USA > New York > A history of New York, for schools. Vol. II > Part 16
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mish, in which the savages lost a number of their warriours. A road was opened to the Otsego lake, with immense labour, and boats carried thither for the troops to embark, that they might form a junc- tion with Sullivan. This accomplished, they pursu- ed the work of destruction, but not without opposi- tion. On the 29th of August, Butler and Brandt, with their whole force of tories and Indians, gave battle, but soon fled with loss, and made no other regular attempt at resistance. The country of all the hostile tribes was laid waste; none were spared but the Oneidas, who had preserved at least the ap- pearance of friendship towards the Americans.
John. I suppose, sir, this produced quiet on the frontiers of New York ?
Un. For a time. We will now look nearer home, where some brilliant military successes gave eclat to our arms. General Anthony Wayne had distin- guished himself on many occasions in the course of the war, but his fame as a gallant officer was estab- lished upon a daring achievement of the 15th July, in the year of which we have been speaking.
Wm. Will you please, sir, to tell us something of General Wayne,
Un. He was a bold, prompt, enterprising officer, and his character gained him the cognomen of " Mad Anthony."
John. As Buonaparte was called the " little cor- poral," by his soldiers.
Wm. Had General Washington any such nick- name, sir ?
Un. No. There are characters that soar above the mass of mankind too far to admit of such fami- liar appellations. Washington was one. We can only call him by his name; or add, " the father of his country ;" not so " Mad Anthony." While the army were in their winter-huts at Valley Forge,
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Wayne was detached into New Jersey, to destroy such forage as was likely to fall into the hands of the English, and bring in supplies for his country- men. 'This he performed in defiance of a superiour force of the enemy, and by his successful efforts in collecting cattle he gained from Major Andre, of the British army, the appellation of the " warrio-drover," in a song, which I remember as being popular, at the time, in New York, and sung, in derision, to the tune of "Yankee Doodle."
Phil. Do you remember it, Uncle ?
Un. The last verse has been noted as prophetick of Andre's fate: he fell into Wayne's hands, and was hanged as the associate of Arnold. But Wayne was not one of the court that condemned the young adjutant-general to the death of a spy. The action that gave celebrity to the name of Wayne is of a date anteriour to the treason of Arnold. It was the taking by a successful assault the fortress at Stony Point, which the " warrio-drover" gallantly car- ried, without firing a gun, at the head of four hun- dred brave Americans, with fixed bayonets, while the poet basked in the smiles of New York tory belles, or painted scenes for the Theatre Royal in John street. Stony Point had fallen into the hands of the British, and by them was very strongly for- tified. It was garrisoned by the brave seventeenth regiment, a company of grenadiers of the seventy- first, a corps of refugees or tories, with adequate ar- tillerists; the whole commanded by Colonel John- son. The plan of this enterprise was formed by the commander-in-chief, and he chose Wayne for the execution. At eight o'clock of the evening of the 15th of July, 1779, Wayne and his little army ar- rived, undiscovered, within a mile and a half of the point, having marched fourteen miles since noon. Here he rested his men, and reconnoitred the enemy's 19*
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works. Formed in two columns, at midnight, the Americans proceeded to the attack, their advance with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets. They had to pass through a morass, exposed to the ene- my's fire, who, aware of their approach, poured forth incessant discharges of musketry and cannon. 'The two attacking columns moved on by different paths, and surmounting every obstacle, met in the centre of the enemy's works. Wayne was struck by a musket ball on the head, but supported by his aids, persisted in entering the works with his brave com- panions. Two flags, two standards, fifteen pieces of artillery, a great quantity of military stores, and five hundred and forty-three prisoners were the fruits of this brilliant victory. Lieutenant-colonel Fleury, who led one of the columns, struck the ene- my's standard with his own hand. The other co !- umn was led by Major Stewart. Colonels Meigs, Butler, and Febeger, were participators in this en- terprise, and Lieutenant-colonel Hay was wounded, fighting at the head of his battalion. The enemy lost in killed sixty-three, and the Americans had fif- teen killed, and eighty-three wounded. Medals were given by congress to Wayne, Fleury, and Stewart; honours were bestowed on the officers, and pecuniary rewards on the soldiers. But Wash- ington, whose head-quarters were at this time at West Point, deemed the post untenable, and destroy- ed the works. Although " Mad Anthony" had been knocked on the head in this affair, he found himself enabled to write a note to the commander-in-chief, two hours after midnight, saying, " Dear General- The fort and garrison. with Colonel Johnson, are ours. Our officers and men have behaved like men who are determined to be free. Yours, most sin- cerely, Anthony Wayne."
