USA > New York > A history of New York, for schools. Vol. II > Part 11
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John. The loss of General Lee, I suppose, was, at the time, considered a great misfortune.
Un. It was, by the Americans; and a source of congratulation and triumph by their enemies. But. at this distance of time, it appears to me as one of the happiest events for our country that could have
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occurred. The troops he was keeping from Wash- ington, and probably would have sacrificed by some rash conduct, the suggestion of his vanity, were carried to the service of the country; the councils of the commander were freed from a rash man's influence ; and the country taught, in part, that they must look to a native chief for success against foreigners. I say "in part," for they had yet another portion of the salutary lesson to learn.
Wm. But, Uncle, you must, if you please, tell us more of General Washington's recrossing the Delaware, and driving back the invaders of New Jersey.
Un. To-morrow we will fight over the battles of Trenton and Princeton. Now we will take our walk.
John. Was it not a curious circumstance, that this vain man should have written such a letter at such a time ?
Un. I think it a wonderful exposure of the little- ness of human vanity; and consider the preservation of the letter by his friend Gates, one of those circum- stances that are not to be accounted for by any ordinary calculation of human purposes. General Gates has left to the world, it is to be presumed without intending it, much written testimony that I shall make use of to elucidate characters and events, which, but for this oversight, might have remained for ever veiled in uncertainty.
CHAPTER XIV.
Un. While General Washington waited in ex- peetation of the forces commanded by Lee, in New Jersey, and those approaching from the north, he
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had determined on making a stroke at the victorious enemy, who, as he says, " lie a good deal scattered, and, to all appearance, in a state of security." " A lucky blow in this quarter," he continues, "would be fatal to them, and would, most certainly, rouse the spirits of the people, which are quite sunk by our late misfortunes." The contempt with which the royalists now looked upon the efforts of the Americans to resist his majesty's arms, and the opinion they entertained of Washington and his army, may be judged of by these extracts from the New York papers; read them :-
Wm. " In Gaine's Gazette of December, 1776, the repetition of the word rebel, in every paragraph, becomes ludicrous. Of Washington's force he says, 'such a miserable set of ragged creatures were never scraped together before, as those who form the rebel army in Pennsylvania.' Rivington had advertised, ' price one shilling, The Battle of Brook- lyn, a farce in two acts, as it was performed on Long Island, on Tuesday, the 27th of August, 1776, by the representatives of the Tyrants of AMERICA, assembled at Philadelphia.
Un. The "rebel army" was supposed to be an- nihilated. Their great General Lee, was safe in the old city hall, in Wall street, with sentinels in his apartment, and before its door. He was con- fined in one of those dungeon-like places which had been crowded with the victims of the negro plot. The English army were cantoned on the banks of the Delaware, ready to cross when the ice made a bridge. General Washington had secured the boats, and had feeble detachments, under the com- inand of Lord Stilling, stationed at the passes down the river, towards Philadelphia. The troops, now fortunately commanded by Sullivan instead of Lec, joined the commander-in-chief; but most of them
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were unfit for action. Those under Gates, like- wise arrived; but their term of service had ex- pired, (owing to the short enlistments, so fatally adopted by congress and so often protested against by their general,) and only by the great exertions of Washington, were a part of them persuaded to re-enlist for six weeks. Gates pleaded sickness, and left head-quarters to recruit for himself in Phila- delphia. With this shadow of an army, the com- mander-in-chief meditated the blow that was to save Philadelphia, and perhaps the continent. He had, however, with him, " good men and true," Greene, Knox, Sullivan, Stirling, Cadwalader, and other native Americans, to whom we must add the good old Scotch physician, General Mercer.
Wm. And Hamilton, Uncle.
Un. It was not until after the battle of Trenton, that Alexander Hamilton, who had served through the arduous campaign of 1776, as a captain of ar- tillery, was made an associate with Harrison, Tilghman, and Meade, as an aid to the commander- in-chief. Thus circumstanced, the enterprise of crossing the Delaware, and beating up the enemy's quarters in New Jersey, was arranged for the 25th of December, at night, with the hope of making an attack upon Trenton before daylight. The forces of the enemy here posted, were the three German regiments of Anspach, Knyphausen, and Rahl, with a troop of English lighthorse. Colonel Rahl commanded ; and had previously distinguished him- self as the leader of the Hessian column who sur- mounted the greatest difficulties, and suffered the greatest loss at the attack upon Fort Washington.
