USA > New York > A history of New York, for schools. Vol. II > Part 12
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HISTORY OF NEW YORK. 161
John. Who was that, sir ?
Un. An Irish gentleman of the name of Conway, who was a colonel in the French service. He was appointed by congress a brigadier-general. I shall be obliged to mention him again.
Wm. And General Schuyler, sir, where was he? Un. This true patriot and most able general had endeavoured by his own exertions, and by his rep- resentations to congress and to Washington of the necessity for great exertions in the north, to meet the coming storm which he foresaw would sweep from Canada to New York by the lake. His exertions were effective, but his advice was too little attended to; and when, on the 20th of March, he went to Philadelphia, he found that he was superseded in his command of the north by General Gates, who received his orders to that effect on the 25th. Schuyler was not a man to sink under such a blow. He took his seat in congress as a delegate from New York, and requested a committee of in- quiry into his military conduct. This resulted in complete approbation, and by a resolve of 22d May, he was directed to resume the command of the nor- thern department.
John. His presence in congress probably silenced his enemies.
Un. Here is an extract from a letter written to Gates, early in May, which gives us a little insight. Read it; I copied it from the original manuscript.
John. "Those who profess well to our cause, judge and say that there is but one single man who can keep their subjects united against the common enemy."
Wm. What does that mean ?
Un. It is a letter from James Lovell, a member of congress, and one of the Gates' cabal, and he speaks of the opinion of Schuyler's friends respect-
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ing his influence over the people of New York. Read on.
John. " And that he stands on our books as com- mander-in-chief in the middle, or, as it is sometimes called, the northern department ; that his presence is absolutely necessary in his home-quarters for their immediate succour and service, as well as that of the United States, necessarily connected; that if he returns, he is a general without an army or military chest, and ' why is he thus degraded ?' How this matter will be untangled I cannot now exactly de- termine, but I suspect, not entirely agreeably to your sentiments."
Un. This letter was on the 1st of May; the res- olution of the 22d "untangled" the matter. The res- olution was in these words: "that Albany, Ticondero- ga, Fort Stanwix, and their dependencies, be hence- forward considered as forming the northern depart- ment," and " that Major-general Schuyler be direct- ed forthwith to proceed to the northern department, and take the command there." A previous order that Albany should be the head-quarters of that de-
partment, was repealed. During the debate on this subject, Lovell gives Gates information of the prog- ress, and what is said. It was asserted that by or- dering him to Ticonderoga, congress did not intend to supersede Schuyler in the command, and of course that Gates had usurped authority ; and by fixing his head-quarters at Albany and issuing his orders from thence, had not conformed to the direction of con- gress, which required him to repair to " Ti." While this was pending in the national council. Gates sent on letters to his friends by another person who had hastily resigned his commission, which had been accepted ; Mr. John Trumbull wrote from Philadel- phia, on the 24th of May, 1777, thus; read the ex- tract made from his manuscript letter.
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John. " I arrived last Wednesday, and immediate- ly delivered my letters, but too late; congress had already appointed General Schuyler to cominand in the northern department. Every possible oppo- sition had been made by your friends, but in vain ; the interest of the other party carried it-by a sin- gle vote, however. Congress are now endeavour- ing to devise some mode of retaining you in the service ; they hope to persuade you to accept the adjutant-general's office, and are willing to comply with your own propositions. Mv brother writes you fully ; as he has been on the spot, he knows the various manœuvres which have been performed on this occasion. I understand General Schuyler has appointed J. G. Frazer, esquire, to my late office."
Un. Gates had been prohibited from appointing this gentleman, in these words : " it is not the inten- tion of congress that Mr. Trumbull should be re-ap- pointed." On the same day, Samuel Adams wrote to Gates, saying, " I have not forgot you. I shall re- member the last words you said to me; the bearer is able to tell you my whole meaning. I shall not be wanting." During this time, Gates, who had been sent on for the defence of 'Ticonderoga in March, is informed by Wilkinson, one of his aids, that there is at that post no preparations for defence, and requests him "to let Kosciusko come back with proper authority."
Wm. Was this the funous Kosciusko, sir ?