Wm. Well done, mad Anthony !
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Un. A very short time after this, Major Lee per- formed a brilliant exploit, still nearer to our city. The British had a garrison at Powles Hook, now Jersey City, but then only known as the ferry and first stage between New York and Philadelphia. Powles Hook is, by nature, almost an island, and the British had made it quite so by cutting a deep ditch through the marsh, into which the tide flowed, and rendered it impassable except at low water. They had a draw- bridge over this ditch, which, of course, was only let down for their own use; and a strong gate appeared to secure this pass. The post was well fortified and garrisoned, but being far removed from the nearest American station, was considered out of danger. Lee had observed, or gained intelligence of, the negligence of the garrison, and formed the design to surprise them. Lord Stirling, to aid the enter- prise, ordered a detachment down towards the Hack- insac river to forage, which caused no alarm, and followed himself with five hundred men, three hundred of whom were to accompany Lee over the river, and to the attack of the point. He reached the creek between two and three in the morning. crossed the ditch undiscovered, and entered the main work with the loss of two killed and three wounded. A few of the British were killed at the first charge, and one hundred and fifty, including three officers, made prisoners. They were borne off with the standard: and the victors arrived at Hackinsac river, where boats were to have been in waiting. These had been withdrawn by mistake, and the men, fatigued with a march of many miles, were obliged to push rapidly up the river fourteen miles before they gained the bridge, crossed, and were met by their friends. This exploit was performed within sight of the army at New York, and of their ships of war in the harbour. Henry Lee afterward com-
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manded a corps called the legion, who did memora- ble service under General Greene, but out of our precinct. We shall, however, have to mention this gallant officer again, in the course of our New York history.
John. What were the military movements of the enemy during the time of which you have spoken, sir ?
Un. They were of little credit to them, or bene- fit to their cause. The British generals, Tryon and Garth, landed near New Haven in July, entered the town, and burnt some publick stores; but not without resistance and loss. The militia met them bravely, but were overpowered, and had a number of worthy citizens killed, wounded, and carried off prisoners. . The British acknowledged a loss in killed, wounded, and missing, of seventy-six. Try- on, with his army, were employed in burning, at Norwalk, Fairfield, Greenwich, and New Haven, churches, dwelling-houses, court-houses, and schools, with other buildings, to the great loss and distress of the country, and certainly without benefit to Great Britain. Of the destruction you may judge. when that at Norwalk amounted to one hundred and thirty dwelling-houses, eighty-seven barns, thir. ty-nine stores and shops, four mills, and two places of worship. Such were the exploits of Major Gen- eral Tryon, former governor of New York, and his conduct, (Lord George Germain wrote to Sir Henry Clinton, ) met his majesty's approbation.
John. Was there any thing particular doing in this city during the summer of 1779 ?
Un. Sir Henry Clinton received a re-enforcement from England, and made preparations for detaching troops from New York, by fortifying the approach- es on the land side, and on Long Island. The in- habitants were enrolled as militia, and many formed
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volunteer companies, and were drilled and uniform- ed. These were principally English and Scotch merchants, and refugees from Boston and elsewhere. I have seen these volunteer companies acting as press-gangs for the fleet, and arresting sailors, and sometimes others, at the point of the bayonet. It appears by published letters that Sir Henry Clinton was discontented with the service, and very much with the conduct of the refugees, who were formed into a " board of loyalists" under Governor Frank- lin, formerly of New Jersey, and who generally in- terfered with the plans of the general, by represen- tations to the ministry, dictated by their selfishness and passions, and by assuming powers of which I shall hereafter speak. At present let us seek amuse- ment, after this lesson in local history, by a walk to Kipp's bay.
CHAPTER XX.
