USA > New York > A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 36
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CHAPTER XVIII.
THE BRITISH
OCCUPATION.
S soon as the British realized that the lines had been evacuated no time was lost in taking possession, and but for a coolness, or lack of coherence, rather, between the different commanders, it is hard to say what damage might not have been done to the American troops, a few of whom even then were at the ferry and many on the water. As it was, some of the guns left unspiked on Fort Stirling were turned against the fugitives in the boats, but happily with no effect other than in some instances to add to the confusion always ready to spring up on such occasions.
The British could not pursue. They had not the means momentarily at hand, and at that junction the question was one of minutes rather than hours. Then the movement was so complete that it was difficult for some time fully to recognize its extent. Fort Stirling was regarded in both armies as the key to the position, as from it the then city of New York could be cannonaded, and that movement was expected to take place as soon as guns could be brought into position. But the Brit- ish had no desire to destroy New York. They wished its possession, regarded it as the main point in the then campaign, and its retention as the best possible basis for all future operations. Besides, there was even yet the chance of capturing the Continental arniy in a fresh trap equal to that from which such a miraculous escape had been made in Brooklyn. So the British contented them- selves with stretching their forces along the
shore overlooking Manhattan and the Harlem, threatening every point at which a landing could be made or a defense officered. For several days General Washington was in a constant state of anxiety ; many of his raw troops had become disheartened and hun- dreds deserted, even entire companies return- ing to their homes. But his main trouble was the absence of information from the British lines. For once the prevalent spy system ut- terly failed, the strip of water could be so effectually guarded, and while counselling his Adjutant General of the necessity for keeping a close look all along the shore for any un- common movements, said : "I should much approve of small harassing parties stealing, as it were, over in the night, as they might keep the enemy alarmed, and more than prob- ably bring off a prisoner from whom some valuable information may be obtained."
Washington claimed that he could hold New York against any attack which might be made upon it provided "the men would do their duty;" but this he finally admitted was doubtful, and he decided to acquiesce in the desire of his associates and abandon the city. Many of the leaders were in favor of not only evacuation but destruction, and for this Nathanael Greene (who by this time had re- covered from his illness) and John Jay were particularly outspoken. Washington was op- posed to destruction, but referred the entire question to Congress, and that body decided against such a measure as "they had no doubt of being able to recover it even though the
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THE BRITISH OCCUPATION.
enemy should obtain possession of it for a time." On September 12th evacuation was finally decided upon, the stores and sick were at once moved to the Heights, across the Harlem River, and on the evening of the 14th Washington established his headquarters at the Morris Mansion, at what is now One Hundred and Sixty-first street on the main- land across the Harlem River. On the 15th the British were in full possession of old New York City and in control of the whole of Manhattan Island, but not without meeting with a sturdy opposition, although many of the Continental levies retired in wild con- fusion. But the details of what happened in New York on that eventful day need not be recounted here. Our main concern is withi the fact that on it the main force of the British army left Long Island, which was then turned over to the military rule of a de- tachment of some 5,000 men.
We may now panse here for a while, in the course of this chapter, and attempt to estimate the active support which the Con- inental army had, up to this time, received from Long Island. As has doubtless already been gleaned from what has been written in these pages, both Kings and Queens counties were regarded by the leaders of the Conti- nentals as disaffected, as being mainly in- habited by Tories, while Suffolk county was deemed much more loyal, although its situa- tion interfered with the full development of its loyalty. At the same time the three coun- ties were represented all through the struggle on the forces which fought for the new na- tion. The Continental Congress made three calls upon New York for military assistance, the first in 1775, the second early in 1776, and the third in the summer of that memor- able year. Beyond the names of most of the officers little has been preserved of the ex- tent to which the first two calls were any- where answered, and on Long Island espe- cially the returns are exceedingly meagre. But enough remains to show that the spirit of liberty dwelt among the people, and that
it found expression, even in Kings and Queens counties, by sending substantial additions to the fighting forces in answer to the Congres- sional calls. Suffolk was patriotic clear through, although the Tories there were nu- merous and demonstrative. In estimating the strength of the representation of Long Island in the Continental armies, its peculiar situation should be remembered, and espe- cially the fact that from the summer of 1776 until the close of hostilities it was practically a British fortress.
