USA > New York > A history of New York, for schools. Vol. II > Part 3
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John. But had not the war commenced ?
Un. Certainly. At Lexington and Bunker's hill. At Ticonderoga, Ethan Allen had captured the Eng. lish garrison, and was at this time himself captured and in irons, as a rebel, in Montreal. All this Tryon knew, and he therefore replied, the same day, to Mr. Hicks, that as the citizens had not authorized the mayor to pledge to him "their assurances of securi- ty," his duty to his sovereign will not justify him in staying on shore unless he has positive declarations
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of full protection "under every circumstance." The mayor tells him he will consult the committee, and adds, that " people of all ranks" express great anxiety that he should not leave the city. On the 17th Oc- tober, the committee authorize the mayor to assure 'Tryon that they "are not apprehensive of the least danger to his person or property," and add, he may be assured of all that protection from us and our fel- low-citizens which will be consistent with the great principles of our safety and preservation. They declare their confidence in his wisdom ; and that he will mediate to restore harmony ; and express their desire that he would remain among them. Tryon's conscience told him that the Americans ought to se- cure him, and prevent the mischief he was plotting against them, and he got off privately to the Halifax packet, from whence he wrote again to the mayor, saying the assurances were not sufficient, and his duty had impelled him to embark and seek his safe- ty on board a king's ship. Some time after, he writes again (from on board the Dutchess of Gor- don) to David Matthews, who had been appointed by him to the mayoralty instead of Mr. Hicks, at the same time advanced to the bench, as a judge of the supreme court. To Mr. Matthews he sends a pa- per to be made publick, in which he says his ma- jesty " is graciously pleased to permit him to with- draw from his province ;" that he is ready to do the inhabitants any service; that it gives him great pain to see them in such a turbulent state ; and he la- ments the calamities that must befall them," &c. Thus the governor took care to secure himself on board a king's ship of war, while exercising au- thority on shore by the appointment of civil officers. William Franklin, the governor of New Jersey, did not manage so well. In his address to his assembly he tells them that his majesty has directed his com-
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missioners to proceed as in the case of a town in netual rebellion, against any place in which violence shall be offered to any of his majesty's officers. He says, he should have sought an asylum on board one of his majesty's ships, as other king's governors have done, but for the wish to prevent his majesty's vengeance falling upon them for any apparent hostility to him. But if they cannot answer for his safety, he begs them to tell him so in plain lan. guage. "For," says he, " as sentiments of indepen- dency are by some men of present consequence openly avowed, and essays are already appearing in the publick papers to reduce the people's fears of that horrid measure," " it is high time that every man should know what he has to expect."
John. And this man was the son of Benjamin Franklin !
Un. But no more like his father " than I to Her- cules." Benjamin Franklin, even had he been a " king's governor," could not have penned such an address.
Wm. Was this Governor Franklin an ugly little fellow, Uncle ?
Un. No, boy. He was a fine tall, handsome gentleman as any in his government. This unwise address is the resemblance of his mind, not his per- son. At the time he uttered threats he showed his fears. The consequence was, that the persons of " present consequence" made him prisoner, and he was shortly after ordered as such into Connecticut, where the governor was not a " king's governor."
John. There appears to have been a strange state of confusion about this time, sir. .
UR. There certainly was. The continental con- gress in Philadelphia had appointed generals, and directed the raising of troops. Their armies were pressing upon the king's forces in Boston, and in-
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vading Canada; while in other provinces the king's authority was acknowledged, and dependence on England professed. In, no place was this appear- ance of mingled authority and " half-faced fellow- ship" more conspicuous than in our own good city. The Connecticut troops, under General Wooster, encamped on the island. The governor of the province dissolved the general assembly, by orders issued from ships of war in the harbour, " with the advice of his majesty's council." He likewise gave notice to the inhabitants that the ships of war are o.dered to treat them as rebels, if any violence is offered to his majesty's officers, or any bodies of men raised and armed, or any fortifications erected, &c. At the same time the people were doing all these things, and yet an officer on board the Asia dying, his corpse is brought on shore and buried in Trinity churchyard, the Marine Society of the city attend- ing. 'The provincial congress resolved that every person, not an inhabitant, shall show a certificate that he is friendly to the liberties of America, or in default thereof, be treated as an enemy. The com- Inittee announced that the city " has become a scene of confusion and distress, occasioned by an appre- hension of unmerited hostilities that will shortly be commenced by the ships of war lying in this harbour," " that the poor are abandoning their hab- itutions," flying the town and taking refuge where they can find it. They call upon the neighbour- my people to receive them, and afford them relief. About this time the British being forced to abandon Boston, were expected here in force. American troops were pouring in ; and on the same day Major- ". heral Charles Lee, of the continental army, arrived. in the city, and Sir Henry Clinton sailed into the Lubour in an English ship of war, attended by some transports with soldiers, and other armed vessels.
