USA > New York > Kings County > Williamsburgh > A history of the city of Brooklyn : including the old town and village of Brooklyn, the town of Bushwick, and the village and city of Williamsburgh > Part 32
USA > New York > Kings County > Bushwick > A history of the city of Brooklyn : including the old town and village of Brooklyn, the town of Bushwick, and the village and city of Williamsburgh > Part 32
USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > A history of the city of Brooklyn : including the old town and village of Brooklyn, the town of Bushwick, and the village and city of Williamsburgh > Part 32
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1 Anbury's Travels, ii. 540.
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public and a number of your readers, by inserting a description of the grand and elegant illumination at the King's Head Tavern, on last evening, in honor of her Majesty's birthday ; and it is the desire of the public, as Messrs. Loosely and Elms have ever shown their attachment to the British Government, and a detestation of the present rebellion, that, through the channel of your much-esteemed paper, their conduct may be known and approved of in Europe, as well as by the loyalists in New York. The tavern was illuminated with upwards of two hundred wax-lights. In the centre were the royal arms of Great Britain, and above it, statues of the present king and queen, under a canopy of state elegantly decorated, which shone, like their majesties' virtues, conspicuous to the world. The view of the reduction of Mud Fort (on one side) by his majesty's ships, Roebuck and Vigilant, gave that joy which Britons always feel on the success and honor of their country. On the other side, their generous indignation was roused by a view of those men (the Congress) whose ambition has almost ruined this unhappy country, and reduced its inhabitants to the greatest distress. It was very apropos of the painter to place the devil at the President's elbow, who tells him to persevere, with so significant a grin as seems to indicate his having no manner of doubt of their making his house their home in the infernal regions. The statue of Mr. Pitt, with- out its head, was placed near the Congress, as being one of their kidney, and gave a hint of what ought, long ago, to have been done. The verses over the tavern door were very proper on the occasion, and well illuminated. In short, every thing was well conducted, and the tout ensemble had really a fine effect. Much is due to Messrs. Loosely and Elms for their patriotic spirit, which meets the appro- bation of every man who is a friend to his king and country."
1779. In February of this year, the 33d Regiment light infantry (300), and 2d battalion Highlanders (750), were encamped at Bed- ford, and the 3d Prince Hereditary (350), and 4th Charles (300), at Brooklyn.
Gaine's Mercury, Sept. 27th, advertises "a cricket match for fifty guineas, between Brooklyn and Greenwich clubs, to be played this day at Loosely and Elms, 10 A. M."
1780. In May, the newly-appointed Governor Robertson writes
4
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to the Home Government that "a large square fort is built on Brooklyn Heights : the season is late ; not a blade of grass. The people within the lines begin to repair and rebuild houses, and manure and inclose lands." The fort here referred to was proba- bly the one erected at the junction of Pierrepont and Henry streets, and was by far the most thoroughly constructed and complete forti- fication erected by the British during their stay on Long Island. The land on which it was built, was, at the time, occupied by several fine orchards, which, of course, were ruthlessly levelled by the engi- neers of the army. The position was a very commanding one,' and the extremely level nature of the ground rendered the work one of great labor. Old inhabitants used to speak of having seen from two to three thousand British soldiers engaged upon these works at the same time, in digging trenches, and wheeling earth in bar- rows, to form the walls; in addition to which, all the inhabitants on the island were assessed according to their respective counties for a certain number of days' work.2
1 We learn from Mr. Henry E. Pierrepont, of Brooklyn, that, according to careful sur- vey made for him in 1838, by Alfred Craven, the well-known engineer of the Erie rail- road, and latterly the head of the Croton Water Board, the site of this fort was found to be three feet one inch higher than the level of the land in Washington, near Con- cord streets, making it the highest, and therefore the most suitable position for such a fortification in that part of the town.
We also learn from Furman's MSS., that when the British army evacuated New York, Messrs. Middagh, Bamper, Golden, and Debevoise, owners of the lands whereon the fort was built, commenced to dismantle the fortification, tearing down its gates, barracks, etc .; quite forgetful of the fact that the property really belonged to the Government, although located on their premises. They at last quarrelled among them- selves as to the disposition of the wreck ; and the affair coming to the knowledge of Gov. Clinton, he issued an order, through the sheriff of Kings County, commanding them to desist from further dismantling the fort, and to render an account of all prop- erty taken away. Although extremely alarmed at this proceeding, the matter was afterwards amicably arranged between the Government and the proprietors, who finally obtained permission to complete the work of demolition. The ramparts, how- ever, remained until about 1836, since which time the ground has been fully occupied by one of the most elegant portions of our city.
