A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 40

Author: Ross, Peter. cn
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1188

USA > New York > A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 40

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On reaching Jamaica Woodhull was as-

RESIDENCE OF NICASIUS DE SILLE. NEW UTRECHT, L. I., 1657, WHERE GENERAL WOODHULL DIED. Demolished in 1850.

sole foundation are the words "it is said" ought even to be regarded with suspicion, in fact, may safely be put down as untrue, and therefore as not in keeping with history at all.

However all this may be, there is no doubt that as a result of the circumstances of his capture Woodhull was seriously wounded in the head and his arm slashed in several places. No attention was paid to his wounds when the affray of the capture was over, and with

signed to quarters in Mrs. Hinchman's tavern, where his wounds were dressed by a British army surgeon. It was then found that his injuries were more serious than had been imagined, there being several deep gashes on his head, while one arm was almost severed from the body. After resting that night he was removed on the following morning to the stone church and confined there with several other captives. On the 29th of August Woodhull and the other prisoners in Jamaica

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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

were removed to the old church at New Utrecht, which was being used for the time as a military prison. He is presumed-for the matter is not very clear-to have been detained here for several days and afterward removed to the prison ship Pacific, where he endured the misery and dirt and experienced all the physical and mental torture which the evidence of most witnesses testifies, came to all who were confined in those hulks. On Sept. 2, he was transferred, as a "measure of humanity," to another hulk, the Snow Mentor, and there it became only too evident that the lack of medical attention and the foul air of the transports had done their work, and that the General was dying. On Sept. 6 he was sent to the house beside the church-jail at New Utrecht, used as a hospital, for treat- ment, and there, after suffering the amputa- tion of his wounded arm, he died on Sept. 20, his last thoughts being for the alleviation of the sufferings of those about him.

Gen. Woodhull's only child was his daughter, Elizabeth, who married Henry Nicoll, a member of a family which had been settled in New York State for many years. After his death she married Gen. John Smitlı, one of the Tangier Smiths, a native of Mastic who, after serving in Congress for several years (1779-1804) succeeded to the seat, in the United States Senate, of DeWitt Clinton, and held it until 1813. He was a Major Gen- eral of Volunteers and United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York and held these two appointments at the time of his death, Aug. 12, 1816. His widow resided on her father's estate at Mastic until her death. By her first marriage she had several sons, and by her second marriage a daughter who married John K. Lawrence. From these two marriages the present living descendants of Gen. Woodhull may be enumerated as fol- lows: James Woodhull Walsh, New York; Henry Nicoll Wayne, New Britain, Conn .; Alvan Riker Lawrence, Justice of Supreme Court of New York; Rev. Alexander Hamil- ton, and John R. Suydam.

In many ways the figure of Gen. Woodhull is one of the most notable, most beautiful, which the entire story of the Revolution brings under our notice. In his case love of country was the predominating feature in his whole career. He acquired, while a soldier in the armies owing allegiance to King George, a high reputation for personal courage and for military ability, and when the time came for him to believe that in the interests of his country that allegiance should be thrown off, there was no half-heartedness, no shrinking, no thought of self in his course, but a clear, emphatic and determined stand on behalf of liberty in which life and property were botlı placed at stake. As a statesman he exhibited, while a member of the Provincial Congress, many splendid qualities, and as the presiding officer of that body, while he steadfastly and honestly carried out its orders as its executive head, he strove to mingle pity and mercy even when dealing with pronounced Tories.

It is one of the mysteries of the war how it came about that a man who by the training of long service and study was every inch a soldier should, when the crisis came, be found in an obscure position, mainly that of a driver of cattle in face of the enemy, while men like Putnam and Sullivan and Greene, who had no real knowledge of warfare, or whose knowledge was mainly confined to skirmishes with Indians, were invested witlı high commands. It is safe to say that had he been in military command of the island on August 27th the British would not have found at Bedford so easy a flanking point and that he would have met them with something at least of their own tactics; but instead, he found himself, when the crisis came, away from the scene of action, but obeying orders like a true soldier, and doing the best service he could with less than 100 men under his command. It is pitiful to read his letters at that critical junction, knowing as we do the opportunities which were being lost to the struggling nation by the trifling employment which had been given him, and how tenacious-

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A FEW REVOLUTIONARY HEROES.

ly he held on to the humble duty to which he had been assigned without any thought of re- treat except under pressure of the circum- stances of war or of direct orders from those in authority. On the 27th he wrote: "I have got all of the cattle southward of the hills in Kings county, to the eastward of the cross road between the two counties, and have placed guards and sentinels from the northward to the south side of the island to prevent the cattle's going back and to prevent the communication of the Tories with the enemy."