Wri. I remember him, sir. He led his column up the steep hill on the north of the fort, and to his summons Colonel Magaw surrendered.
Un. I am pleased that you are so accurate.
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John. What was the plan of attack, sir, upon Trenton ?
Un. Two detachments, under generals Ewing and Cadwalader, were to cross the Delaware to co-operate with the main division, commanded in person by Washington; but unfortunately both failed, owing to the obstruction of ice. The main body, impeded by a snow storm, and by the same obstacles which defeated the other divisions, did not accomplish their landing until near four in the morning, and then had to march nine miles to the attack. In two divisions these brave men proceeded, and entered Trenton nearly at the same time, about eight o'clock; simultaneously driving in the enemy's outposts. The main body of the Germans formed, but finding that their artillery was already in the pos- session of the Americans, and that the avenues of retreat were guarded, after a slight resistance, during which Colonel Rahl was mortally wounded, eighty- three officers, and eight hundred and eighty-six soldiers, agreed to lay down their arms. The Eng- lish lighthorse made good their retreat, as did a part of the Germans; which could not have happened if Ewing and Cadwalader had succeeded in crossing the river. General Washington had the pleasure of sending a Hessian standard by his first aid-de- camp, Colonel Baylor, to congress ; and his promo- tion to a regiment of horse, made a vacancy for Captain Hamilton, which, with the rank of colonel, he long and efficaciously filled.
Wm. This was a glorious affair !
Un. It was, boy! And, with the immediately subsequent movements, showed America that their general was not so deficient as the English generals in our service represented him. It astonished the enemy, and roused the friends of the cause to action; but could not strangle the monster, cabal, which was
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already in operation, although it prevented its im- mediate effect.
John. But the British were still much stronger in New Jersey than our army.
Un. Greatly superiour in force. Washington, with his prisoners and fatigued companions, recross- ed the Delaware; having in this enterprise only two officers and two privates wounded. One of these offi- cers was Lieutenant James Monroe, who lived to be president of the United States, which he then, as a subaltern, fought for. The English troops from the lower posts on the Delaware retreated, and their forces were concentrated at Brunswick and Prince- ton. General Cadwalader crossed, without know- ing that Washington had re-crossed, the Delaware; and other bodies of militia entered New Jersey from Pennsylvania. The commander-in-chief, after giv- ing a short timeto the refreshment of his companions, again passed the Delaware, and took post at Tren- ton. At this time congress were so fully assured of the talents and honesty of their general, that they invested him with powers, for six months, which amounted to what you read of in Roman history, when the senate appointed a dictator.
John. Subsequent events proved that the confi- dence was not misplaced.
Un. He replied, on the 1st of January, 1777, to the communication from congress: " Instead of thinking myself freed from all civil obligations by this mark of their confidence, I shall constantly bear in mind, that as the sword was the last resort for the preser- vation of our liberties, so it ought to be the first thing laid aside, when those liberties are firmly establish- ed." He promised an immediate reform of the ar- my -- indeed he had to form a new army; but at this moment the enemy were advancing with a force that was overwhelming. The American militia
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were ordered from Crosswix and Bordentown to join the main army at Trenton, which they did by a forced night march under direction of Cadwalader and Mifftin, on the 2d of January. That morning the British attempted to pass the Assanpink creek, which runs through Trenton, and divided them from the Americans, but finding the fords guarded, they halted, and kindled their fires. Through the day cannonading kept up a show of battle, but as soon as darkness aided him, Washington began to re- move his little band, already, in anticipation, prison- ers to Lord Cornwallis, who commanded this ad- vanced body of very superiour force to the Ameri- cans, and saw Washington hemmed- in between him and the Delaware. His baggage being sent down the river to Burlington, and his camp fires re- newed to deceive the enemy, the new dictator led his companions by a circuitous road past the army of the enemy, and at sunrise attacked the post of Princeton, where three British regiments, the fifty- fourth, fortieth, and seventeenth, with a body consist- ing of three troops of lighthorse, had been left under the command of General Vaughan. Two of these regiments, the seventeenth and fifty-fourth, (particu- larly the first,) made a gallant resistance, and lost in killed and prisoners five hundred men. The Amer- icans carried off' fourteen British officers, and near three hundred privates. Our loss was the "brave and worthy General Mercer," two colonels, two captains, and five subalterns killed, with about thirty private soldiers. This brilliant stratagem, and suc- cessful attack, placed the reputation of Washington higher than it had ever been, and proved that with adequate support, and no "treason in the camp," he would have terminated this contest in a very short time. But he had not that support, and treason
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was industriously at work to the last day of the struggle for independence.