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John. This is confusion indeed, sir.
Un. When next we meet I will endeavour to make things plain.
CHAPTER IV.
Un. It is time that I should inform you who the generals were that congress had appointed ; and by a sketch of the previous history of each, give you a necessary knowledge of the character of these individuals, so important to our future story. But in the first place I must relate a circumstance which occurred at this period in New York, rela- tive to Governor Tryon, and elucidating the diffi- culties the patriots had to struggle with. It is sta- ted that in March, 1776, some of the manœuvres of the governor convinced the provincial congress in New York that he had intelligence from a spy, of their debates and transactions ; and Mr. James Duane, a member of that body, suspected that his valet, who had formerly been a servant with Tryon. might have taken his minutes of the congressional proceedings from his pocket at night, when he went to bed, copied them, and sent the copy to his late master, on board the English fleet. Mr. Duane informed the provincial congress of his suspicions, and proposed to pnt fictitious minutes in his pocket. This was done, and Tryon being misled, acted ac- cordingly : but he soon found that he had been im- posed upon by the servant, or that his spy had been outwitted, and he gave him notice accordingly. The traitor finding that he was discovered, fled, and found means to put himself under the protection of the governor, who sent him off to England.
John. You said, sir, that Governor Franklin, of
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New Jersey, who called himself a " king's govern- or." was sent as a prisoner to Connecticut, where there was no king's governor. Will you explain this?
Un. I expected this question from you. It leads me to speak of our eastern neighbour, that you may know something of Connecticut as well as of New Jersey. That province had the happiness of .If-government from its original charter. The governor and his assistants or council, were elected by the people, as well as the house of assembly. They had neither king's governor nor king's council.
John. And, I dare say, sir, that they found an American governor of their own choosing quite as good as any English governor the king could have sent them.
Un. They thought so, and have never changed their opinion on the subject. At this time they had great-reason to be pleased, that instead of a king's governor, as in New Jersey and New York, who should talk to them of his gracious majesty's favour, while his soldiers were approaching with fire and sword to enslave and rob them, and then take refuge on board a king's ship and join their enemies, thev had a governor of their own choice, acting with them and for them, in opposition to the armies of a foreign power. Such was governor Trumbull.
John. I wish, sir, you would tell us something of the circumstances by which Connecticut obtained and preserved this republican government.
Un. As far as is necessary to our main subject, I will. You already know that New York province extended to the west bank of Connecticut river, con- soquently included much of the present state of that name. The grants and patents of the early period were vague and conflicting. In 1633, the Dutch of Nieuw Nederlandts built a trading house, or fort, where Hartford now is. The English puritans
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from Massachusetts took possession of this region in 1635, and began the colony of Connecticut while others, in 1637, sottled farther south, and formed a distinct government at New Haven, and so remained until 1665. The general court of the province consisted of the governor, deputy or lieu. tenant-governor, magistrates, and house of assembly ; all elected by the people. Under wise and good officers the colony thrived; and in 1662 obtain! from Charles II. a charter granting them the form of government they had chosen. As to the bounds of Connecticut, such was the ignorance of , those who parcelled out provinces in America, that what was granted to Lord Say and Seal, was likewise given to Wm. Penn, and to the Duke of York, and it was only by arbitration and compro- tnise that the present lines were fixed.
John. Did not the English King endeavour to change the free elective government of Connecticut ?