Un. In the month of September, 1779, the Brit- ish forces had returned from depredating to the east- ward, and two large columns moved from our city up the Hudson, one on each side. Cornwallis com- manded on the west side of the river, with his left on the Hackinsac. Knyphausen led the column on the east of the Hudson. Colonel Baylor crossed the Hackinsac, on the 27th of September, with his cavalry, and took post at a place called Herringtown, where a party of militia were quartered. Corn- wallis saw that this post was within his reach, and ordered two detachments, under General Gray and Colonel Campbell, to advance on Baylor's cavalry. Guided by some mercenary wretches, inhabitants of
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the neighbourhood, the British eluded the patrols of Baylor, and cut off his advance guard without alarming the main body of the regiment, who were asleep in a barn. The orders of General Gray were to charge upon his enemy, thus taken by surprise, and give no quarter. The inhuman order was obey- ed almost to the letter. Of one hundred and four privates, sixty-seven were bayoneted, while demand- ing quarter. Baylor was wounded with a bayonet, but recovered; his major died of his wounds. One of Gray's captains disobeyed the order of his com- mander, and made prisoners of about forty, choosing rather to give quarter to brave men than to stab them defenceless and unresisting. Three days after this, the gallant Major Lee, with his cavalry, and Col- onel Richard Butler, with some infantry, fell in with a party of German yagers, of whom they killed ten, and carried off eighteen, with the commanding officer, as prisoners.
Wm. What is meant by yager, sir ?
Un. The word literally signifies huntsman, but is appropriated by the Germans to their light cavalry. John. Did the British proceed to the Highlands, sir ?
Un. No. They completed their foraging, which seems to have been one object of the movement, and then returned to New York ; another object was to call the attention of our folks from their attempt upon the stores at Egg Harbour.
Wm. I hope, sir, you have no more defeats of "our folks" to tell of.
Un. You must hear of many disasters, boy: for what is war but a series of disasters ? Count Pulas- ki, a gallant foreign officer in our service, had rais- ed a legionary corps, officered by foreigners, and had been ordered to march from Trenton towards Egg Harbour.
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Wm. What is meant by legionary corps, sir ?
Un. A corps composed of cavalry and infantry. The British, who had with a detachment destroyed our stores at Little Egg Harbour, gained intelligence of Pulaski's movement, surprised his corps, put his infantry to the bayonet, and gained a decided advan- tage over his cavalry.
Wm. Had we no successes at this time, sir ?
Un. Let us look to the frontiers of our own state.
Wm. There I suppose the tomahawk and the scalping knife were at work.
Un. At midsummer, in 1780, Brandt, the Indian chief, before mentioned, with a body of tories and In- dians, laid waste the district of Canajoharie, at a time when the militia were on service at Fort Schuyler. Sir John Johnson wreaked his vengeance on Schoha- rie, which he burnt, and with his savages, on the 18th of October, laid Caughnawaga in ruins, sweeping with the besom of destruction the valley of the Scho- harie creek. Johnson passed up the north side of the Mohawk, burning all in his course. General Van Renselaer, who commanded in this district, or- dered out Colonel Brown with his militia, but they were not in sufficient force to withstand the enemy, and the colonel, and thirty of his men, fell in the at- tempt. Johnson took post near the Mohawk castle, or village, and fortified the spot, by a breastwork thrown across a neck of land, in part surrounded by the Mohawk river. Here he placed his regiment of regulars and tories. His Indians occupied an elevated wood in his neighbourhood. General Van Renselaer attacked the Indians, drove them from their cover, and they fled towards the Susquehanna. Johnson's troops resisted until night, and under its cover they escaped from the intended attack of the next day.
John. This warfare on the borders, carried on by
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Indians, was more dreadful than even the horrours of battle.
Un. Tenfold more: for women and children were butchered by these barbarians, and indiscriminate devastation spread over the most beautiful valley in the world. Johnson, and his tories, Indians, Cana- dians, and Englishmen, in October, 1780, left the vale of the Schoharie creek, strewed with the wrecks of a happy population, notwithstanding the brave | resistance of the inhabitants, who in many encoun- ters with these savages displayed a courage worthy of the cause they fought in-the cause of humanity. Early in 1781, while yet the country was covered with snow, the enemy succeeded in capturing sevc- ral of the garrison of Fort Schuyler, and Major Nicholas Fish, one of our very worthy citizens, but lately deceased, by great efforts succeeded in reliev. ing the garrison. In July, Colonel Marinus Wil- let commanded at this fort. A party of three hun- dred Indians and tories, led by one John Doxtader, were scouring the Mohawk valley, and had even burned a village within a short distance of Schenec- tady, when Willet, ever prompt and active, having, by his scouts, learned their number and situation, marched with one hundred and six men during a dark night to the vicinity of the enemy's camp, which was in a thick swamp near Cherry Valley. Major Mc Kean joined Willet with thirty men ; and they came in sight of the swamp about daybreak. Col- onel Willet drew up his party in two parallel lines, and ordered them to conceal themselves behind trees. Major McKran occupied the right, and Willet, with one hundred men, the left of the line. Two men were sent to pass over an open piece of ground as a decoy, with orders to run, when discovered by the enemy, in between the two lines. The plan suc- ceeded. The Indians raised their war cry and pur-
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sued the fugitives, but as they approached the am- bush they were received by a deadly fire from right and left. They retreated, and betook themselves to trees for shelter; but Willet now ordered a charge with the bayonet, and, waving his hat with a hurrah, led on his men, driving the savage foe through the encampment, which, with all their recently accumu- lated plunder, fell into the hands of the victors. The enemy was pursued toward the Susquehanna.