W'm. How do you know it, Uncle ?
Un. In another lesson I will show you the testi- mony. At present we must see what were the im- mediate consequences of this brilliant military achievement. General Washington knowing the great superiority of the enemy's force, passed over Rocky Hill, and did not halt until he reached a place called Pluckamin, on his way to Morristown. Often have I seen him in after days, at the house of Mr. John Vanhorne, at Rocky Hill, where on this occasion he stopped for refreshment. In the mean time, the British, alarmed for their stores and mil- itary chest, left at Brunswick, marched rapidly for that place ; and many of those discomfited at Prince- ton, I saw (and heard talk over their misfortunes) at Perth Amboy.
. John. You were in New Jersey, sir, while these scenes of warfare passed ?
Un. Yes; and with the eyes and ears of wondering childhood noted and treasured up that which was passing around me. To English soldiers and offi- cers I had been accustomed from infancy, but during this winter of 1776-7, I saw moving around me British grenadiers and light troops, with artillerists and infantry of various regiments ; troops of Eng- lish dragoons, and German yagers; the Highland- ers of the forty-second and seventy-first regiments, with their tartans, their kilts, phillibegs, broad- swords, pistols, and dirks, added to the common arms of musket and bayonet; the regiments of An- spach, in their sober blue and black uniform, black high caps, and black mustaches; the Waldeckers, gay in Mue, yellow, and white lace; the Hessians, with their tall brass caps, glittering in the sun, and loaded with accoutrements heavy in the extreme-
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all these, at times in all the rigidity of discipline, and at times tearing down fences and outhouses for fuel, or driving in rebel cows and oxen from the adjacent country ; and, sometimes, bringing in plun- der apparently less necessary for the subsistence of an army, such as chairs, tables, bureaus, bedsteads, and looking-glasses, piled upon baggage wagons, and regularly guarded by an escort.
WVm. Did you ever see a battle, sir ?
Un. No, thank heaven, I never did. The nearest approach to seeing men kill one another that came under my observation, I will recount to you. After the brilliant affairs of Trenton and Princeton, where Washington, with a disorganized remnant of an army half clothed in the midst of winter, surprised, eluded, and defeated the bravest and best-appointed troops of Europe, commanded by skilful and experienced generals, he retired to Mor- ristown, and sheltered as well as he could such sol- diers as re-enlisted, or could be persuaded to remain after their period of service had expired. The Brit- ish, panich -struck, to be beaten by a foe who they thought had been annihilated, retired to Bruns- wick and Perth Amboy, only occupying these two posts, and ravaging the ten miles of country between them. Straitened for a field to forage on, they some- times overstepped their bounds but found the Jersey men on the watch for them. General Dickenson, with four hundred militia, defeated a foraging party in January, 1777, took forty wagons, and upwards of a hundred horses; the light wagons carrying off' the enemy's wounded. Colonel Parker attack- ed another party, convoying wagons from Bruns. wick to Amboy, with success. Colonel Neilson. of Brunswick, surprised Major Stockton of Skinner's refugee corps, and made him prisoner, with fifty- nine of his men. But in February, General Howe
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indicated moving forward towards Philadelphia, or attacking the Americans, by the increase of his army in New Jersey, and by taking his head-quarters at Brunswick. Perth Amboy was crowded with troops, and in the harbour a fleet of transport ships, well filled with the grenadiers and light infantry of the British army, had recently arrived from Rhode Island; for these, there was no shelter on shore.
John. Such a host in so small a compass must have suffered for provision and forage.