Un. Yes. And the governor of New York, Fletcher, who began the contest with the assembly respecting a permanent grant of money for govern- ment supplies, attempted to impose himself upon Connecticut. It is said that, attended by his secre- tary, Col. Bayard, he went to Hartford, and the militia being paraded to honour him, he ordered Bayard to read his commission ; but as soon as the secretary began to read, Captain Wadsworth order. ed his drummer to strike up: the governor threat. ened. but the captain very fairly told him that he would put his sword through him, and so ended the business. The governors of Connecticut have been men distinguished for their patriotism, as well us for their morality and religion.
Wia. But, Uncle, had they not, in carly times terrible wars with the Indians ?
Ua They had There was a nation of fiere
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warriours called the Pequods, with whom the settlers had to contend. And there was a great man, called by the English, King Philip, who conceived a plan for extirpating the strangers; but I must refer you to books for these transactions, and return to the province of New York in 1776; for it is time for us to examine the men to whom Congress had in- trusted the military affairs of the continent. It was fa the 15th day of June, 1775, that George Wash- ington was appointed commander-in -chief, and by his recommendation, Charles Lee and Horatio Gates, known to him as experienced officers, were appointed, the first a major-general, and the second as adjutant-general. Congress, at the same time, appointed Aitemas Ward, then commanding at Cambridge, Philip Schuyler, of New York, and Israel Putnam, of Connecticut, major-generals. We have seen that General Washington, attended by Schuyler and Lee, passed through New York at the time Tryon arrived from England. We will now see who and what Philip Schuyler, Charles Lee, and Horatio Gates were, and what they had been doing, up to this time.
John. We know, sir, that Mr. Schuyler had hoen the champion of liberty in the New York legislature.
Un. I will read you some brief notes which I have drawn up for your instruction, from various sources, but particularly from Mrs. Grant's " Me- moirs of an American Lady," and Chancellor Kent's " Biographical Sketch of Philip Schuyler." The ancestor of General Schuyler had the same name, Philip, and was a large landed proprietor of the province, in its early days. He settled at " the Flats," some miles to the north of Albany, and was esteemed one of the most enlightened men of the province. His was at the time a frontier settlement. VOL. 11 .- 4
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His brother John was likewise a proprietor, s. aided him in his wise measures for keeping pr. with the Indians who surrounded them. Colo: Philip Schuyler formed and executed the plan. carrying several chiefs of the Five Nations to F: land, and introducing them to Queen Ann, by v: of securing their attachment to the English co nists : in this he was successful, and returned 1. his five kings in the year 1709. At this time M
Grant's heroine, Catalina Schuyler, the daughter the colonel's brother, John, was nine years of a: and was adopted into Philip's family, as a comp ion and sister of his own daughter and sons, consequence of the death of her father. In the y 1719, Colonel Schuyler's oldest son, Philip, w married to Mrs. Grant's heroine, (and his cousin, ) ( talina. Philip inherited the estates at the Flo: and his brothers Peter and Jeremiah had seats eminences in the neighbourhood. Philip had a. a large house in Albany. In 1721 the first Phi' Schuyler, or the old colonel, died. Philip the s. ond was a member of the legislature; and in : war which occurred at this time, he raised and co manded a provincial regiment. Philip Schuyler t third, who is the subject of our research, was t. son of John, and grandson of Peter, above mt: tioned. Born the 22d of November, 1733, he w. educated by a good and wise mother until sent to school at New Rochelle, where he experienced long confinement at the age of 16, from an atta of hereditary gout. He here acquired a knowled. of the French language, and improved himself . various branches of learning. . The exact scient .: were his favourite study, and to them he owed } superiour skill in finance, military engineering, a ... political economy. In 1755 he commanded a cor. pany in the New York levies, and served with
مطولاً
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William Johnson in the French war. In 1758 Lord Viscount Howe selected young Schuyler as chief of the commissariat department, and the tal- ents of the youth justified the choice. When Howe fell in the ill-judged attack of Abercrombie upon Ticonderoga, Schuyler was directed to convey the corpse of that gallant gentleman to Albany, ati there cause it to be buried with appropriate hon-
curs. We shall see that Charles Lee was shot through the body at the head of his company of grenadiers, in this same murderous action, and was received and nursed in the family mansion of the Schuylers at the Flats. After the peace of 1763, Philip, now called Colonel Schuyler, served as a commissioner on the part of New York, in the con- troversy with Massachusetts, respecting the boun- dary line. In 1768 he represented the city and county of Albany in the general assembly, and continued his patriotick exertions until the assembly was dissolved by Tryon, in 1775. With the glo- rious minority he combated the influence of Eng- land, and with George Clinton, Nathaniel Wood- Jull, Col. Tenbroeck and Col. Philip Livingston, he is entitled to the eternal gratitude of New York and America In May, 1775, Colonel Schuyler was elected by his fellow-citizens as their delegate to the continental congress in Philadelphia, and had scarcely taken his seat when he was appointed the third major-general of the American army, and rhirged by Washington with the command of the province of New York, on the 25th of June. Six lays after, congress directed him to repair to Ti- rouleroga and Crown Point, secure the command of Lake Champlain, and, " if practicable and ex- ¡ dient, to take possession of St. John's, Montreal, and Quebec." The difficulties of an expedition Junto Canada, without the materials or equipments of
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war, were clearly perceived by him, and strongly felt, but he surmounted them with a rapidity and success that " no other individual," says the judi- cious Chancellor Kent, "could at that period have performed."