The officers of a regiment of Long Island militia were commissioned in Kings county March II, 1776, presumably in answer to the second call. They were at first as follows :
Colonel, Richard Van Brunt. Lieutenant Colonel, Nicholas Covenhoven. First Major, Johannes Titus.
Second Major, John Van Der Bilt. Adjutant, George Carpenter.
Quartermaster, Nicholas Covenhoven. Companies :
Light Horse-Captain, Adolph Waldron ; Lieutenants, William Boerum, Thomas Ev- erett; Ensign, Jacob Sebring, Jr .; Quarter- master, Isaac Sebring.
Troop of Horse-Captain, Lambert Suy- dam; Lieutenants, Daniel Raplye and Jacob Bloom; Ensign, Peter Van Der Voort; Quar- termaster, Peter Wykoff.
Flatlands-Captain, Jeremiah Van · Der Bilt ; Lieutenants, Albert Stothoff and Thom- as Ellsworth; Ensign, Peter Van Der Bilt.
Gravesend-Captain, Rem. Williamson ; Lieutenants, Samuel Hubbard and Garret Williamson ; Ensign, John Lane.
Brooklyn-Captain, Barent Johnson ; Lieu- tenants, Barent Lefferts and Joost De Be- voise : Ensign, Martin Schenck.
Brooklyn-Captain, F. Suydam; Lieu- tenants, Simon Bergen and William Brower; Ensign, Jacob Stillenwert.
Flatbush-Captain, Cornelius Van Der Veer ; Lieutenants, Peter Lefferts and John Van Duyn ; Ensign, John Bennem.
Bushwick-Captain, John Titus; Lieu- tenants, Abraham Van Ranst and Peter Col- yer ; Ensign, John Skillman.
New Utrecht-Captain, Abraham Van Brunt ; Lieutenants, Ad'n Hegeman and Har- manus Barkulo; Ensign, William Barre.
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.
No roster exists as to the names of the non-commissioned officers and privates in this regiment ; all such details seem to have been lost except that of the two cavalry troops. The record of this regiment, the infantry section of it at all events, does not seem to have been a very creditable one. Most of the men were really forced into the service and they seem to have left it as soon as possible. Its strength does not appear to have exceeded 250 men, and even before the landing of the British some fifty of these had deserted. Henry P. Johnston estimates that the regiment, then under command of Colonel Jeronimus Remsen, paraded 200 strong on the morning of the battle of Brooklyn.
They were mainly employed in fatigue duty after a brief experience in sterner de- tails, and on August 24 General Sullivan held them up to ridicule in an order then issued, in which he said, "The General is sorry to find that regiment flying from their posts, when timid women would have blushed to have betrayed any sign of fear at anything this regi- ment discovered at the time of their flight."
After the battle of Long Island the total strength was still further reduced, mainly by desertion, to about 150. These took part in the evacuation of the city and crossed to Man- hattan under Captain (then Major) Barent Johnson of the Brooklyn Company, but soon after reaching Harlem most of them deserted and returned to Long Island. Major John- son, however, proved a gallant officer and took part in the battles of Harlem and White Plains. He remained with the Continental army until his health gave way, when he re- turned to Brooklyn.
Of the Queens county troops still less is known, and the following list of officers of companies is all we have been able to trace. It is doubtful if these companies were ever, even temporarily, united into a regiment :
Great Neck and Cow Neck Company- Captain, John Sands (appointed October 12, 1775); First Lieutenant, Henry Allen (de-
clined) ; Second Lieutenant, Thomas Mitchell (promoted First Lieutenant March 8, 1776, vice Allen) ; Ensign, Aspinwall Cornwell (Cornell) (promoted Second Lieutenant, vice Mitchell) ; Andrew Onderdonk, appointed April 15, 1776.
New Town District, Southermost Beat -Captain, Abraham Remsen; First Lieuten- ant, Benjamin Coe (Captain June 17, 1776) ; Second Lieutenant, Robert Furman (First Lieutenant June 17, 1776) ; Ensign, Benjamin North (Second Lieutenant June 17, 1776) ; Jonah Hallett (June 18, 1776).
