USA > New York > A history of New York, for schools. Vol. II > Part 5
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ingly." And, accordingly, the major was in Eng- land before November 22d, 1763, for that is the date of a letter from William Smith, afterward king's chief-justice in Canada, son to the historian of New York, directed to Gates, in London, from which you may read this abstract, and my memorandum.
John. "Smith wishes Gates such a retreat as that in which, he says, ' with the aid of Bacchus, and in the pride of philosophy, we laughed at the anxie- ties of the great.' Fle says, we in America want aid, 'not to maintain the dependency of the colonies, for you know, saucy as we are, there is nothing to fear on that account.'. 'Sir William Johnson is continually terrifying us with the defection of the Six Nations;' . but, thank heaven, those barbarians love themselves too well to throw off the mask of friendship. Amherst has left New York.' He praises Boone, and reprobates ' the cowardly expedi- ent' of the English ministry in removing governors because the people dislike them. He says, Colden, for want of purse, and more for want of spirit to imitate Monckton, has retired to Flushing. ' The
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little star does not yet appear, the twilight of his predecessor is still too strong to permit such a twink- ling luminary to glitter.' In another letter to the same, he continues in the like strain. Mentioning Morris's death, on the 27th January, 1764, he says,
'Gay in the morning-dead in the evening. He came out to a rural dance,' ' he took out the parson's wife, danced down six couple, and fell dead on the floor, without a word, a groan, or a sigh.' He then goes on to mention the prominent men of the time in New Jersey, where this happened. 'Franklin has put Charles Reade in his (Morris's) place on the bench, and filled up Reade's with John Berrian, a babbling country surveyor. Franklin after Boone -after Morris, Reade !' He afterward says, 'The first errour is on your side of the water,' (England.) That is, as he says, in recalling Boone because of his contest with 'a proud, licentious assembly.' . We are a great garden-constant cultivation will keep down the weeds; remember they were planted by liberty and religion near a hundred years ago; there are strong roots that will soon despise the gardener's utmost strength. When Great Britain loses the power to regulate these dependencies, I think 'tis clear she will have no other left.' He concludes by calling for governors and judges of spirit and abilities." This is a very remarkable let- ter, sir. Does he call for force to keep down the growth of liberty and religion, or of the power of the people ?
Un. It is a very remarkable letter from such a man to such a man. This is faithfully taken from the original; and I put it in your hands to show how these men talked and wrote to each other at that time.
John. But, sir, Major Gates is not accountable for what his correspondents write.
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Un. Certainly not. But when a man's corres- pondents write year after year, or in general, in a certain style, I must presume that they know the sentiments of him they address. No one will write to you repeatedly, and in a friendly, familiar manner, calling me fool, knave, or villain, unless the writer knows the language accords with your sentiments.
WVm. Did Major Gates remain in England, sir ?
Un. In November, 1764, he was appointed to a majority in the Royal Americans, as a special mark of his majesty's favour, as is announced to him from the war office; and in December he received per- mission to remain four months in England. Soon after, through his agent, he received proposals from a captain of dragoons, offering 3000l. for his major- ity; and not long after, in a letter written by a re !- ative, it is mentioned that he had sold out on half- pay. He still remained in England, evidently ex- pecting promotion through the interest of General Monckton, and his brother, Lord Galloway, and, probably, by the influence of his godfather. His friends in New York point out offices for him to apply for, particularly that of paymaster-general, as, says one, " Abraham Mortier goes to England next. spring, with his fat lady ; my friend, could you not contrive to get his place-he has made a fortune." John. Who was this Mortier, sir ?
Un. All I know of him is, that he caused that house to be built which once was the head-quarters of Washington, called Richmond Hill, at that time surrounded by a park, and situated on an eminence, now the corner of Varick and Charlton streets, on a level with its neighbours, surrounded by houses, and called Richmond Hill theatre. This place was then, and until a few years, far out of the city.
John. Major Gates remained a long time at home, sir.
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Un. In 1766, the major's father died; and by the letters of General Monckton, it appears, that the hopes of the general are deferred, and of course those of Gates; who now looked for an appointment under his friend, and resided with his family in re- tirement.
Wm. It appears, sir, that both Gates and Lee were in Europe when Schuyler and Washington were serving their country at home.