John. This is high praise, sir, from such a man.
Un. I believe it is perfectly just. I will give you a few words respecting General Schuyler, from a book written by Captain Graydon, who about this time was sent by congress to convey a sum of mo- ney to the general from Philadelphia, and found him on the borders of Lake George. " Though General Schuyler has been charged with such haughtiness of demcanour, as to have induced the troops of New England to decline serving under his command, as stated in Marshall's Life of Wash- ington, the reception we met with, was not merely courteous, but kind. His quarters being contracted, a bed was prepared for us in his own apartment, and we experienced civilities that were flattering from an officer of his high rank. Though tho- roughly the man of business, he was also a gentle- man, and man of the world; and well calculated to sustain the reputation of our ariny in the eyes of the British officers, (disposed to depreciate it,) as is evi- denced by the account given by General Burgoyne of the manner in which he was entertained by him, at Albany." " He certainly was at no pains to con- ceal the extreme contempt he felt for a set of offi- cers, who were both a disgrace to their stations and the cause in which they acted !" Before the en i of August a large force was sent down Lake Cham- plain under General Montgomery, who declared his happiness in serving under the orders of so com petent a commander as Schuyler. But this truly efficient man was prevented following farther than the Isle Au Noix, where he was conveyed in a state
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of exhaustion from severe sickness, and obliged to fix his head-quarters. Montgomery wrote to him, "I hope you will join us with all expedition. Let me entreat you (if you can possibly) to follow in a cockle-boat, leaving somebody to forward on the troops and artillery. It will give the men great confidence in your spirit and activity. Be assured I have your honour and reputation highly at heart, as of the greatest consequence to the publick ser- vice." You shall see how the opinion of this good man will contrast with the words of some others. " All my ambition," said the chivalrick Montgom- ery to his commander, " is to do my duty in a sub- ordinate capacity, without the least ungenerous in- tention of lessening the merit so justly your due." Schuyler was obliged to return to Ticonderoga, but never ceased his exertions for the success of the ex- pedition.
John. Was he not a great man, sir ?
Un. I think so. Read that extract from Chan- cellor Kent's memoir.
John. "His very impaired health rendered Gen- eral Schuyler's situation oppressive. He was charg- ed with the duty of supplying the Canadian army with recruits, provisions, clothing, arms, and money, and to do it adequately was beyond his power. He was obliged to apply to congress for leave to retire. But his application was not listened to, and on the 30th of November, congress resolved that his con- duct, attention, and perseverance, merited the thanks of the united colonies. They expressed, through president Hancock, their greatest concern and sym- pathy for his loss of health, and requested that he would not insist on a measure which would deprive America of his zeal and abilities, and rob him of the honour of completing the glorious work which he had so happily and successfully begun.' Gen
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cral Wasnington, who always maintained a close and constant correspondence with Schuyler, express- ed the same regret and desire, and in his letters of the 5th and 24th December, conjured both him and Montgomery to lay aside all such thoughts of retire- ment, 'alike injurious to themselves, and excessive- ly so to the country. They had not a difficulty to contend with that he had not in an eminent degree experienced.' Who can withhold his unqualified admiration of the man, who gave such advice, at such a crisis ! 'l'o his incomparable fortitude and inflexible firinness America owes her national ex- istence.