New Town District, North Beat-Cap- tain, Jon'n Lawrence (promoted Brigadier Major) ; First Lieutenant, William Hackett ; Second Lieutenant, William Lawrence (pro- motcd Captain August 14, 1776) ; Ensign, Jesse Warner.
Light Horse Company-Captain, Richard Lawrence (resigned on account of ill health) ; First Lieutenant, Daniel Lawrence (promoted Captain) ; Second Lieutenant, Samuel Riker (promoted First Lieutenant) ; Cornet, Jon'n Coe (superseded by Jon'n Lawrence) ; Quar- termaster, Peter Rapalje. Original commis- sions issued May 10, 1776.
Flushing Company-Captain, Nathaniel Tom; First Lieutenant, Matthias Van Dyck; Second Lieutenant, Jeffry Hicks; Ensign, Nich's Van Dyck. All commissioned June 8, 1776.
Jamaica Company - Captain, Ephraim Baylies; First Lieutenant, Increase Carpen- ter ; Second Lieutenant, Abraham Vanausdale ; Ensign, Othniel Smith. All commissioned March 27, 1776.
While some of these companies were rep- resented in the battle of Long Island and the movements preparatory thereto, there is no trace remaining as to what they did. It has been claimed that some of them did outpost duty at the passes, but the fair inference un- ·
der all the circumstances is that they were by that time practically broken up and that Queens county was represented by only a few of the officers named, among them being Cap- tain Jonathan Lawrence, who was appointed Major of General Woodhull's (Long Island) brigade.
Suffolk county showed a much better and certainly a much more agreeable and com-
217
THE BRITISH OCCUPATION.
mendable record, though even in that section of the island there was a strong pro-British sentiment which rendered recruiting or con- scription difficult. The roster from this coun- ty, taken, as were the preceding lists, from "New York in the Revolution" by Berthold Fernow, is as follows :
FIRST REGIMENT.
Colonel-William Floyd of St. George's Manor, vice Platt Conkling (who declined).
Lieutenant Colonel-Dr. Gilbert Potter, of Huntington.
First Major-Nathan Woodhull, of Brook- haven.
Second Major-Edmund Smith, Jr., of Smithtown.
Adjutant-Philipp Roe, of Brookhaven.
Quartermaster-James Roe, of Brook- haven.
Huntington and Smithtown Companies .- Captain John Wickes; First Lieutenant, Epenetus Conckling; Second Lieutenant, Jonah Wood; Ensign, Ebenezer Prime Wood.
Captain, Jesse Brush; First Lieutenant, Jon'n Titus; Second Lieutenant, Phillipp Conckling; Ensign, Joseph Titus.
Captain, Timothy Carll; First Lieutenant, Gilbert Fleet; Second Lieutenant, Joel Scud- der ; Ensign, Nath'l Buffet, Jr.
First Brookhaven - Captain, Samuel Thompson; First Lieutenant, Ab'm Wood- hull; Second Lieutenant, Isaac Davis ; Ensign, David Satterly. Commissioned September 13, I775.
Second Brookhaven-Captain, Eben'r Mil- ler ; First Lieutenant, Caleb Woodhull ; Sec- ond Lieutenant, James Davis; Ensign, Davis Davis. Commissioned September 13, 1775.
Third Brookhaven - Captain, William Brewster ; First Lieutenant, Isaac Davis ; Sec- ond Lieutenant, Uriah Smith; Ensign, Benj'm Woodhull. Commissioned September 13, 1775.
Smithtown - Captain, Philetus Smith ; First Lieutenant, Ednund Smith, Jr .; Second Lieutenant, Daniel Tillotson ; Ensign, Richard Smith. Commissioned September 13, 1775.
Islip (formed from east part of Smith- town and west part of Southampton)-Cap- tain, Benijah Strong; First Lieutenant, Jere- miah Terry ; Second Lieutenant, Samuel Oak-
ley ; Ensign, Annen Mowbrey. Commissioned February 13, 1776.