Un. In 1768, Major Gates was in London, and waiting the result of Monckton's expectations; and Gates about this time sold his half-pay and commis- sion to Monckton's younger brother; and was in expectation of accompanying the general to the East Indies ; but delays occurred, and the years 1769 and '70, find the major still living in retirement, and expectations of a post under Monckton, in the East Indics.
WVm. So! If he had obtained an appointment, we should have had no General Gates. 3
Un. Monckton, disappointed in his East India schemes, receives the office of a reviewing-general. and endeavours, in the latter part of 1770, to obtain the post of town-major for Gates, and this failing, Monckton (having his hopes revived as to the East) renewed his promises to his expectant protegee; as late as July, 1771, he writes thus, in answer to Gates : " You know it has not been in the least in my pow- er to serve myself, and therefore could not do what I wished by you." " What you have heard about the East Indies is partly true ; but whether or not I shall succeed is very uncertain. I can only assure you, that should it succeed, you are the only one 1 have as yet thought of." And in December, " I am sorry to inform you that East India matters do not go on so well as I could wish." " You need not hurry yourself to come up till you hear from me
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again." In 1772, Major Gates having given up all hopes of a place under the king's government, and his former commissions having been sold, resolved to emigrate to Virginia; where, in Blakely county, he purchased and resided in 1773; and until, as we have seen, he and his friend Charles Lee, likewise a purchaser in the same county, visited General Washington at Mount Vernon.
John. If Major Gates had been appointed a town- major in England, or to an office in the East Indies, we should probably never have heard of him as an American officer.
Un. Or, if he had succeeded Abraham Mortier as paymaster-general of his majesty's forces in Amer- ica, he might, perhaps, have been surrendered to Philip Schuyler, on the field of Saratoga. I have, for your information, sought and found the above manuscript testimony respecting Horatio Gates's life and pursuits up to 1775. We will now pursue our story, and we shall again meet him. As soon as Washington had procured the appointment of adju- tant-general for Major Gates, he writes to him giv- ing him the information ; and the major replied in a very characteristick letter, the conclusion of which is in these words: " I will not intrude more upon your time, only to assure you, that I shall not lose a moment in paying you my personal attendance, with the greatest respect for your character, and the sincerest attachment to your person."
CHAPTER VI.
Un. We have seen that General Lee was sent on to prepare New York for defence, and while he was thus employed, the commander-in-chief thought of
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him as a fit person to supply the loss of the brave and generous Montgomery, in Canada. About this time General Gates wrote to Lee from Cambridge. Some extracts from the letter will be of service to us. It is dated from Head-Quarters, February 26, 1776. Speaking of Fort George, at New York, he says, "I like your intention of making the fort an open redoubt; I think some heavy guns upon the south and west sides, with good sod merlons, will make the men-of-war keep aloof. It is a pretty high situ- ation, and battering it at a distance, over the lower batteries, would have but little effect." " Clinton, I am satisfied, went to see how affairs were circum- stanced at New York, to consult with Tryon, and to prepare the way for Howe's reception." " We shall march with the utmost expedition to support you." " Little Eustace is well, but nothing is done for him as yet. You know the more than Scotch partiality of these folks. I have had much to do to support the lad you put into Colonel Whitcomb's regiment. They have no complaint in nature against him, but that he is too good an officer." You see by this what Gates's feelings were toward the New England men, yet he had the art to conciliate their favour and use it to supplant others. Shortly after this, General Lee was ordered to Charleston, South Carolina, to oppose Clinton ; so that he being em- ployed in the south, and Schuyler at the north, Put- nam, as the only remaining major-general, had com- mand in the city of New York. He made his head- quarters in a house left vacant by the owner, Cap- tain Kennedy, of the British navy, being the first house in Broadway, since enlarged, and known as No. 1. But General Washington soon arrived, and fixed his head-quarters in the house built by Mortier, the English paymaster-general, who, as we have seen, had made his fortune and gone to Eng-
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land. This house, was then standing on an emi- nence looking over the North river, and surrounded by a park and garden ; it is now reduced to the level of its thousand neighbouring buildings, and degra- ded to the condition of a tap-room, to what is called the Richmond Hill theatre, at the corner of Varick and Charlton streets, with five streets between it and the river.
John. You remember this house, perhaps, far out of town.
