A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 42

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 42

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On Jan. 8, 1814, "in consequence of the imminent danger of the invasion of Sag Harbor and the adjoining coast," the garri- son there was considerably augmented and volunteers were called for with the view of organizing another corps of artillery.

The Company of Exempts ( from military duty) at Sag Harbor referred to above was organized in September, 1812, "for the pro- tection of Sag Harbor against invasion." It was officered as follows. Captain, John Ger- main; Lieutenants, Elisha Prior, Cornelius Sleight and Thos. Beebee.

In November, 1812, Southold contributed to the defence of the county a company of exempts of which Gilbert Horton was made Captain ; Jonathan Horton, Lieutenant; and Benjamin Hallock, Ensign. Probably there were other corps of the same character raised in nearly all the townships in Queens as well as in Suffolk. In most of the military ar- rangements of the war these counties were freely assessed and seemed to have won the approbation of the Governor for the alacrity with which they responded to each call for troops. They supplied their full quota to the infantry and several well equipped cavalry troops, but their main strength was in the artillery.

In 1811 we find that an artillery company was organized at Brookhaven, with John S. Mount as captain, Henry H. Howell and Samuel Davis as Lieutenants, and other towns followed suit. By order issued Dec. 7, 1813, the artillery of the Three Long Island coun-

*"On the Long Island shore of the Narrows a block- house was erected on the site of the present Fort Hamil- ton by the first inhabitants, who settled there in 1654. The work was as much of a protection against pirates and buccaneers as invaders. The English authorities for years discussed the feasibility of building a strong and permanent work at this point, but nothing ever came of it. During the war of 1812 the Americons constructed a small earth work which they called Fort Lewis * *

* Work on the present Fort Hamilton on the Long Island side of the Narrow was not begun in earnest until after the close of the second war with Great Britian."-Hugh Hastings, State Historian, "Life of Gov. Tompkins" (Military Papers), Vol. 1, page 73.

255

THE WAR OF 1812.

ties were organized into the Second Battalion of the Thirteenth Regiment under the com- mand of Major Barbarin, and on Feb. 28, 1814, the cavalry of Queens, Suffolk and Westchester were changed into heavy artil- lery and became the Second Regiment, with Lieut. Col. Williams Jones as its commander.

All this showed that among the people the ancient spirit was not dead, and that had the stern occasion demanded the Long Islanders of 1812 would have presented a more united front to the enemy than had their predecessors in the days when independence was the ques- tion of the hour.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE CHAIN OF FORTS-MILITARY ACTIVITY IN KINGS COUNTY-THE KATYDIDS AND OTHER HEROES-THE POPULAR UPRISING.

N the counties of Queens and Suffolk, however, the war was more a dream than a stern reality, more read and talked about than anything else. The trifling descents made on their coasts did little damage and resulted in no loss of life, and while the people were prepared for the worst the worst never came, and at no period during the whole of the conflict do we find any evidence of the deep and all prevailing love of country which impelled so many Suffolk county men to sacri- fice all for home and freedom, for prin- ciple and loyalty in the War of the Revo- lution.

With Kings county it was altogether dif- ferent ; and while, happily, the tide of war rolled in a different direction, the war fever set in there with a bound as soon as the formal declaration was made known and gathered impetus, and the days sped on and news of the progress of the struggle began to come in. While, as in many other places, some of the Kings county people regarded the war as a mistake, a war which was simply the result of a failure to agree on the part of the politicians, news was no sooner re- ceived of American blood having been spilled than all whys and wherefores were forgotten and the war spirit rose to fever heat. By 1814 the spirit of '76 had again descended on all of Kings county and suffused itself over all classes of the people, harmonizing and blending for the time all shades of po-

litical opinion. Differences were forgotten, the Tories were dead and Toryism was a past and gone issue; the prejudice against the Loyalists had developed into a sentiment, and those who were their descendants were as enthusiastic for the Stars and Stripes as were those who had the blood of Revolu- tionary heroes flowing in their veins. For a time the military spirit predominated over all else. It was natural that with the announce- ment of the declaration of war the people of Kings county should have regarded it as pos- sible that their territory would become one of the scenes of the conflict. The memory of the Battle of Brooklyn had not been wiped out, although its lessons seemed to have been forgotten by those to whom the destiny of the nation had been consigned.