On August 28th he wrote the Convention : "I have about seventy of the men and about twenty of the troops, which is all the force I have or can expect, and I am daily growing less in number. The people are so alarmed in Suffolk that they will not any more of them march ; and as to Cols. Smith and Rem- sen they cannot join me, for the communi- cation is cut off between us. I have sent about 1,100 cattle to the great fields on the plains yesterday. About 300 more have gone off this morning to the same place."

Thus the only trained General on Long Island, except the immortal Chief, was herd- ing cattle, while Generals Putnam, Sullivan and Stirling, mere soldiers by accident, with all the shortcomings such a designation in :- plies, were participants in a great battle in which American Patriots were being mowed down like grass, simply for the want of proper and trained leadership! It is, as we have said, one of the mysteries of the time how such a disposition of leadership became pos- sible. Justice Marshall afterward (1834), in correcting an error in his life of Washington in which he expressed the idea that Wood- hull's district was assigned to him that he might guard among others the very pass through which the British made their flanking movement, finally said of Woodull's position : "It is an additional example of the many in- conveniences arising in the early part of the war from the disposition of the civil author- ities to manage affairs belonging to the mili-

tary department." In other words, Gen. Woodhull was the victim of politics,-that politics which has given rise to so much scan- dal at the opening of every American war, down even to the opening of the recent glo- rious war with Spain.

It seems to us there is something more than ordinary heroic in the manner in whichi Woodhull held on to the duty and the spot assigned to him, even with his small command steadily diminishing, and a great and finally victorious host lying between him and the forces of the Continental army. As we read the story we are impelled to cry, "It is mag- nificent, but it is not war !" Prudence would have impelled him at once, on the night of the 27th, to have crossed the Sound to Con- necticut ; but he had received no orders to retreat and retreat he would not.

But noble as was his entire career, disin- terested as were his services to his country, and pure and noble as was his personal life, lighted up as his pathway was with all the glow of Christianity-love, faith, charity -- and with unwavering fidelity to whatever he believed to be right and just, it seems to us that his true nobility of character and dis- position reached its highest development when life was closing for him in darkness and horror and he suffered all the ignominy, and torture, and cruelty of captivity, whether in a tent- porary prison on land or a vile transport in a harbor. Cruelly wounded as he was, without proper medical attendance, breathing impure air, placed among scenes at which even the slightest sense of delicacy might be shocked, often with no bed but a plank, with food al- most unfit to eat, and only putrid water at times to drink, he never seems to have made audible complaint. His record he knew was clear, his course through life had been con- sistent and just, and he had a humble yet thor- ough confidence in an Almighty Power who ever rules and ordains all things well. So he met his fate calmly and bravely, faced the inevitable end of his sufferings with true Christian fortitude, and passed through the

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veil with words on his lips invoking mercy and charity and help for those who were his companions in misfortune and whose time of release had not yet come.

It seems a pity that the memory of such a hero-the hero of Long Island-should not be perpetuated by some public monument in its most populous quarter, or at least in Jamaica, where in reality he surrendered his life to the cause of national liberty. It is said often that such memories as his never die, that they are enshrined in the hearts of their countrymen, and so on; but we should not enshrine too closely, and it is well to give public expression to our sentiments. Children seeing such a monument would ask about his life story and gain thereby a sense of what true patriotism really is; strangers would know what sort of men are the heroes we delight to honor; and the fact of such public honor being paid a hero might nerve others to study his life, his motives and his exploits and be nerved to imitate all these should dark days ever again fall on this blessed and glo- rious country. An effort, indeed, has once or twice been made to erect a memorial statue, but each failed to win material support ; and so Woodhull, like many another gallant Patriot, has his memory perpetuated only on history's page: there only are his services acknowledged, and his virtues recalled.