Un. Yes. So it remained until many years after the revolution. On the 17th of June, 1776, General Gates having been appointed a major-general, con- gress directed the commander-in-chief to send him on to Canada. By the instructions to Gates from congress, dated the 24th, he is appointed commander of the troops in Canada, with power to appoint a deputy adjutant-general, &c. At this time a plot was discovered in New York, planned by Governor Tryon, and forwarded by David Matthews, whom he had appointed mayor. Matthews and several citi- zens were implicated, and put in confinement. Some of the continental soldiers had been bribed to enlist for the king's service; one of these was tried as a traitor and mutineer, condemned and shot. His name was Thomas Hickey. Matthews and the other citizens were, after a short confinement, sent on to Litchfield in Connecticut, and such indulgence as might be consistent with safe-keeping was recom- mended. And now the great fleet and army of Bri- tain arrived at Sandy Ilook; and the Americans had a proof that their batteries could not prevent the English ships from passing the city. The Phoenix frigate, and ancther ship of war, sailed without injury up the North river, (notwithstanding a cannonade from all the guns that could be brought to bear upon them,) and anchored in Tapan bay.
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Wm. Where did the English army land, sir ?
Un. On Staten Island; and there General Howe for a time fixed his head-quarters. He had been joined by Governor Tryon, and many gentlemen from New York and New Jersey, who encouraged him with the hope that great numbers would gather in arms round his standard. He appointed Mr. De- lancey of New York, and Mr. Cortland Skinner of Perth Amboy, generals of brigade; and expected from their influence a great accession of tories to his English army. In the mean time, General Washington made every disposition in his power with his motley, undisciplined, and refractory troops, to meet this great and well-appointed army. Gen- eral Mercer, with what was called the flying camp, was stationed at Perth Amboy, divided by a narrow channel from the enemy, whose sentinels were full in view.
Wm. Uncle, you promised to give us some ac- count of the brigadier-generals appointed by con- gress, as well as of the major-generals, and you have mentioned two already as commanding bodies of troops, and have not told us any thing of their previous history.
Un. What two do you allude to ?
Wm. General Wooster who marched to New York with the Connecticut forces; and now, Gen- eral Mercer.
Un. Of these two gentlemen, as they have ap- proached New York, I must give you some account. And first, General David Wooster was born in Con- necticut, in 1710, and consequently was, at the time he encamped at Haerlem, in 1775, sixty-five years of age. He received a liberal education, and early in life entered into the service of the colony in a military capacity. He commanded a company at the taking of Louisburg, by the provincials, in 1745,
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and was afterward complimented with a captain's commission in the regular service, under Sir Wil- liam Pepperel. On the approach of war he resign- ed his half-pay as a British officer, and engaged ac- tively in forwarding the expedition against Crown Point and 'Ticonderoga. When congress appointed brigadier-generals, the 22d June, 1775, he was the third on the list. He was ordered from the neigh- bourhood of New York to join General Schuyler, and embarked for Albany, on the 28th of Septem- ber. General Wooster, owing to the misfortunes attending our arms in Canada, at one time command- ed the retreating troops, and after that expedition, retired to private life; but his native state appointed him their first major-general of militia, in which capacity he lost his life at the age of sixty-seven, in bravely attempting to repulse the British in their at- tack upon Danbury. He was one of those truc pa- triots who preferred the service of his country to rank or etiquette. General Mercer was a native of Scotland, settled in Viginia, and abandoned the pro- fession of a physician for the dangers of war in the cause of his adopted country. He fell gloriously at
Princeton, in January, 1777, in an action which will hereafter arrest your attention. But another briga- dier-general had fallen, even before the period at which we have arrived, and was the second nomi- nated by congress-Richard Montgomery. Al-
though he fought and bled far from New York, he was the leader of the New York forces, and was adopted as one of her most estimable children. You have seen how he lamented the absence of his com. manding officer, General Schuyler, and although it would be irrelevant to enter into a detail of the war in Canada, I will read to you some extracts, communi- cated in manuscript, to me, from his letters to that great man, whom he always addressed, as " My Dear
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General," in a most respectful and affectionate style. From his camp, near St. Johns, he writes, " I have great dependance on your presence to ad- minister to our many wants." "Should Arnold come in my neighbourhood, has he orders to put himself under my command ? You know his am- bition, and I need not point out the bad consequences of a separate command." " Colonel Allen passed the St. Lawrence, below St. Johns, with twenty of ours, and fifty Canadians; he was attacked, taken pris- oner, and two or three of his men killed. I lament that his imprudence and ambition urged him to this affair single-handed." You may observe the deli- cacy with which he speaks of this rash attempt of Allen to surprise Montreal, when he ought to have consulted and acted under the orders of his superi- our officer.