Southo'd-Captain, Nathan Rose; First Lieutenant, Hugh Smith; Second Lieutenant, David Fanning; Ensign, John Smith. Com- missioned September 13, 1775.
Changes in the regiment :
December 12, 1775, Jon'n Titus, Captain of the Second Company, vice Jesse Brush, pro- moted Major; Joshua Rogers, First Lieuten- ant, and Thomas Brush, Second Lieutenant.
February 7 and 8, 1776, Platt Neil (Vail), Captain Cow Harbour or Fifth Huntington Company : Michael Hart, First Lieutenant ; Isaac Dennis, Second Lieutenant ; Jacob Concklin, Ensign; John Buffet, Captain. South or Fourth Huntington Company : Isaac Thompson, First Lieutenant ; Zebulon Ketch- um, Second Lieutenant ; Joseph Ketchum, En- sign.
A return of this regiment, dated April 5, -1776, gives the following changes :
Majors Jesse Brush and' Jeffry. Smith ; Quartermaster John Roe; Captain Samuel Tomson; Capt. Eben'r Miller ; Capa. Nathan Rose, Capt. Wm. Brewster, Capt. Philetus Smith, Capt. Joshua Rogers, Capt. Epenetus Conckling, Capt. Joel Scudder, Capt. John Buffet, Capt. Platt Vail, Capt. Gilbert Carle, Capt. Benijah Strong.
SECOND REGIMENT.
This regiment was authorized to be raised early in 1776, and there seems to have been no difficulty in filling up its ranks. The official record gives the following details :
Colonel, David Mulford.
Lieutenant Colonel, Jon'n Hedges.
First Major, Urial Rogers.
Second Major, George Herrick.
Adjutant, John Gelston.
Quartermaster, Phinias Howell.
Sergt. Major, Lemuel Peirson.
Drum Major, Elias Mathews.
These officers were so returned February 10, 1776.
A return of the names of the persons for the officers of the Second Battalion in Suffolk county taken according to the directions of the Provincial Congress by the Committee of Easthampton and Southampton :
218
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.
First Company-Captain, David Howell; First Lieutenant, Jeremiah Post ; Second Lieu- tenant, Paul Jones; Ensign, Zaphaniah Rog- ers.
Second Company-Captain, John Dayton ; First Lieutenant, Isaac Mulford Hunting; Second Lieutenant, John Miller, Jr .; Ensign, Wm. Heges.
· Third Company-Captain, David Pierson ; First Lieutenant:, Daniel Heges ; Second Lieu- tenant, David Sayre; Ensign, Theophilus Peirson.
Fourth Company-Captain, David Fithen ; First Lieutenant, Samuel Conckling; Second Lieutenant, Thomas Baker; Ensign, Daniel Conckling.
Fifth Company-Captain Stephen Howell ; First Lieutenant, John White, Jr .; Second Lieutenant, Lemuel Wick; Ensign, Isaiah Hallsey.
Sixth Company-Captain, Wm. Rogers; First Lieutenant, Jesse Halsey : Second Lieu- tenant, Henry Halsey ; Ensign, Nath'l Rogers.
Seventh Company-Captain, Josiah How- ell; First Lieutenant, Nathaniel Howell; Sec- ond Lieutenant, Mathew Howell; Ensign, Wm. Stephens.
Eighth Company-Captain, Samuel L'- Hommedieu; First Lieutenant, Silas Jessup; Second Lieutenant, Edward Conckling; En- sign, Daniel Fordham.
Ninth Company-Captain, John Sandford; First Lieutenant, Edward Topping; Second Lieutenant, Phillipp Howell; Ensign, John Hildreth. Commissions issued September 13, 1775.
THIRD REGIMENT.
A third regiment of Suffolk county is men- tioned and commissions were issued to of- ficers of the same, but no record of its roster has been found except the following:
Captain, Israel Scudder ; First Lieutenant, Nath'l Buffet; Second Lieutenant, Epenetus Smith; Ensign, John Hart. Commissioned December 12, 1775, for Third Company, Third Regiment.
First Lieutenant, Ednund Howell; Second Lieutenant, Selah Reeve; Ensign, James Wells. Commissioned June 29, 1776, for Sec- ond Company, Third Regiment.