Un. Yes; then a young man, and employed as an engineer in the north. General Gates had a son at this time nearly of age, and residing with Mrs. Gates in Virginia. He wrote to his father, conjuring him to leave the service of the congress, "a body that neither rewards officers according to their merit, or has firmness to stand by even its own
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decrees." " Mamma says she approves highly of your letter to the president ; but if you give up one jota, and condescend to be adjutant-general, (as that is plainly the scheme,) she may forgive it, but never will forget it."
John. What dreadful heart-burnings and jealous- ies there appears to have been !
Un. While these intrigues were going on, Gener- al Schuyler exerted himself in providing for the defence of the Delaware; but being ordered to the north, flew to prepare for repelling the storm that threatened his native state. On the 6th of June, he informed Gates that he was "again" appointed to command the army in the northern department. Full of wrath, and meditating revenge, the English officer repaired to Philadelphia, and Joseph Trum- bull congratulates him, by letter, on his arrival. Ar- thur St. Clair, who had been left in command at Ti- conderoga, congratulated Gates, by letter, that he had escaped from that place; "though," he says, " 1 am sensible how much more capable you are to seize the advantages that may present themselves." He says, he has only " captivity or death" before his eyes.
John. A general with such feelings is not likely to resist an enemy.
Un. Another son of Governor Trumbull's, in an- swer to a letter of Gates' upon his retiring from the north, exclaims-" Righteous God! of what high- er crimes, more than others, are we guilty in this department, that we are thus exposed to thy severest punishments ?" " May Heaven ever bless you, my dear general." This was from the paymaster-gen- eral, and written when St. Clair had avoided captiv- ity or death, by retreat from Ticonderoga. Schuyler found that " literally nothing" had been done during his absence to improve the means of defence on the
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frontiers ; but, as Chancellor Kent observes, he was, " fortunately, in this season in good health, a blessing which he had not enjoyed the last two years. He now displayed his activity, fervour, and energy in a brilliant manner. General St. Clair was placed by him in the command at Ticonderoga, and specially directed to fortify Mount Independence. He inform- ed congress, on the 14th of June, that considering the extensiveness of the works at Ticonderoga, the . smallness of the garrison was alarming, and incom- petent to maintain it, and that he found the depart- inent in the greatest confusion. Application was made to the eastern states to hasten on the remainder of their troops; and he informed them that the gar- rison at Ticonderoga did not then exceed two thou- sand two hundred men, sick included. On the 16th of June, General Washington was apprized by him of the fact that he had no troops to oppose Sir Jolin Johnson on the Mohawk. He visited Ticonderoga and Mount Independence on the 20th, and found thein not in a good state of defence, and very defi- cient in troops and provisions ; but it was resolved, at a council of officers called by him, that they be defended as long as possible. General Schuyler then hastened back to the Hudson, the more effect- ually to provide for the garrison re-enforcements of provisions and men, and nothing conducive to that great object was omitted. He solicited re-en- forcements of every kind with intense anxiety. On the 28th of June, he communicated by expresses to General Washington, to the governor of Connecti- cut, to the president of Massachusetts, to the com- mittee of Berkshire, and to the committee of safety of New York, his apprehensions for the safety of the garrison at Ticonderoga, from the inadequacy of the means of defence. On the 28th and 30th of June, (for dates now become important,) he en-
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couraged St. Clair, that he should move up with the continental troops and militia, as soon as he could possibly put them in motion, and 'he hoped to have the pleasure of seeing him in possession of his post.' So again on the 5th of July, he assured him the troops from Peekskill and the militia were in motion, and 'he hoped to see him in a day or two.' On the 7th, he informed General Washing. ton, by letter, that he was up as far as Saratoga, with about seven hundred continental troops, and about one thousand four hundred militia. . He was then in the utmost distress for provisions, and he then and there met the news, that General St. Clair had abandoned Ticonderoga and Mount Inde- pendence on the 6th, with the loss of all his milita- ry equipments."