Wm. Poor Ethan Allen paid dearly for his for- wardness this time.
Un. Yes. He was sent to England in irons. The next year he was put on board a frigate and carried to Halifax. There he remained in jail du- ring the summer, and was then removed to New York, where he was in confinement near a year and a half. We shall meet him again when we speak of the provost-jail, and Cunningham, the provost-mar- shal. To return to Brigadier-general Montgomery. He, in his letters to Schuyler, complains of his troops. In one instance, he says, "I have sent back ten bonts with the naked and lazy." In another letter, dated South side St. Johns, October 6th, he says, " Your diligence and foresight have saved us from the difficulties that threatened us, and we are no longer afraid of slavery .?? " Our army shows great want of military spirit. Our sensible officers swal. low every old woman's story that is dropped in their Inouths." " There has been shocking embezzle-
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ment of the publick stores. and moneys." " Pray send me Yorkers, they don't melt away half so fast as their castern neighbours."
John. What does that mean, sir ?
Un. I presume that the Eastern militia had just at that time taken the liberty to go home. He says, " We want iron, steel, ammunition, a ten-inch mor- tar." " Your residence at Ticonderoga, has proba- bly enabled us to keep our ground. How much do the publick owe you for your attention and activi- ty !" On the 13th of October, he describes his troops as on the brink of mutiny, owing " to insubordina- tion and want of discipline;" but the surrender of Chamblee changed the face of affairs, and on the 20th, he says, the troops are in high spirits, " the of- ficers of the seventh regiment taken at Chamblee are genteel men. I have had great pleasure in show- ing them all the attention in my power." He says, he has not in his "camp above seven hundred and fifty men." About the last of October, General Wooster arrived with the Connecticut men. On the 31st of October, Montgomery writes to his friend Schuyler, " I must earnestly request to be suffered to retire, should matters stand on such a footing this winter as to permit me to go off with honour.
I have not talents nor temper for such a command. I
am under the disagreeable necessity of acting eter- nally out of character-to wheedle, flatter, and lie. I stand in a constrained attitude. I will bear with it for a short time, but I cannot bear it long." " Mr. Wooster has behaved hitherto much to my satisfaction."
Wm. What does he mean, sir, by being under the necessity of acting out of character ?
Un. He has already said that his troops were in- subordinate and mutinous ; that his " sensible officers swallow every old woman's story;" that there is
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"shocking embezzlement of stores and moneys." In short, my children, there is no greater delusion existing than the vulgar opinion, that every revolu- tionary officer or soldier was a patriot or a hero. Justice can never be done to Washington, and his friends, adherents, and supporters, until it is fully understood with what jarring, selfish, and corrupt materials, they had to work out the salvation of their country. You will read, and I hope every Amer- ican will read, the description General Washington gives of the troops assembled at Cambridge and Roxbury.
Wm. Yes, sir, but there were the brave Colonels Prescott and Starke.
Un. True, boy; and Whitecombe, and many others. But selfishness, thirst of lucre, jealousy, and insubordination pervaded the mass. By slow degrees, and with seeming reluctance, congress was made sensible, through the remonstrances of Wash- ington, of the remedies necessary to theit salvation. In addition to these difficulties, which that great man had to contend with, were the machinations of those who could bully and bluster, or " wheedle, flatter, and lie," without departing from character. When we return to New York island I shall have again to mention the character of the troops at the com- mencement of the war ; and as we proceed, to dwell on the systematick endeavours of intriguers to vili- fy and overthrow Washington. At present let us fin- ish what we have to say of the heroick Montgomery.
John. Who was Colonel Whitcombe, sir ?