Perhaps no soldier more seriously and per- sistently annoyed the British and their Loyal- ist supporters on Long Island during its occu- pation than Lient. Col. Benjamin Tallmadge, a man who not alone for his intrepid bravery, dauntless resolution, unceasing energy and successful accomplishments has won a place among the heroes of the Revolution, but one who acquired a degree of importance in the history of the nation as the custodian of Major Andre from the time that unfortunate victim of war was captured until his execution, on October 2, 1780. Tallmadge walked witlı that ill-fated officer to the place of execution, and, while he sternly aided in carrying out the sentence of the court-martial, could not

help a feeling of commiseration for the un- fortunate victim of the just laws of warfare.

The Tallmadge family in America traces its descent from Robert Tallmadge, an Eng- lishman who came here prior to 1640 and was one of the founders, in 1643, of the New Haven Colony. The great-grandson of this pioneer was the Rev. Benjamin Tallmadge, who was the first of the family to become identified with Long Island. In 1753 he was called to the pastorate of the Congregational Church at Setauket, and continued to minister to that body until 1785, when he retired. He died on Feb. 5th in the following year. Dr. Prime in his "History of Long Island" char- acterized him as "a fine scholar and an able divine." He married Susannah, daughter of the Rev. John Smith, and by her had a large family. She died in 1768 and some two years later he married Zipporah Strong of Brook- haven, but of that marriage there was no issue.

The eldest son of this clergyman, William Tallmadge, born July 9, 1752, took an active part in the movement for freedom, and was captured by the British at the battle of Long Island. He died during his captivity, from ill tratment and starvation, it is believed.

Benjamin Tallmadge, the second son, was born in the little parsonage at Setauket Feb. 25, 1754. Under the tuition of his father he made such rapid progress in his education, and particularly in the classics, that he was pronounced, when only twelve years of age, as being fitted for entering Yale by the Rev. Napthali Daggett, sometime minister at Smithtown, L. I., and from 1766 to 1777 President pro tem. of Yale University, in which he held the chair of theology.

Dr. Daggett is, we fear, now one of the many forgotten heroes of the Revolution, who showed that he considered his sacred voca- tion no bar to his assuming the active duties of patriotism. In 1779 he shouldered a mus- ket and aided in the defense of New Haven against the British. He was taken prisoner, however, and compelled to act as a guide,

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his natural repulsion to such an office being overcome by bayonet thrusts made on the slightest sign of hesitancy or halting. He re- ceived many such wounds and never recovered his health, dying from the effects of his butcher-like treatment Nov. 25, 1780.

In time Tallmadge entered Yale and was graduated in 1773. He then became Master of the High School at Wethersfield, Conn., and so continued until the outbreak of the war, when he received a commission as Lieu- tenant in Colonel Chester's regiment of Con- necticut militia, remaining in active service until the conflict was over and the United States took a place among the independent powers of the world. He took part in the Battle of Brooklyn and was one of the detail which held the lines of intrenchments until the last, stood on guard until the retreat was completed and had become one of the won- ders of military story. On Dec. 15, 1776, he was commissioned by the Continental author- ities as Captain of the Second Light Dragoons, on April 27, 1777, he received the rank of Major, and in 1783 the brevet rank of Lieutenant Colonel. All his promo- tions were honestly won and gallantly earned. He participated in the battles at White Plains, Short Hills, Brandywine, Monmouth, Ger- mantown and White Marsh.

Tallmadge enjoyed the implicit con- fidence of General Washington and was frequently invested by that hero with a sep- arate command for the purpose of carrying out some difficult, or dangerous, or delicate piece of work, or, as generally happened, somthing which involved all three. Thus it, was while in New Castle township, in com- mand of a detachment appointed to do scout- ing duty among the passes by which the enemy in New York and the Tories in West- chester county carried on their machinations, that Andre was captured and conducted to Tallmadge's headquarters.

It was, however, on Long Island that Major Tallmadge's military talents were most brilliantly employed. Two noted instances

are on record, but his services were pretty continuoiis, and, besides an active correspond- ence with the Patriots on the island, he used all sorts of means for keeping himself thor- ouhgly informed of the doings of the enemy. This knowledge he invariably put to some effective use, but it is noticeable that he con- sulted his great chief regarding every im- portant move.