" The last scene of General Schuyler's military life, was full of action befitting the occasion, and worthy of his character. Every quarter of his de- partment was replete with difficulty and danger. The frontier on the Mohawk was menaced by an army of one thousand and six hundred regulars, to- ries, and Indians, under Lieutenant-colonel St. Le- ger, and he cheered and encouraged Brigadier-gen- eral Herkimer to rouse the militia, and act with alacrity in defence of that frontier. He addressed the civil and military authorities in every direction, with manly firmness, and the most forcible exhor- tation to assist him with men, arms, and provisions; 'every militiaman,' he said, 'ought to turn out with- out delay, in a crisis the most alarming since the contest began.' He directed that the inhabitants re- tire from before the enemy, and that every article be brought off' or destroyed, tha: was calculated to assist them -- that the roads, canseways, and Wood creek be rendered impassable. He issued a pro- clamation to encourage the country, and counteract
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that of Burgoyne. He assured General Washing- ton, on the 12th of July, that he should retard the enemy's advance by all possible means. 'If my countrymen will support me with vigour and dex- terity, and do not meanly despond, we shall be able to prevent the enemy from penetrating much far- ther into the country.' "
John. He had an arduous task to perform, sir.
Un. And he met his difficulties manfully. With a force of four thousand five hundred men, regulars and militia, he had to encounter or impede the prog- ress of six thousand of the finest troops of Europe, with equipments and artillery equal to their disci- pline. Read that further extract from the memoir I have before quoted.
Wm. "Fort George was abandoned on the 14th of July, for it was utterly indefensible, being only part of an unfinished bastion holding one hundred and fifty men. On the 24th July, Schuyler retired with his army to Moore's creek, four miles below Fort Edward, as the latter was only a heap of ruins, and always commanded by the neighbouring hills. The enemy kept pressing upon his advanced posts, but in the midst of unparalleled difficulties, his re- treat was slow and safe, and every inch of ground - disputed. The distress of the army, in want of ar- tillery and every other military and comfortable equipment, was aggravated by despondency and sickness, and the restlessness and insubordination of the militia. They could not be detained. Almost all the eastern militia had left the army. By the advice of a council of general officers, Schuyler was obliged to let one half of the militia go home under a promise of the residue to continue for three weeks. Though the subject of popular calumny, he did not in the least despond or shrink from his duty. 'I shall go on,' he writes to General Washington, 'in
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doing my duty, and in endeavours to deserve your esteem.' He renewed his call on the eastern states for assistance, and told his friend, Governor Trum- bull of Connecticut, (whom he always mentioned with the highest esteem, and between whom a mu- tual confidence and attachment had invariably sub- sisted,) that 'if the eastern militia did not turn out with spirit, and behave better, we should be ruined.' The greatest reliance was placed on the efforts of his own more immediate countrymen, and his most pathetick and eloquent appeals were made to the council of safety of the state of New York for suc- cours to enable him to meet the enemy in the field. By the beginning of August he was preparing to act on the offensive, and by his orders of the 30th of July and 13th of August, General Lincoln was directed to move with a body of troops to the north of Cambridge, towards Skeensborough, and take command of the troops under General Stark, and Colonel Warner, who had orders to join him; and if he should have force enough, to fall on the enemy in that quarter. As Burgoyne advanced down the Hudson, there was constant skirmishing at the ad- vanced posts, and General Schuyler retreated slow. ly and in good order down to Saratoga, and then to and below Stillwater, and in every instance by the unanimous advice of his officers.
" During this eventful period, the western branch of Schuyler's military district was in the utmost con- sternation and peril. The army under St. Leger had besieged Fort Stanwix, and General Herkimer, with eight hundred of the frontier militia, marching to the relief of the fortress, was attacked by a de- tachment of the enemy, under Sir John Johnson, and defeated at Oriskany, on the 6th of August. On the 16th, General Schuyler despatched Arnold with three regiments, amounting in the whole only to
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five hundred and fifty men, to take charge of the military operations on the Mohawk.