WVm. Colonel Marinus Willet, I remember, was one of the New York Liberty boys, with Sears, Mc Dougall, and Lamb.
Un. He was, boy; and lived here many years after the country was blessed with self-government, owing to the exertions of such true patriots as him- self. He was for a time mayor of our city ; and when in advanced life he could be induced to speak of Indian warfare, the old man would say, "there is nothing like encouraging your men with a hurrah: I was always good at a hurrah;" and he was a soldier that not only cheered his men but led them. About a month after this, a party of British, Indians, and tories, penetrated from Canada, and encamped in the neighbourhood of Johnson-hall, the house built by Sir William, and of which I have shown you the picture. It was about a mile from the village of Johnstown, to the north. Colonel Willet marched from his garrison with three hundred men, on the 22d of Angast, determined to attack the invaders, al- though they amounted to at least six hundred. under the command of Major Ross, and the savage, Wal- ter Butler. Ross advanced from his encampment with all his force, and met Willet with only two hundred men, he having detached Colonel Harper to make a circuit through the woods, and fall on the enemy's rear. At the first fire from this superiour force, Willet's men gave way, and fled to the hall,
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where he endeavoured to rally them, but in vain. They retreated to the village, and here our brave colonel was joined by a body of two hundred militia. In the mean time, Harper had gained the rear of the enemy, and commenced an attack. Willet now advanced, and routed the barbarians, who were pur- sued through the wilderness for miles. The mur- derer of Cherry Valley, Walter Butler, was killed by an Oneida Indian during the pursuit. . A party of this tribe (which had been uniformly on the American part) had joined in pursuing the routed enemy, and Butler, on horseback, reached the West Canada creek, and swam his horse over. One of the Oneidas was on the bank opposite to Butler, when he turned and defied his pursuers. The Indian dis- charged his rifle, and the murderer fell. " Throw- ing down his rifle and blanket," says Mr. Camp- bell, " the Indian plunged into the creek and swam across ;" " he raised his tomahawk, and with a yell, sprang, like a tiger, upon his fallen foe; Butler sup- plicated for mercy ;" the Oneida with uplifted weapon shouted in broken English, "Sherry Valley, Sher- ry Valley!" and then buried his tomahawk in the brain of his victim. "The place," Mr. Campbell, says, " is called Butlet's ford to this day."
John. One cannot but rejoice in the death of such a man, when the massacre of Cherry Valley is re- membered.
WI'm. Had Col. Willet any more battles, Uncle ?
Un. No. The defeat of Ross and Butler was his last fight; although in the winter of 1781-2, he sought danger by a hazardous expedition with a part of his garrison, passing up the Mohawk on the ice, and with snow shoes through the wilderness to Fort Oswego. But on arriving, he learned that the preliminaries of peace had been signed, and aban. doned the enterprise.
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I'm. When did Colonel Willet die ?
Un. August 22d, 1830, on the anniversary of his victory over Ross and Butler. You will all read Mr. Campbell's Annals of Tryon county, and feel, as I do, much indebted to him for the information he has collected and communicated.
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CHAPTER XXI.
Un. I here present you with a picture of the old Dutch church, in Albany, as it stood in the middle of the street, even as late as 1806. when I first saw that city. The picture is copied from Mr. John Fleming Watson's very pleasant publication on the old times of New York, and is engraved by Mr. White.
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John. It was at Albany, I remember, that one of the original patroons settled upon a great territory.