In 1777 the British had a strong post on Lloyd's Neck between Huntington and Oy- quickly and decisively were the details of the a gang of outcasts and pirates carried on a regular system of plunder, their victims being alike those living along the shore and the seamen in the small vessels trading in the Sound. Tallmadge determined to break up this band of cut-throats and at nightfall on Sept. 5, 1777. he left Shippen Point, Conn., with 130 men and crossed the Sound. So quickly and decisively were the details of the expedition carried out that on the following morning he was back in Connecticut with almost the entire band of desperadoes as his prisoners.

In 1780, after a considerable absence from Long Island, and possibly with a view to re- move the Andre impression from his mind, he again turned his thoughts thither. He proposed to General Washington to secure or destroy a large quantity of supplies which the British had collected and stored at Coram, Brookhaven, and, incidentally to see what could be done with the subjection of a fort near Mastic known as Fort St. George. Washington, ever regardful of the lives of his men and ready to frown on any expedi- tion which seemed recklessly hazardous, was inclined to demur and advised Tallmadge to abandon the scheme. The latter, however, disregarding all personal danger, stealthily crossed to the island and inspected the pro- posed scene of operations, and then, armed with this personal observation, ventured again to communicate his views at full length to his chief. The latter finally authorized the movement in the following letter, dated

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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

"Headquarters, Nov. 11th, 1780," which we print in full as showing the confidence which Washington reposed in this brave soldier :

Sir: I have received yours of the 7th inst. The destruction of the forage collected for the use of the British army at Coram, on Long Island, is of so much consequence that I should advise the attempt to be made. I have written to Col. Shelden to furnish you a detachment of dismounted dragoons and will commit the execution to you. If the seizure of the party at Smith's house can be attempted without frustrating the other design, or running too great a hazard, I have no objection. But you must remember that this is only a secondary object, and in all cases you will take the most prudent means to secure a retreat.

Confiding entirely in your prudence as well as enterprise I wish you success.

G. WASHINGTON.

Gathering together a force of eighty men, Tallmadge left Fairfield, on the Connecticut side of the Sound, on the afternoon of November 21, 1780. The party occupied eight boats and landed at Old Man's Harbor about 9 o'clock, at what was afterward known as Mount Sinai. After marching inland for a few miles the soldiers had to return to their boats, a heavy rain not only rendering the roads or tracks soft and muddy, but making it impossible to attain the rapid progress necessary to the successful accomplishment of the scheme. They took shelter in their boats or in the bush that night, and, the stormi continuing, throughout the following day. Then, when night again came on, the elements becoming more favorable, they once more started out. Dividing his party into three, Tallmadge ordered that the attack on the fort should be made simultaneously by each division. His plans were so well made that the fort was carried within ten minutes after the onslaught was begun. Several Brit- ish vessels laden with stores attempted to es- cape, but the guns of the fort were turned on them and they were burned, as were the fort and its outworks and approaches. Fifty-

seven prisoners were captured, and, after sending them under an escort to his boats, Tallmadge, with the remainder of his little army, proceeded by a rapid movement to Coram, where they destroyed some 300 tons of hay which had been collected by the Brit- ish. This done, he at once pushed on for his boats and arrived at Mount Sinai just as the party with the prisoners reached there. No time was lost in embarking, and by eleven o'clock the expedition was back in Fairfield, triumphant, with all their prisoners, and with- out one of their own men missing. It was a glorious deed, well planned and bravely carried out, and richly deserved the compli- mentary resolution in which Congress acknowledged the services of all concerned. Much as he undoubtedly valued this acknowl- edgment however, Tallmadge probably valued still more the following letter from his leader, dated at Morristown, Nov. 28, 1780:

I have received with much pleasure the report of your successful enterprise upon Fort George and the vessels with stores. in the bay and was particularly well pleased with the destruction of the hay at Coram, which must, I conceive, be severely felt by the enemy at this time. I beg you to accept my thanks for your judi- cious planning and spirited execution of this business, and that you will offer them to the officers and men who shared the honors of the enterprise with you. The gallant behavior of Mr. Muirson gives him a fair claim to an appointment in the Second Regiment of Dragoons when there is a vacancy, and I have no doubt of his meeting with it accordingly, if you make known his merit, with these senti- ments in his favor. You have my free consent to reward your little party with the little booty they were able to bring from the enemy's works.