"But the period of his eminent services was draw- ing to a close. Congress, yielding to the clamour and calumny of the people and militia of the eastern states, suspended General Schuyler's command, and on the 19th of August, (three days after the victory at Bennington,) General Gates arrived in camp, and superseded him. General Schuyler felt acutely the discredit of being recalled in the most critical peri- od of the campaign, and after the labour and activity of making preparations to repair the disasters of it, had been expended by him, and when he was in vigorous preparation to win, and almost in the act to place the laurels of victory on his brow. 'I am sensible,' said this great and injured man, in his let- ter to congress, 'of the indignity of being ordered from the command of an army, at a time when an engagement must soon take place;' and when, we may add, he had already commenced offensive ope- rations, and laid the foundation of future and glori- ous triumphs."-
John. It appears then that the affairs on the Mo- hawk, and at Bennington, took place while Schuy- ler commanded : the spirits of the people were re- animated, and the yeomanry of the country collect- ing with a force and spirit that made the fate of the invader inevitable.
Un. Just so. In fact, Burgoyne was already " Burgoyned," before Gates superseded Schuyler.
Wm. Will you not tell us something of those bat- tles in our native state, sir ?
Un. When we meet again. We have had enough of evil passions, jealousies, intrigues, and bloodshed for the present. I am afraid the history of man for a long time to come will be little else than a record of follies and crimes.
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John. Will it ever be otherwise, sir ?
Un. We are promised a reign of a different na- ture; it will assuredly arrive at the appointed timc.
CHAPTER XVI.
Un. In our last walk we passed the old German Lutheran church, in the swamp, at the corner of Frankfort street, and you asked me some questions respecting it which I was not then prepared to an- swer. Here is a picture of it. From a memoir in the New York Mirror, communicated by the Rev. Dr. F. W. Geissenhaimer, we learn that this vener- able edifice was erected by the German Lutheran congregation in the years 1766-7. Six years be- fore, it is recorded that a few houses had begun to be built on " that part of the highroad to Boston which
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leads towards ' Fresh Water,' extending from Broad- way to the place where the negroes were burnt, in 1741, and to which the gallows has lately been re- moved :" . this road then began to be regulated as a street., The swamp, near this church, was literal- ly what its name denotes. The Baptist church in Gold street, was erected six years before the Ger- man Lutheran church. During the war, this last- mentioned church was spared in compliment to the Hessians, whose regimental chaplains officiated as pastors. The Hessian officers were interred in this cemetery, and several have since been disinterred in full military costume, with their side-arms, cocked hats, and boots.
John. Was this customary, sir ?
Un. It so appears.
Wm. You promised us an account of the battles on the Mohawk and at Bennington.
Un. You delight too much in battles; but you are, unfortunately, not singular : and the general reading of the world seems calculated to encourage the propensity to strife. But I will perform my promise. General Burgoyne first threw out from the main body of his army a detachment under Col- onel St. Leger, to his right, to attack Fort Stanwix, and afterward another, on his left, into Vermont. The first was composed of Germans, Canadians, English, and Indians, about eighteen hundred, who were thought sufficient to take the fort and then fall down upon the Mohawk settlements towards Alba- ny. General Herkimer marched with a body of militia to support Fort Stanwix, and had arrived with- in five or six miles of that post when he learned that Sir John Johnson, with his savages, had been sent by St. Leger to intercept his force, not consisting of more than eight hundred undisciplined men. The strife that ensued is called the battle of Oriskany, and the
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field is pointed out between Utica and Rome. At the first fire of the enemy, many of the militia were killed, and some fled; but Herkimer and a brave band sustained the fight, even hand to hand; and the Indians, being worsted, are said to have conceived that the British had betrayed them, and in their rage killed their friends, making the confusion of a con- test carried on with knives, muskets, bayonets, and tomahawks, in close fight, or from behind logs and trees, more awful. Sir John and his party retreat- ed, and carried off the slain, and several prisoners. Herkimer expired on the field, which was strewed with one hundred and sixty Americans killed, and a greater number wounded. The deposition of a very respectable gentleman who was in this fight, is so interesting that I must give it to you in an abstract from Campbell's Annals of Tryon county. Read it, William.
WVm. " Moses Younglove states, on oath, that to- wards the last of the battle of Oriskany he surren- dered to an Indian, who delivered him to a sergeant of Sir John Johnson's regiment, when several tories came up, and one prepared to tomahawk him, but . - others prevented. The tories stript him of watch, buckles, and finally almost all his clothes. He saw around him on every side prisoners murdered and
. stript. When brought before Butler he abused him, and said if the Indians did not kill him he should be hanged as a rebel. That the Indians were in- stigated by the tories to murder the prisoners, and did it by direction of Johnson's officers, even after they were put under the provost's guard." And Fort Stanwix, sir ?