Several military companies were in exist- ence, or were formed, in 1812, immediately after the declaration of war. The Fusiliers under Capt. Joseph Herbert, though small in numbers, made a gallant appearance on parade with their green coats and leather caps, while the "Katydids," as the company of rifles commanded by Capt. Burdett Stryker were called, on account of their uniform,- green coats trimmed with yellow,-was among the most popular of the old-time in- dependent military bodies ever seen in Brook- lyn. Captain Barbarin's artillery was one of the most effective in the service, and we are told that on one occasion (Aug. 5, 1812), when they took a trip to the Narrows to en-

257

THE CHAIN OF FORTS.

gage in target practice, they hit the ten-foot target twenty times at a distance of 450 yards, out of forty shots fired, which was wonderful marksmanship for those days. A troop of horse artillery was organized by John Wilson, who became its Captain, and in addition to such commands the county contributed its full quota to the militia of the State. On June 27 Gov. Tompkins called out the militia of New York, Westchester, Kings and Rich- mond counties and they remained in active service until the close of the war. The Sixty- fourth Regiment was furnished by Kings county to the military establishment of the commonwealth with the following officers : Major, Francis Titus; Major, Albert C. Van Brunt ; Adjutant, Daniel Barre ; Quartermas- ter, Albert Van Brunt; Captains, William Denyse (New Utrecht Company), Joseph Dean (Brooklyn Company), Francis Skill- man (Wallabout Company), - Van Cott (Bushwick Company), Peter Cowenhoven (Gowanus Company), Jeremiah Lott (Gravesend and Flatbush Company ).

It was not, as we have said, until 1814 that Kings county became fully aroused, for early in that summer a report was spread that there was more than a chance that a British army might again use it as a field of opera- tions against Manhattan Island. Informa- tion had been received from Bermuda that a strong British fleet was concentrating there for the purpose of striking a blow on some part of the American coast, and the current idea there was that New York was the point at which the fleet would aim. As soon as this news reached the city vigorous measures for defence were at once adopted. It had been fondly hoped that the negotiations then in progress would have led to a complete ces- sation of hostilities and the public tension had been somewhat relaxed. But now the community was brought face to face with a grave danger.

De Witt Clinton, then Mayor of New York, at once proceeded to put that city into a

state of preparation and the fortifications on the Battery and other points were strength- ened, while a Committee of Defense was ap- pointed. It was felt, however, that the fate of the city would be decided by a battle if battle there was to be, outside of its limits, and numerous points lay invitingly open to an enemy, points which were practically unde- fended. A landing might be made not far from where Howe landed in 1776, or a fleet might sail through Long Island Sound and command the city from some point in West- chester or the Long Island shore, for the passage through Hell Gate was open to friend or foe. The Committee of Defense at once took prompt measures. It recommended the immediate removal of the ships in the harbor, the enrollment of volunteers, asked the Gov- ernor to increase the quantity of arms and ammunition. at the disposal of the local au- thorities, to put the field artillery, etc., in thorough order, to call out a competent num- ber of militia, while the general Government was petitioned among other things to finish the incomplete fortifications surrounding the city, to construct such new ones as were necessary, and to augment the regular forces serving around New York. The committee offered to defray liberally a share in the cost of all this, and it proposed the construction, at its own cost and mainly by the work of the militia and of volunteer laborers, of two fortified camps,-one on Harlem Heights and the other at Brooklyn. It is with the latter of these we have here to deal in detail.

The fortifications were deemed a prime necessity, and even before the plans were ready voluntary offers of labor on the sites, either in the way of grading or levelling- labor that was ready to be of service in any way it could be utilized-begun to pour in on the Committee as soon as their purposes were known. The construction of these forti- fications was the feature by means of which the people testified to their determination to do what they could, to make what sacrifice of

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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

time they could, to aid in the country's de- fense, seeing that all could not become sol- diers and carry a musket.