REGIMENT OF MINUTE MEN.
Colonel, Josiah Smith ; Lieutenant Colonel' John Hulbert ; First Major, Isaac Reeve ; Sec-
ond Major, Jon'n Baker; Adjutant, Ephraim Marvin (April 4, 1776, vice Isaac Overton, declined) ; Quartermaster, Eben'r Dayton.
Easthampton Company-Captain, Ezekiel Mulford; First Lieutenant, John Miller ; Sec- ond Lieutenant, Nath'l Hand ; Ensign, - Commissioned February 23, 1776.
First Southampton Company-Captain Zephaniah Rogers; First Lieutenant, Nath'l Howell, Jr .; Second Lieutenant, Mathew Sayer ; Ensign, -. Commissioned Feb-
ruary 23, 1776.
Second Southampton Company-Captain, David Pierson ; First Lieutenant, John Foster, Jr .; Second Lieutenant, Abraham Rose ; En- sign, Edward Topping. Commissioned Feb- ruary 23, 1776.
First Southold Company-Captain, John Bayley; First Lieutenant, Joshua Youngs ; Second Lieutenant, John Tuthill; Ensign, James Reeves. Commissioned May 3, 1776.
Second Southold Company-Captain, Paul Reeves ; First Lieutenant, John Corwin; Sec- ond Lieutenant, David Horton; Ensign, Nath'l Hodson. Commissioned May 3, 1776.
Brook haven, Smithtown, Manor of St. George and Moriches Company-Captain, Selah Strong; First Lieutenant, Wm. Clark; Second Lieutenant, Caleb Brewster ; Ensign, Nath'l Brewster. Commissioned April 4, 1776.
Artillery Company-Captain, Wm. Rog- ers ; Captain-Lieutenant, John Franks; First Lieutenant, Jeremiah Rogers; Second Lieu- tenant, Thos. Baker; Lieutenant Fireworker, John Tuthill. Commissioned February 20, 1776.
The return of this regiment of May 30, 1776, gives :
Isaac Overton, Second Major, vice Baker, and Captains Nath'l Platt and Thos. Wicks, in addition to above.
Benjamin Coe, Captain, mentioned Octo- ber 9, 1776.
Capt. Wm. Ludlum and Second Lieuten- ant Ephraim Marston, mentioned December 2, 1776.
None of the Suffolk county troops took part in the battle of Brooklyn with the ex- · ception of Colonel Josiah Smith's regiment, which, to an estimated strength of 250 men, was massed in General Woodhull's brigade with Remsen's regiment. But there is plenty of evidence that many of them were employed
·
219
THE BRITISH OCCUPATION.
on outpost or picket duty. One writer tells us, for instance, that Colonel Floyd's "military services were confined to heading a detachı- ment of militia that was suddenly called to repel a boat invasion from a British ship at the outset of the war;" but the Suffolk Patriots were ready to do their duty when called upon and gave many evidences of that.
In "New York in the Revolution," by Comptroller James A. Roberts, Albany, 1898, the roster of another Suffolk county regiment of minutemen (there called the Third) is given as follows:
Colonel, Thomas Terry ; Captain, Jonathan Bailey; Lieutenants, John Tuthill, Joshua Young; Ensign, James Reeves.
ENLISTED MEN.
Beebe, Lester
Racket, Absalom K.
Booth, Prosper
Racket, Noah
Brown, Daniel
Rogers, William
Brown, James
Roghers, William
Conkling, Nathaniel
Salmon, Joshua
Demmon, Jonathan
Salmon, Jonathan
Dickerson, Nathaniel Drake, Richard
Tabor, Ammon Tabor, Frederick
Gardaner, James
Terry, David
Glover, Ezekiel
Terry, Elijah, Jr
Goldsmith, John Griffing, Peter Havens, John Hemsted, Thomas Horton, Benjamin
Truman, Jonathan
Tuthill, Christopher
Tuthill, David
Horton, Calvin
Tuthill, James, Jr.