Un. The fort was bravely defended, although the garrison was weak. Scarce had St. Leger sent off the Indians and tories to meet Herkimer, when Col- onel Marinus Willet of our city-
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WVm. I remember him, sir; he was one of the Sons of Liberty.
Un. Even so. He made a sortie, and falling upon the enemy's camp, drove them off, and carried back a quantity of arms and stores. The English rallied, and attempted to prevent his return to the fort, but he charged them and carried off his booty in triumph.
John. Did he command the fort, sir ?
Un. No. Colonel Gansevoort, an equally de- serving officer, was the commander ; and he finding that the enemy increased around him by bringing on more savages, was anxious to call upon the coun- try below for relief. Colonel Willet and Lieutenant Stockwell undertook the hazardous enterprise of passing through the surrounding host of savages and other rangers, now made watchful by the pre- vious attacks; and these gallant gentlemen, both skilled in Indian warfare, crept on their hands and knees through the enemy's camp, eluding even the keen senses of the savage warriours, and arrived safe at the head-quarters of General Schuyler.
W'm. He would send them relief!
Un. He immediately despatched Arnold with a body of men, but the fort was relieved before that general reached it. The Reverend Doctor Dwight, in his Travels, tells the story thus. Read the ex- tract I have made for you.
Wm. "As Arnold was advancing up the Mo- hawk, a fellow who was a tory. and accused of be- ing a spy, was brought into his camp. After exam- ining the circumstances, Arnold wisely determined to avail himself of this man's services. He propos- ed to him a scheme for alarming the enemy, par- ticularly the savages, by announcing to them, that a formidable army was in full march to destroy them; and assured him of his life, and estate, if he 15*
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would enter heartily into the interests of his coun- try, and faithfully execute a mission of this nature. 'The spy, who was shrewd, resolute, versed in the language and manners of the Indians, acquainted with some of their chiefs, and therefore perfectly qualified for this business, readily engaged in the enterprise.
" Colonel St. Leger had pushed the siege with considerable activity ; and advanced his works with- in one hundred and fifty yards of the fort. Upon the spy's arrival, he told a lamentable story of his being taken by Arnold, his escape from hanging, and the danger which he had encountered in his flight; and declared at the same time that a formi- dable army of Americans was marching with full speed to attack the British. The Americans, he observed, had no hostility towards the Indians, and wished not to injure them ; but added, that, if the Indians continued with the British, they must un- questionably take their share of whatever calamities might befall their allies.
" The Indians being thus thoroughly alarmed, a friendly chief, who was in the secret, arrived, as if by mere accident ; and in the mysterious manner of that people began to insinuate to his countrymen, that a bird had brought him intelligence, of great moment. This hint set their curiosity afloat; and excited a series of anxious inquiries. To these he replied in hints, and suggestions, concerning war- riours in great numbers, marching with the utmost rapidity, and already far advanced. The Indians, already disgusted with the service, which they found a mere contrast to the promises of the British com- manders, and their own expectations, and sore with the loss which they had sustained in the battle with General Herkimer, were now so completely alarm- ed, that they determined upon an immediate retreat. ,
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"St. Leger, who had unwisely boasted, at first, of his own strength, and his future exploits against the Americans, and spoken contemptuously of their weakness and cowardice; who had predicted in magnificent terms the certainty of their flight; and the ease, and safety, with which the Indians would reach Albany ; had disgusted these people thorough- ly by failing altogether of the fulfilment of his promises. In vain, therefore, did he exert all his address, when he saw them preparing to quit the ground, to dissuade them from their purpose. He exhorted, argued, and promised, in vain. They re- proached him with having violated all his former promises ; and pronounced him undeserving of any further confidence. He attempted to get them drunk ; but they refused to drink. When he found all his efforts fruitless, and saw that they were determined to go, he urged them to move in the rear of his ar- my ; but they charged him with a design to sacri- fice them for his own safety. In a mixture of rage and despair, he broke up his encampment with such haste, that he left his tents, cannon, and stores, to the besieged."
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