Un. Their ships were well provided, a succession of transports constantly arriving; and the " hard mo- ney" of the English was attractive to those who loved gain more than good; still forage became ne- cessary, and the country in the immediate nighbour- hood of Amiboy and Brunswick had been exhausted or laid waste. One fine morning in March, 1777, all the grenadiers and light infantry were landed from the ships, and, with drums beating and colours flying, marched through the town, in all the "pride, pomp, and circumstance" of murderous war. I had never seen so many soldiers or so fine a body of armed men paraded before. All British, and the chosen of the army. As a child, I gazed and at- tended upon the show, until it had passed beyond the barracks, (a range of brick buildings without the little city,) and then retired, filled with admiration and indefinite anxiety. I mounted to an upper window, from which I saw the glittering procession, and a long train of wagons, wind over the hills on the road to Woodbridge. I then descended, and walked, silent and solitary, to the skirts of the town. Scattering shots were soon heard. I saw a soldier re- turning with his right hand bandaged and in a sling, and recognised the tallest grenadier that had attract- ed niy attention in the preceding show, a leader of a company that all looked giants in strength and
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deportment. He was suffering, bleeding, and pale. Soon other disabled men came straggling back. The evening of that day was cold, and I sat by my fa- ther's fire, listening to the wagons that passed the door, and the groans of the wounded and dying men who had that morning marched out so proudly, con- fident in strength and discipline, and purposing to fill these vehicles with the spoils of the agriculturist -- the product of his labour, and the sustenance of his household.
Wm. Had there been a battle, sir ?
Un. After the first skirmishing, the fruits of which I had seen, this army had passed on and swept a portion of the country, with the spoils of which they loaded their wagons ; but retribution followed quick upon the heel of perpetration. They were follow. ed, attacked, and discomfited; they rallied, and fought for the spoil; but finally returned in dark- ness to the place they had left so triumphantly, si- lently attending upon their groaning companions, who occupied the place of the forage they had plun- dered. This is all I ever saw of a battle, or its glo- rious effects upon suffering humanity.
John. Is this attempt and repulse mentioned by historians, sir ?
Un. I remember nothing answering to it nearer than in Stedman's History of the War, in which he says, General Vaughan, with the garrison at Amboy, attempted to surprise the American pickets at Wood- bridge, but was disappointed. General Vaughan commanded this army of foragers, and that is the only similitude.
Wm. What became of General Lee, sir ?
Un. Sir William Howe affected to treat him as a deserter, and threatened to try him as such ; but the " certain great personage" who was so "deficient," having in his power the field-officers taken at Tren-
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ton, and others, let Howe understand that as Lee was treated they must be treated, and offered to exchange a certain number of them for him. In the mean time, as the garrison of New York had been weak- ened by the troops thrown into New Jersey, Wash- ington ordered General Heath, with such militia as could be commanded, to make a movement on to the British lines at Kingsbridge. Heath invested Fort Independence, summoned the garrison to surrender, and then, (perhaps very prudently, considering the kind of force he had,) as they refused, marched away again. Arduous and important were the exertions of Washington this winter and spring to call togeth- er the troops voted to be raised by the several states ; to inoculate his feeble army for the small-pox, while almost in immediate presence of the enemy; to rem- edy the abuses arising from militia services, state jealousy, and ignorant and selfish officers ; to direct and arrange a force in the north for resisting the threatened attack from Canada ; to satisfy the discon- tents of foreign officers commissioned by congress, and a thousand other perplexities, requiring prudence, firmness, forbearance, and perseverance, almost more than mortal. General Howe, finding that he could gain no advantage over his adversary by feints and manœuvres, finally withdrew his army from New Jersey, and while preparing for an expedition against Philadelphia by sea, threatened the posts on the Hudson by sending ships up the river, at the same time that he pushed a detachment upon Danbury, where it succeeded in destroying a large quantity of military stores.
John. It was near Danbury that General Woos- ter was killed, I think, sir.