So great were the number of proffers that it was soon seen a selection of the workers would have to be made. Trades, professions, societies, and associated bodies of all sorts applied for the honor of being permitted to labor as organizations. Men of wealth and day laborers were equally zealous of doing some work on the camps, old men were as desirous of serving as the young, and hun- dreds who for physical reasons were unable to do effective manual work asked to be al- lowed to pay a substitute for one day or more so that they, too, might have a direct share in helping along the defensive plans. The col- ored people were as ready to contribute their labor as were their white brethren, while firms, banks and corporations sent sums of money to the Committee to hire laborers in their name, each $1.25 paid being regarded as equal to a day's work. Even the publi- ·cation of the local newspapers was suspended one day to give the printers a chance to work with pick and shovel. It was, more appar- ently than ever, the old Revolutionary spirit alive again! The defenses which were the subject of such a popular outburst were de- signed by General J. W. Swift, one of the best military engineers of his time, who in 1830 constructed the railway from New Or- leans to Lake Pontchartrain, a wonderful feat in engineering, and, in 1839, was chief engi- neer of the Harlem Railroad. His plan was in the main a reproduction of the line of defense of 1776. From Gowanus to the Wallabout, on the hills which then encircled Brooklyn, but are now in its very centre, was to be a line of forts connected by bastions. On Manhattan Island a line of forts and block-houses was to run from the Hudson to McGowan's Pass and across the Harlem Heights to the Sound, there to connect with the Long Island shore by means of a small fort on Mill Rock and a larger one on the high ground on the island coast. Other forts

were to be erected so as to form a complete chain of defense. The line around Brooklyn was not so long drawn out as in 1776, but it was felt as being self-evident that if a landing on Long Island was effected at all the place to meet it was behind the forts and not in the open field, while the defenses in the harbor were relied upon to prevent a fleet from operating with an invading army. The tactical blunder which gave to the British the Battle of Brooklyn, the weakness of any one link in the chain of defense, was not to be repeated. It was known that any effort made on Long Island was in reality directed against its neighbor, Manhattan, and the de- fense of the nation's commercial capital was the object kept steadily in view, and so the attack, if it should come, was in the first in- stance to be met not in the open field, but with the assistance of forts and bastions and re- doubts, and behind carefully watched and strongly fortified lines.

As soon as the plans were ready work commenced with a rush. It would almost seem that at first a "tour of work" on the fortifications was regarded in the light of a fad, of a good-natured holiday, and the "patriotic toil," as one of the orators of the time called it, proceeded the more eagerly on account of the novelty and fun, until the news was received that the British forces had captured Washington, burned the White House and other public buildings, and were in force before Baltimore. Then the holiday notion passed away and the people almost immediately realized that the labor they were engaged upon was of the most serious import, and that at any moment the utility and strength of the fortifications might be tested in the most grim and cruel fashion. Then all feeling passed except that of sturdy deter- mination to complete the chain of defenses and give the invaders a warm reception. Work was even carried on by moonlight, and as the City Treasury was practically empty and nothing could be got from the general Government to aid the means of defence, New

259

THE CHAIN OF FORTS.

York City asked its people for a loan of $1,000,000, and got it, although some argu- mentative citizens claimed that the authorities had no legal right to negotiate a loan for any such purpose. Such citizens always turn up with their arguments and objections at

Federal six-pounders and a heavy outburst of cheering commenced work with pick and shovel on the site of the old Fort. Putnam of 1776, which was now to be known as Fort Greene. On the following day the work was continued by some artillery companies and

-------

Labou

PLAN OF FORT GREENE and

----

LINE OF INTRENCHMENTS

From the Wallabout to Gowanus Creek, etc., as laid out by Lieut. James Gadsden, of the Engineers, under the orders of General Joseph G. Swift, In 1814.

IS NOENTTE

JAMAIC

SCHERMERHORN ST.

STATE ST.

A-Fort Greene (the Fort Putnam of 1776). B -- Redoubt Cummings.

C-Washington Bastion.

D-Redoubt Masonic.

E-Fort Fireman (the Fort Greene of 1776).

F-Fort Swift (the Cobblchill Fort of 1776).

DEAN ST.

G-Battery (on line of present Degraw streot). H-Old Church.

WYCKOFF SI.

REFERENCES.

NGSTON ST.

FLATBUSH AVE.

"FULTON AVE.

FORT GREEN PL.

HAMPDEN ST.

PORTLAND AVE

OXFORD ST.

CUMBERLAND ST.

ATLANTIC ST.

PACIFIC ST.

every stage of the nation's progress and are especially busy at every historical crisis.

