish their title, to certain lands previously possessed by them. In 1798, Governor Jay was re-elected, and continued in office till 1801. The legislature passed, in 1801, another general organization act, by which the state was divided into thirty counties.
In 1801, a convention was called, by an act of the legislature, to amend the constitution. Colonel Aaron Burr was elected President of the convention. By the act, under which the convention assembled, they were limited, in their amendments, to two points : the first, as to the number of the members of each house of the legislature, and the second, the determination of the question, whether the right of nomination to office, should be vested exclusively in the Governor, or in the Governor and Council jointly. The convention decided upon the latter interpretation of the constitution. .
The same year, 1801, Governor Jay having refused to be again a candidate for office, Governor Clinton was again elect-
,
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ed to the chief magistracy. In 1804, Governor Clinton being elected Vice President of the United States, Morgan Lewis was chosen as his successor. Daniel D. Tompkins succeeded Mr. Lewis as Governor, in 1807. The same year, Albany was made the capital of the State.
In August, 1807, Robert Fulton made his first trip with the Clermont, the first steamboat which ever plied successfully the waters of the World .* In this enterprise he was aided by Robert R. Livingston, one of the most distinguished statesmen of the state or nation.
'The embargo laid this year by Congress, on all American shipping, at Mr. Jefferson's recommendation, in order to counteract the injurious effects of the British orders in council, and Napoleon's Berlin and Milan decrees, bore hard upon New York, and excited much opposition, for a period.
Governor Tompkins was re-elected in 1810.
The difficulties between Great Britain and our own country, to which we have already alluded, had for several years been the subject of anxiety and bitter feeling ; and every year they had assumed a more unpleasant character. In addition to the injuries already inflicted by England, on our commerce, as a neutral power, she claimed the right to search our merchant vessels ; and if her officers found on board of them, men, whom they chose to regard as British subjects, they seized them and compelled them to serve in their navy.
Our government. remonstrated, but remonstrances proved unavailing ; the outrage upon our national flag was repeated. Under these circumstances our statesmen conceived that they had no alternative, but to declare war upon that nation. Ac- cordingly, on the 19th of June, 1812, the President, being duly authorized by Congress, proclaimed war against Great Britain.
Decming it of the greatest importance to subjugate the Can- adas, and thus deprive the enemy of their strong holds, meas- ures were taken to concentrate a large force on the northern frontier of this state, and the eastern border of Michigan,
General Dearborne was appointed to the command of the forces, and by his direction, General Harrison assumed the command of the north western division, making Detroit his head- quarters. General Stephen Van Rensselaer, having his head- quarters at Lewistown, commanded the central division, and the commander-in-chief, the eastern, making Plattsburg his place of rendezvous.
" There are three other competitors for the honor of introducing steamboat navigation to the notice of the world, viz. John Fitch, of Hartford, Conn., Robert L. Stevens, of New York, and Mr. Evans, of Philadelphia. All undoubtedly deserve credit for the construction of vessels propelled by steam ; but it is be- lieved that to Fulton and Livingston belongs the honor of having demonstrated the practicability and advantages of this mode of navigation.
5
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Experience soon proved that, unfortunately, pride of opinion is sometimes stronger than love of country. A large minority of the citizens of this, and the adjacent states, were loud in their denunciations of the war ; and if they did not afford direct aid to the foe, they weakened the hands, and discouraged the hearts of those who were to contend with the enemy ; and furnished grounds of scru. ple, by which the timorous and faint-hearted justified their cowardice. Under such adverse influences, officers of known spirit, and tried courage, faltered in meeting the foe, and surrendered to a force inferior to their own.
The first considerable action of the war was disgraceful to our boasted prowess. General Hull, deputed to carry aggres- sive war into Canada, and to take the British post at Malden, seemed panic-struck at the approach of the enemy. Forgetting his former renown, as a brave soldier, he returned to Detroit without striking a blow; and on the 16th of August, 1812, surrendered his whole force, consisting of about 2000 troops, occupying a strongly fortified garrison, together with the whole territory of Michigan, to General Brock, whose entire army con- sisted of only 700 British troops, and 600 Indians.
General Van Rensselaer, with his command, was stationed at Lewiston, below the Falls. His troops, (principally militia,) often urged him to give them an opportunity of displaying their prowess by facing the enemy. Determining not to remain inac- tive, he despatched his aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Colonel Van Rensselaer, a brave and meritorious, but somewhat rash offi- cer, with about 225 men, to attack the British post of Queens- town, on the opposite shore of the Niagara river.
The attack was successful at the outset, and but for the shameful cowardice of the troops remaining upon the American shore, would undoubtedly have terminated in a brilliant victory .
Such were the pretended constitutional scruples of the remaining troops as to the propriety of crossing over to the enemy's territory, that when ordered to re- inforce Lieutenant Colonel Van Rensselaer, they preferred to see their brethren in arms cut to pieces, rather than move to their relief; and thus nearly the whole force which had crossed the river, were either killed, or taken prisoners.
General Van Rensselaer, disgusted with his army, soon after resigned his commission, and was succeeded by General Alex- ander Smyth, of Virginia.
This officer appears to have been a mere braggart, for after issuing a pro- clamation, announcing the wonderful deeds he intended to perform, he finally ordered his troops into winter quarters, without accomplishing any thing.
In January, 1813, occurred the battle of the River Raisin, in Michigan, one of the most sanguinary contests of the war. In this conflict, the British General, Proctor, acquired lasting in- famy from his inhumanity to the American troops, who had surrendered ; giving them up to the savages for torture and massacre, in violation of his solemn pledge to General Win- chester, the American commander.
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In February, 1813, Captain Forsyth, commander of the Amer- ican forces at Ogdensburg, crossed the St. Lawrence, in pur- suit of some prisoners whom the English had taken from his vicinity, and succeeded in capturing some military stores and about fifty prisoners. In revenge for this act, the British, on the 22d of February, 1813, crossed the St. Lawrence with a considerable force, and took Ogdensburg. Forsyth, however, with his forces, made good their retreat.
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