Un. It was. A small force was collected under General Arnold, who attempted to resist the English troops as they returned to their fleet, and General VOL. II .- 14
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Wooster, in the conflict that ensued, was mortally wounded. The exertions of Arnold were consonant with his character for intrepidity and intelligence : he had two horses shot under him, and when down and exposed to a soldier who advanced to bayonet him, he coolly drew his pistol and arrested his ene- my's purpose by a well-aimed shot. Our old ac- quaintance, Captain Lamb, distinguished himself for courage and conduct. The enemy lost a number of men, but obtained their object. On the other hand, the Americans triumphed in a successful ex- pedition from Connecticut to Long Island. This was planned by General Parsons, and executed by Colonel Meigs. On the 23d of May, he crossed the sound to Southhold, where he arrived at six, P. M. His object was an attack upon the British post of Sag Harbour. The boats were transported over land to a bay adjacent to the town, and this bay was crossed in time to arrive within four miles of their object by midnight. With his gallant band, Colonel Meigs arrived at the harbour by two, A. M , carried the en- emy's outposts at the bayonet's point, and proceeded directly to the shipping. An armed schooner en- deavoured to arrest their progress by opening a fire upon the Americans at a short distance, but they ac- complished the design of the expedition by destroying twelve brigs and sloops, part of which were armed, and a large quantity of stores ; they carried off ninety soldiers prisoners, and left six killed on the spot, without the loss of a man. The party returned safe to Guilford, having been absent twenty-five hours. Colonel Meigs was presented with a sword by con- gress ; and Arnold, for his conduct and gallantry at Danbury, was promoted to the rank of major-gen- era!, which, according to the opinion of the com- mander, had been withheld from him unjustly by congress some time before, when they appointed
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Messrs. Stirling, Mifflin, St. Clair, Stephens, and Lincoln, to that rank, thereby placing them above this officer, whose claims at that time were, as a soldier, beyond those of any one of them.
John. How did he bear this, sir ?
Un. Hle was much dissatisfied. He was a selfish and ambitious man, not serving for the country's good alone, like the noble Montgomery. He could talk loudly of injured honour, and was from this mo- ment a discontented man, and ready for the tempter.
CHAPTER XV.
Wm. Where was General Gates, sir, all this time ?
Un. Making friends in Philadelphia, and in con- gress ; attending solely, as I believe, to his own selfish ends. He had the command in Philadelphia. Congress had passed a resolve expressing their de- sire that Major-general Gates (retaining his rank and pay) would resmine the office of adjutant-gen- eral. This was ardently desired by Washington, who wanted an experienced officer in that capa- city to assist in organizing his new army. Mr. Gates here displayed a duplicity that seemed to be uncalled for. By a letter of General Washington's, we know that Gates had written to him, (knowing his wish, and having received his request, ) that he, Gates, would resume his former office of adjutant- general, and with alacrity and cheerfulness repair to Morristown. The commander-in-chief thanked him for this mark of his attention to a request of his, and told him that he looked upon his resumption of the office, as the only means of giving " form and regularity to our army." St. Clair was to be sent
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. to take command at Philadelphia. But Gates had no intention of complying with the request of Wash- ington, but, on the contrary, was manœuvring with a party in congress to supersede Schuyler in the northern department. It was on the 10th of March, 1777, that Washington thanked Gates for complying with the wishes of congress, and appeared to be cer- tain of his assistance as adjutant-general; on the 13th, Gates obtained an appointment for a conference with congress; and on the 25th, he received his orders . from President Hancock to repair to Ticonderoga, and take the command of the army of that depart- ment. About this time, General Gates took into his family and attached to his interests a young man who was, by his extraordinary talents, a powerful agent in his future operations. This was Major John Armstrong, son to the general bearing that name. It was by attaching to himself those who had talents, like Armstrong, or family influence, like the Trum- , bulls, that this artful man strengthened himself and weakened those whose overthrow he contemplated. For it was soon notorious that the men known to be attached to Gates, could not be confided in by Washington, however much he might wish to em- ploy them for the service of the country.
John. But Governor Trumbull was a good man and true patriot.
Un. And so was Samuel Adams, and perhaps others, who preferred Gates to Schuyler or Wash- ington. Good men may be deceived. Other par- tisans of Gates were apparently influenced by base sand selfish motives; but many were without doubt. honestly mistaken. About this time, another foreign officer arrived with such credentials as caused Gen- eral Washington to recommend him to congress, and he became an auxiliary of Gates, and a source of trouble to the commander-in-chief.
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