" General Schuyler determined to continue in the service, and especially, as he said, after the fall of his 'amiable friend Montgomery, who had given him so many proofs of the goodness of his heart, and who, as he greatly fell in his country's cause, was more to be envied than lamented .: 'The distressed condi- tion of the northern army in the winter and spring of 1776, was quite unparalleled in the history of the revolution. General Schuyler was roused to the utmost limit of exertion in his endeavours to relieve it, by collecting and despatching men, provisions, arms, and military and naval equipments to the northern posts, and to the army. His attention was directed to every quarter, exacting vigilance, order, economy, and prompt execution in all the compli- cated concerns of the department. His duty was more arduous and difficult; it was inexpressibly vexations, and could not be sternly and effectually performed without collisions, provoking jealous and angry feelings, and requiring large sacrifices of transient popularity. With his exhausted and de- bilitated frame of body, every person who saw him, concluded that he must soon sink under the pressure of his duties. Ilis incessant correspondence with
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congress was full of the best practical advice. At that crisis, congress multiplied his concerns to an overwhelming degree. On the Sth of January, he was required to cause the river St. Lawrence, above and below Quebec, to be well explored. He was to fill up- blank commissions for the Canada regi- ments in his discretion. He was to establish an ac- countability for the waste of the publick supplies. He was to put Ticonderoga in a defencible condi- tion. But the army in Canada engrossed his atten- tion. After the death of Montgomery, the command devolved on Brigadier-general Wooster. . The most alarming, and next to the want of provisions, the most distressing deficiency in the northern army, was in muskets, ammunition, and cannon. The call was also loud and incessant for specie, and General Schuyler went so far, as to raise, on his own per- sonal security, 2,100%., York currency, in gold and silver, for that service. Nothing shows more strik- ingly the want of arms than the fact that even Gen- eral Washington, in his camp at Cambridge, appli. el to Schuyler for assistance in that particular. . Your letters and mine,' said the former, 'seem echoes to each other, enumerating our mutual diffi- culties.'
"Great apprehension was entertained at this event- ful moment, for the disaffected inhabitants in the Mo- hawk country under the influence of Sir John John- son, and congress directed General Schuyler to cause the tories in that quarter to be disarmed, and their leaders secured. He accordingly marched into that country, in the month of January, and exe- cuted the service with such zeal, despatch, and dis- cretion, as to receive the special approbation of con- Cress."
Un. I must give you a more particular account
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of this expedition into the Indian country, and the behaviour of Sir John Johnson.
John. This Sir John, was, I suppose, sir, the son of the Sir William who superseded the ancestor of General Schuyler, as agent for the English with the Indians.
Un. The same.
Phil. I remember Sir William's dream.
Un. The Indians of the Six Nations never forgot their friendly intercourse with the Schuylers, and the services of Colonel Peter Schuyler; but the Johnsons had now been a long time the medium through which they received their blankets, guns, knives, and rum from England, consequently their influence was paramount. But General Schuyler had persuaded the Indians in 1775 to promise neu- trality in the approaching troubles. He had now reason to believe that the influence of Sir John John- son was prevailing with them.
John. He had the advantage of living near them.
Un. General Schuyler having no troops where- with to execute the orders of congress, and knowing that secrecy and despatch were necessary to his suc- cess, communicated his plan to a sub-committee of Albany county, administering an oath of secrecy; but advices arrived from Tryon county respecting the hostile preparations of Johnson, his Scotch ten- ants and adherents, as well as the Mohawks, that made secrecy unnecessary, and seven hundred of the militia were called out with the avowed purpose of disarming this internal enemy. With this force the general marched, but before he reached Caugh- nawaga, his army had increased to three thousand. At Schenectady a deputation from the Mohawks met him. Schuyler had sent them a message in- forming them of his intention to march into their country, but with no design of hostility to then.
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