Yours, etc., G. WASHINGTON.

Heathcote Muirson, so flatteringly men- tioned in the above epistle, did not get his- commission but continued as opportunity of- fered to serve his county as a volunteer. His career soon ended, however, in 1781, for he

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fell mortally wounded, in an attack on Fort Slongo, near Smithtown, and some eight miles from Floyd's Neck. Major Tallmadge was also conspicuous in this affair, but it failed to effect its purpose, the strength of the place having been underestimated. During the re- mainder of the war Tallmadge was stationed mainly in Westchester county, watching the notorious "cowboys and skinners" and keep- ing an eye on Long Island, now and again making a descent upon its shores and always inflicting considerable damage to the enemy's stores and shipping. When peace was re- stored, he retired from the army with the rank of Colonel; but as treasurer, and after- ward New York State President of the So- ciety of the Cincinnati, he kept himself fully in touch with those associated with him dur- ing the greatest struggle for liberty in modern history.

Major Tallmadge married, March 16, 1784, Mary, eldest daughter of General Will- iam Floyd, of Mastic, Long Island, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ- ence. She died June 3, 1805, and on May 3, 1808, he married Maria, daughter of Joseph Hallet of New York City, who sur- vived him. By his first marriage he had four sons and two daughters-William Smith, Henry Floyd (married Maria Canfield, daughter of Andrew Adams of Littlefield, Conn.), Frederick Augustus, Benjamin (who became an officer in the United States Navy and died at Gibraltar, unmarried,) George Washington (married Pacera M., daughter of Hon. Calvin Pease of Warren, Ohio), Maria Jones (married the Hon. P. Cushman of Troy, N. Y., Circuit Judge), and Harriet Wardsworth (married John Delafield of New York City).

The Tallmadge family may be considered as represented in the next generation by Major Tallmadge's third son, Frederick Augustus Tallmadge, who was born at Litchfield, Con- necticut, August 29, 1792. He was educated at Yale, whence he was graduated in 1811, and, after a course of special study at the

Litchfield Law School, was admitted to the bar. During the War of 1812 he engaged in a brief military experience as Captain of a troop of cavalry on Long Island, but soon set- tled down to practice his profession in New York City. In 1834 he served in the local Aldermen and Council boards, and was a mem- ber of the State Senate from 1837 to 1840, serving part of the time as President of that body. From 1841 to 1846 he held the high office of Recorder of New York City and was again elected to it in 1848, serving until 1851. He was elected to Congress as a Whig, and served from December 6, 1847, till March 3, 1849. From 1857 to 1862 he was General Su- perintendent of the Metropolitan Board of Po- lice, and in 1862-5 he was Chief Clerk of the Court of Appeals. He afterward engaged in the practice of law in New York City. Dur- ing the time he was Recorder of the city the Astor Place riot occurred, and he was highly commended for the firm and determined stand he took in suppressing that tumult and in the trial of the ringleaders.

Mr. Tallmadge married Eliza, daughter of Hon. Judson Canfield, of Sharon, Connecticut, a descendant of Thomas Canfield, of Milford, Connecticut, 1646. The issue of this marriage was Eliza, married John T. White of Phila- delphia ; Julia, married William Curtis Noyes, of New York; William Floyd died unmarried ; Frederick Samuel; and Mary Floyd, married Hon. Edward W. Seymour, Judge of the Su- preme Court of the State of Connecticut.

The present representative of the family is Frederick Samuel Tallmadge, fourth child of Frederick Augustus and Eliza (Canfield) Tallmadge, and grandson of Major Benjamin Tallmadge, was born in New York City, Jan- uary 24, 1824. He was graduated at Colum- bia College and studied law in the office of William Curtis Noyes, Esq., with whom he subsequently formed a copartnership. He has enjoyed for many years a successful practice and is ranked among the leading men in his profession in New York. Mr. Tallmadge was one of the founders of the Society of the Sons

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A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 40

Author: Ross, Peter. cn Publication date: 1902 Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1188

Author: Ross, Peter. cn
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1188