The work on the fortifications was begun on the Brooklyn scheme first, on the morning of Ang. 9, 1814, when a company of artillery and a body of volunteers from New York crossed and under a salute from one of the

by bodies of tanners, curriers and plumbers and several hundred military exempts. On the 12th the medical students, wire workers, foundry workers, the members of the Hamil- ton Society and a number of artillerymen were at work, and on the 13th the New York cabinet-makers had an inning. The 15th,

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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND

being a Sunday, was observed as a day of rest. On the Monday following Brooklyn itself had a chance, for then Captain Lau- rence Brower's Company of Artillery, raised in that place and attached to the Thirteenthi Regiment of Artillery, went over to the heights from Castle Garden, where they were sta- tioned, and broke ground on the site of the old Cobble Hill Fort for a new stronghold which was at first proposed to be given the name of Fort Pitt; but that was changed when work was fairly began to Fort Swift, in honor of the designer of the defenses. Brooklyn also came to the front on August 16th, when the work was done by local mili- tary companies under the command of Cap- tains Stryker, Cowenhoven and Herbert, by the exempts of Bedford and the Wallabout and a fire company. On the 17th the people of Bushwick contributed their share. A con- temporary newspaper said: 'The operations were commenced by a prayer from that vener- able patriot, the Rev. Dr. John Basset, and an exhortation of zeal and unanimity in their country's cause, in defense of which they were then to be employed on the works which he had nearly forty years ago assisted in erecting. He continued encouraging them, and distributing refreshments throughout the day, and at evening returned with his flock satisfied with having set an example, im- pressive, admirable and commanding, the plaudits of an approving conscience and a grateful country."

The scene of their work was Fort Swift. During the course of the day they held a meeting over which Dr. Basset presided, while Tunis Wortman acted as secretary, at which resolutions were passed, some of which, as they serve to show the spirit of the people, may be reproduced here :

Next to the duties which we owe to Heav- en, those which belong to our country demand our chief attention. As a people we are pre- eminently blessed. Divine Providence has fa- vored us with a free and excellent Constitu- tion, and commands us to preserve it. In

defense of our liberties, property and lives, for the protection of our native land or the land of our choice, we this day solemnly step forward to take up arms for general preservation, and will not lay them down while danger exists.

In a crisis like the present no good citi- zen should consider himself exempt. The spirit of party should be lost in the generous ardor of universal patriotism. All who feel that they possess a country to defend and love, should step forward with a degree of zeal and alacrity, which shall teach the en- emy and convince the world that America is a virtuous, great and united nation.

Resolved, That the citizens and inhabit- ants of the town of Bushwick, exempt from ordinary military duties, embody themselves into a volunteer Company for the protection and defense of Nassau (Long) and Man- hattan Islands, under such officers as they shall select.

Resolved, That a committee of eleven citizens be appointed to request the assist- ance and co-operation of our fellow citizens of Long Island and to prepare and publish a suitable address for that purpose.

Resolved, That such committee be author- ized and instructed to enter into such ar- rangements and to form such correspondence as may be necessary and proper to carry the objects of their meeting into effect, and that the committees consist of Major Francis Titus, Dr. Cornelius Lowe, John Skillman, Sen., Alexander Whaley, Sen., Peter Wyckoff, William Conselvea,. Sen., Peter Meserole, Gysberte Bogert, Abraham Meserole, John Van Alst and Tunis Wortman.

On the 18th Flatbush contributed the la- borers, on the 19th Flatlands was represented, and on the 20th Gravesend had its turn. On the same day a corps of some seventy volun- teers from Paterson, N. J., under Col. Abra- ham Godwin, a Revolutionary hero whose son was then at the front, did a full "turn" of work on Fort Greene. In fact by this time the great importance not only to New York but to the nation at large of the defense of Manhattan Island was thoroughly under- stood and parties were daily sent from the valley of the Hudson and the interior of New Jersey to help along the good work.

261

THE CHAIN OF FORTS.