Un. He commanded a regiment before Boston, and it being necessary to remodel the army, it fell to his lot to lose his regiment. Instead of murmuring, he encouraged those who were his late private sol- diers to re-enlist, by offering himself as a companion in the ranks. Thus forming a fine contrast to those
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gentlemen, who, if their commissions were dated a few weeks or days amiss, retired from the service of their country, rather than sacrifice their rank, and talked loudly of wounded honour, as Arnold did afterward, when others were appointed to rank over him.
Wm. But, sir, what became of the good Colonel Whitcombe ?
Un. Another good officer, Colonel Brewer, who had been appointed to command Whitcombe's regi- ment, declined in favour of his predecessor, and Whitcombe was restored, while the noble Brewer served under him. These were the true heroes. But, boys, I must go on with my story relative to Montgomery, which will soon be brought to an end, as I do not intend to relate the particulars of the war in Canada. St. Johns surrendered the 3d No- vember, and the 13th, Montreal capitulated. The noble-minded Montgomery says, in a letter to Schuy- ler, " if your health will not permit you to engage in this affair, Lee ought, by all means, to have com- mand here." He says, "The troops are exceeding- ly turbulent, and indeed mutinous. My vexation and distress can only be alleviated by reflecting on the great publick advantages which must arise from my unparalleled good fortune." He laments that more gentlemen of education would not engage in the service, and says, that the officers of the " first regiment of Yorkers." were on the point of a mu- tiny, because he would not stop the clothing of the garrison of St. Johns. " I would not have sullied my own reputation, and disgraced the continental army, by such a breach of capitulation, for the universe." He speaks in high terms of our old friend, Captain John Lamb, but he says, the " rascally Green Moun- tain boys have left me in the lurch after promising to go down to Quebec." The complaints this gal-
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lant gentleman makes of his commissaries and offi- cers are painful and mortifying. In one instance he felt himself so much insulted by a remonstrance which a number of his officers presumed to make against the indulgence he had given "some of the officers of the king's troops," that he immediately resigned his command, and only resumed it upon their submission and apology. To the last, he found dissensions, and a spirit of insubordination among the troops. You know that he attacked Quebec, and was killed .. You know, John and William, that this gallant officer was born in the north of Ireland. He served in the English army for some years, but preferring this country, he, in 1772, pur- chased an estate on the North river, and married a daughter of Judge Livingston, the sister of Chan- cellor Livingston, and of the late distinguished Ed- ward Livingston.
. Phil. I have read on his monument in front of St. Paul's church, that he fell in the attack on Que- bec, the 31st of December, 1775.
Un. Three other brigadier-generals of the conti- nental army were on service in and near the city of New York, in the summer of 1776. I will give you a short notice of each; and first, Nathaniel Greene.
John. He was the true friend of Washington and his country.
Un. General Greene was born in Rhode Island, and commanded the militia of his native state at Cambridge. Congress appointed him a brigadier- general in June, 1775, and he soon displayed those talents which acquired the confidence of the com- mander-in-chief. He received the commission of major-general on the 9th of August, 1776; and was intrusted by General Washington with the command on Long Island, but, unhappily for many a brave man, was rendered incapable before the battle of
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Brooklyn, by a severe attack of fever. The next I shall mention is Brigadier John Sullivan of New Hampshire, who was appointed in June, 1775, and served in the unfortunate war of the north, but arrived in time to experience the disasters of Brook- lyn. Hedid good service after his exchange. The last brigadier-general I shall now mention is Lord Stirling, who was appointed by congress, in Febru- ary or March, 1776.
WVm. What! an American lord, Uncle ?
Un. Certainly not, boy. This gentleman claim- ed to inherit the dignity of an earl from the cir- cumstance that his father's cousin, who was Earl of Stirling, died without male issue. General Lord Stirling was in early life known as Mr. William Alexander, and served as an officer in the old French wars. In 1775, he was appointed to the command of the first continental regiment that was raised in New Jersey, and had the distinction of receiving one of the first votes of thanks granted by congress. It was for the successful results of a daring enterprise projected by him, and accomplished by his embark- ing with a detachment of his regiment from Eliza- bethtown, and proceeding in three small unarmed vessels to the outside of Sandy Hook, (while the Asia man-of-war, with her tender, lay in the bay of New York,) and capturing a transport ship of three hun- dred tuns, armed with six guns, and freighted with stores for the British army. We shall soon see what share he had in the subsequent events of the war. He was ever the firm friend of Washington. Now let us take our usual walk.
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