Un. And his descendants still enjoy it. To the north of the town commenced the property of the " patroon," the title by which General Stephen Van Renselaer is still known in this district, and which he has endeared to the people by his virtues.
John. You have not told us much of Albany, sir?
Un. I have spoken to you of places and transac- tions to the north and west of that city. Happily for her she was never the scene of those conflicts which make up the great bulk of history. Threatened from the south and the north, the east and the west, her avowed enemies never reached her but as captives. At the time Burgoyne was the guest of Schuyler, Albany was, compared to its present state, a village; indeed, New York city was little more. Albany has long been a place of great importance as the seat of the legislature, and residence of the govern- ors of the state. But at the time of which I treat, it was illustrious by the morals and manners of its inhabitants, more than by the splendour of its edi- fices. The Schuylers, Van Renselaers, and other descendants of the Dutch settlers of New Amster- dam, have, by their virtues, thrown a lustre around the city of Albany, brighter than any that can be derived from successful commerce, with all its at- tendant luxuries.
John. The winter of 1779-80, I have read of as the hard winter.
Un. It was. In New York great efforts were made to increase the depreciation of continental mo- ney, by manufacturing counterfeit . bills, and during this winter the American army, quartered in their own country, were in a state of extreme suffering, being in want of clothing and food. The general describes his army as "men half-starved, imperfectly
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clothed, riotous, and robbing the country people of their subsistence, from sheer necessity." The soldiers were reduced to half allowance of rations, and the general to the necessity of making requisi- tions upon cach county of New Jersey for a stated quantity of meat and flour, to be delivered within six days; giving notice of the necessity which would oblige him to resort to coercion. "To the honour of the magistrates, and people of New Jer- sey," Judge Marshall says, "although their country was much exhausted, the supplies required were in- stantly furnished, and a temporary relief obtained." Amidst these distresses, a blow was aimed at the en- emy on Staten Island. A bridge of ice gave oppor- tunity for any force to pass from the main land, and it was supposed that the state of the harbour of New York would prevent re-enforcements being sent from thence. General Washington ordered a detachment of two thousand men, under Lord Stirling, to attempt a surprise of the troops on the island, principally consisting of Skinner's new corps, computed at twelve hundred men. The expedition was a failure. The enemy were found entrenched and prepared. The tories of the neighbourhood would not allow their friends to be surprised. It was likewise found that a passage remained open for boats from New York to Staten Island, and that troops could be thrown across the bay. His lordship, under these circum- stances, retreated with some loss, and many of his followers frostbitten. His army had been followed by the most licentious of the New Jersey borderers for the purpose of plunder, and the officers had, after their return, the task of rescuing part of the spoil, and returning it to the owners. This transaction took place in January. Afterward, the long contin- uance of severe cold closed the bay of New York, with solid ice, so that I remember to have seen a 20*
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troop of horse and artillery crossing to Staten Island on this immense bridge, which connected all our islands, one with the other, and with the main land.
John. Did this occasion distress in the garrison, sir ?
Un. To the officers and soldiers some; to the in- habitants very great suffering. Wood was cut on the three islands by the military, and few trees es- caped the axe that winter. But fuel and provisions were scarcely to be purchased by the citizens, even those who had the means of paying exorbitant pri- ces. In many instances household furniture was broken up to supply the fire necessary to support life. From Cortlandt street to Powles Hook, I well remember the beaten track for sleighs and wagons. winding occasionally around, and between, the hills of ice; and a similar road was in use to Hoboken, from whence some wood was procured, by parties of soldiers sent over for the purpose. On the 17th of March, St. Patrick's day, I saw horsemen cross- ing the bay on the ice, but it was then considered dangerous to make their road over the deeper part, or channel. The year 1780 produced a multitude of important events : I must refer you to general history for the successes of Sir Henry Clinton in the south. He returned to New York early in June, leaving Lord Corn wallis to command. In our neigh- bourhood, the sufferings of the continental army, and the depreciation of the paper money, which was of little worth when received as their pay, and which pay was always in arrears, caused discontent and mutiny. To take advantage of it, five thou- sand British and German troops crossed from Staten Island to Elizabethtown-point, under General Knyp- hausen. They landed in the night of the 6th of June, and immediately marched by Connecticut farms towards Springfield. The militia turned out and harassed the march of the invaders, who made
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