Horton, David
Vail, Benjamin, Jr. Vail, Daniel
Vail, Elisha
Vail, Jonathan
King, Benjamin King, Jeremiah King, John King, Jonathan
Vail, Thomas Wells, Jonathan
Newbury, Samuel
Wiggins, David
Overton, Aaron
Wiggins, William
Pain, Benjamin Prince, Thomas
Youngs, John
Youngs, Joseph
This, of course, can hardly be called a regiment and seems merely to have been, judging from the names of the officers, the First Southold Company in Colonel Josiah Smith's regiment. Why such a company should possess a colonel is hard to say. The records of the Revolutionary forces in this
State even after the reverent care bestowed upon them during the past quarter of a cen- tury are still very imperfect.
Before leaving the subject of the personnel of the troops furnished by Long Island to the war, we may here refer to a regiment which was raised for operation on the British side. While the Tories in Kings and Queens coun- ties were numerous enough to leaven the whole, it is questionable if any of the mass of the people would have cared to fight on either side. There is ample evidence that this was so with those who trailed a musket or bumped in a saddle ori behalf of the Con- gress, and the evidence is equally strong as to the unwillingness of those of them who were enrolled on the other side to display even the rudiments of heroism.
The active military leader on the side of the Tories was the infamous Edmund Fan- ning, who for a time was Private Secretary to Governor Tryon, his father-in-law. He was born at Smithtown, Long Island, April 24, 1739, his father being James Fanning, a Captain in the British service, and his mother, Mary, daughter of Colonel William Smith, of Smithtown. He was educated at Yale, and admitted to the bar in North Caro- lina in 1769. In that colony he had a some- what remarkable career, becoming one of the Judges of its Supreme Court, and was dis- tinguished for the energetic measures he took against every movement tending toward pop- ular government. In New York his course was marked by crime, cruelty and bloodshed in the earlier stages of the Revolution, but it was not until he raised the corps which he called "the Associated Refugees" or "King's American Regiment" that he found full scope for the innate fiendishness of his disposition. Many instances of this will be found scattered throughout these pages, and it is not neces- sary to refer to it here beyond this general mention. At the same time it can be said with truth that he was a brave man and that after- ward, especially during the nineteen years he- served as Governor of Prince Edward Island,
Horton, James
Terry, Thomas
Truman, David
220
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.
he won the admiration of the people over whom he ruled, for his splendid executive ability, his sense of exact justice, and the possession of all the very qualities which we associate with the make-up of a wise, in- dulgent and beneficent ruler. He died at London, England, February 28, 1818, with the full rank of General in the army; and his last years were passed in the enjoyment of a generous measure of official and public es- teem and a liberal pension.
Another active militia organizer on behalf of the Tories was Major Robert Rogers, who, in spite of the almost demonstrated theory that he attempted to play the part of a British spy, led a most stirring life and one that was full of all the elements of bravery, adventure, and zeal which made up the lives of all his- toric figures in our annals. So far as can be judged from the facts before us, this man was to a certain extent a soldier of fortune and was not really very much concerned, so far as his personal sentiments went, as to which side he should cast in his lot. He chose that of King George, probably because he thought it was certain to win, and thereby made the great strategical mistake of his life, for had fortune landed him among the Con- tinentals he would have achieved fame and honor, if not more substantial rewards, and his memory would have been held in venera- tion, as his many fine qualities would have amply justified.
He was born in New Hampshire in 1727, and, early embracing a military career, took part in the French War of 1754-63 and as the head of "Rogers' Rangers" performed many heroic exploits and won considerable fame. When that war was over he visited England, but his career there was an unhappy one. In 1765 he was appointed Governor of Mackinaw, Michigan, but was accused, ap- parently on good grounds, of a design to surrender it to the French, and was sent, a prisoner in irons, to Montreal. How he got out of this disgraceful charge is not very clear. When the Revolutionary War broke
out he tried to ingratiate himself with Washı- ington, but was suspected by that leader of being one of the spies then so plentiful, and was ordered sent under arrest to New Hamp- shire, to be dealt with by the authorities in his native State. While on parole he accepted a commission as Colonel in the British service and raised a corps called the Queen's Rangers. A large number of the members of this com- mand were recruited among the Loyalists of Long Island immediately after the battle of the 27th of August.
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