On the 20th part of the fortifications re- ceived the first quota of troops in several companies of militia from the interior of the state who had been ordered into camp at Fort Greene. As they landed in Brooklyn in the evening they were met by a contingent of 1,200 of the Patriotic Sons of Erin, who had just completed a day's work. The good- natured Irishmen gave them a grand wel- come, for they opened ranks and caused them to pass between, while we are told two bands of music discoursed martial airs and there was a general outburst of cheering while the militia and their baggage remained in sight. In fact nothing strikes the student of this episode in local history more than the enthusiasm and good nature which prevailed all through it. We do not read of a single quarrel or hear the echo of a single angry word in all its details,-apart, of course, from the epistles of the argumentative citizens al- ready referred to. Party spirit for the mo- ment may be said to have fled, political animosities to have been buried and race and other prejudices to have been oblit- erated while the people turned, as with one heart, one thought, to meet the advance of the common foe. All this found expression in many popular songs, one of which, by Samuel Woodworth, author of the "Old Oak- en Bucket," was sold for six cents and en- joyed a widespread popularity. It was en- titled "The Patriotic Diggers," and some of its verses ran :

Johnny Bull, beware ! Keep at proper distance, Else we'll make you stare At our firm resistance. Let alone the lads Who are freedom tasting ; Recollect our dads Gave you once a basting.

Pick-axe, shovel, spade, Crowbar, hoe and barrow : Better not invade: Yankees have the morrow.

To protect our rights 'Gainst your flints and triggers, See on Brooklyn Heights Our patriotic diggers. Man of every age, Color, rank, profession,

Ardently engage Labor in succession.

Here the mason builds Freedom's shrine of glory, While the painter gilds The immortal story. Blacksmiths catch the flame, Grocers feel the spirit,

Printers share the fame And record their merit.

Scholars leave their schools With their patriot teachers ; Farmers seize their tools, Headed by their preachers. How they break the soil,- Brewers, butchers, bakers! Here the doctors toil, There the undertakers.

Plumbers, founders, dyers, Tinmen, turners, shavers, Sweepers, clerks and criers, Jewelers, engravers, Clothiers, drapers, players, Cartmen, hatters, tailors, Gaugers, sealers, weighers, Carpenters and sailors.

On August 24 the free colored people of Brooklyn and vicinity worked on the defenses, and on that date the people of that town and its vicinity took a more active part than ever in the work. The local committee of defense issued a call for the citizens to volunteer to perform a second tour of duty on the line of forts, and this met with a most hearty re- sponse. The 25th and 26th were what might now be called Brooklyn military days, and on the 27th Bushwick contributed its second tour. On the 29th the scene was enlivened by the arrival of three military companies from up the state-the Albany Riflemen, the Trojan Greens and the Montgomery Rangers-who took up their quarters in Fort Greene, where

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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

the Flatbush people were contributing their second tour. On the 30th the people of Flat- lands and Gravesend were both represented. Meanwhile every day bodies of workers con- tinued to pass over the ferry from New York, and while a prodigious amount of work was done the news constantly arriving as to the progress of the war indicated that there was no time to lose and appeals were steadily made for laborers not only on the Brooklyn works but also on those at Harlem. A new trouble also confronted the committee,-that of adequately provisioning the soldiers in the camp and an appeal for fresh food, especially vegetables, was made. An appeal for fas- cines brought among other contributions 120 loads from Jamaica as a gift from the citizens of that town. The spokesman of the deputa- tion which carried the welcome gift was the Rev. Dr. Jacob Schoonmaker, who for nearly half a century was the minister of the Dutch Reformed church in Jamaica and in Newtown. August closed with the appearance of a large number of ladies who worked for a few hours on the lines, but the feature of that day was the appearance of the Tammany delegation, 1,150 strong, who crossed the ferry and marched to the works with banners flying and bands playing. G. R. Horton, in his "History of the Tammany Society," tells us that the Tammany Society made a similar patriotic journey to Brooklyn several times while the works were being constructed.

On the Ist of September a new feature was introduced into the already strange story of the rise of these fortifications when the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons for the first, and so far as time has developed the last, time, turned out to engage, "in the character of Masons," in what was practically a warlike enterprise. DeWitt Clinton, then Mayor of New York, was at that time Grand Master, Cadwallader Colden, the head of the local mili- tia, was Grand Warden; Governor Tompkins was destined to be Grand Master, and General Jacob Morton had preceded Clinton as holder of that honor. Doubtless it was the influence

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A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 42

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