? All the brushwood in the neighborhood of Newtown was cut down and made up into fascines, about twelve feet long and the size of a man's body, which the farmers were compelled to cart into Brooklyn, where they were to be used in supporting the earth walls of the fort. A man with two horses, or oxen, and a wagon, was obliged to labor for a week or ten days in cutting and transporting these fascines, or timber and other material for barracks. A large number of mechanics were also employed in the construction of a gate and drawbridge-a most substantial and costly work of great
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It is said to have been an exciting and exceedingly interesting sight to witness several thousand men, soldiers, mechanics, farmers, and laborers, all busily en- gaged in erecting this exten- PIERRIPON! sive fortification, on lands which, a few months previous, FICIIIIIII LANE. had been covered only with BARRACKS HENRY ST HENRY ST thrifty orchards, under whose O WELL grateful shades cattle quietly grazed or reposed. Nature had yielded to the rude hand of war; but years have again passed, and the same locality, under the inspiration of mod- LOVE ern civilization, has experienced JACKSON'S PIERRECINT BROOKLYN FORT. a still more marvellous change ; so that the stranger who walks our thickly populated streets, can scarcely realize that he treads upon "Revolutionary ground."
This fort was 450 feet square, with ramparts rising about forty or fifty feet above the bottom of the surrounding ditch, itself twenty feet in depth.1 At the angles of the fort were bastions, on each of which
weight, having a quantity of iron work about it, yet so admirably constructed as to be easily raised and lowered by one person. Besides these, some forty workmen were em- ployed in digging a well, in the exact centre of the fort-an undertaking of great labor and expense. Furman's MSS. says: "So deep were they obliged to go for water, that they almost despaired of ever finding it, but reached it finally. It is stoned with freestone, regularly cut, and is probably the best constructed and most expensive well on the island, if not in the State, and is now used as a public well, a pump having been put in it for the upper part of Henry street. It was built by a man named Schofield, who received a guinea a day for superintending it. Schofield commenced the job a poor laboring man, working himself ; but before long he wore ruffles to his shirt, and hired laborers to carry on the work, which, however, was well done." Under date of August 23, 1823, Furman's MSS. "record the frame of the first building erected on the site of the old British fort, through which Jackson's, alias Love Lane, passes, put up this day on Henry street. It is to be a two-story wooden dwelling- house, about thirty feet broad and fifty feet deep, owned by Samuel Jackson, Esq. At this time there are no houses south of Cranberry street." The well in said fort " has not been used since the evacuation, in 1783. It is now cleaned out, and a well- house built over it, for the purpose of supplying the above-mentioned house with water. Considerable part of the remains of the fort has been levelled within a year or two."
1 In the earlier village days, these ditches of the old fort furnished an excellent place for target-firing, which was frequently practised there by the citizen soldiery.
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was planted a buttonwood-tree, which afterwards attained a very large size. The barracks were very substantially constructed. In front of the fort, on the line of the present Fulton street, between Pierrepont and Clark streets, stood a row of small mud huts, erected by the British army sutlers.1 The fortification was not completed in July, 1781, at which time it had only eighteen cannon mount- ed.2
On June 14, 1780, citizens of Brooklyn thanked the 76th Regiment, commanded by the Earl of Caithness, and afterwards by Capt. Bruce, for their constant good order and decorum during their resi- dence at Brooklyn.3
Gaine's Mercury, of July 2d, 1780, contains the following ad- vertisement, issued by Loosely and Elms : "Pro bono publico. Thursday next, bull-baiting at Brooklyn ferry. The bull is remark- ably strong and active; the best dogs in the country expected, and they that afford the best diversion will be rewarded with silver col- lars." Such were the elegant and refined amusements with which the aristocracy of the British army whiled away their leisure !
A few days later, July 17th, an address was presented to Gov. Robertson, on the occasion of his accession, in behalf and at the request of the inhabitants of Kings County, signed by Wm. Axtell, Rutgert Van Brunt, Richard Stillwell, Jeromus Lott, Ab. Luquere, M. Cowenhoven, Rem Cowenhoven, Maj. Jeromus V. D. Belt, Adrian Van Brunt, Leffert Lefferts, and Johannes Bergen, who "concur with His Excellency in ascribing to the ambitious and self-interested views of a few who conceal from the multitude the offers of Great Britain, that our countrymen, once so happy, are brought to feel the miseries held up to their fears, to seduce them from the felicity they once enjoyed, subjected, as they now are, to a usurpation that has annihilated their commerce, shed their blood, and wasted their prop- erty, and is now dragging the laborious husbandman from the plough to the field of battle, to support their unauthorized combinations with designing popish and arbitrary powers. They cannot suffi- ciently applaud His Excellency for affording them the means of
1 Furman's MS. Mem., ix., 376, on authority of Mr. Jacob Hicks, an old resident of Brooklyn.
2 Onderdonk, Rev. Incid., 101.
3 Onderdonk, Kings Co., p. 187.
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extricating themselves, and assure him of their loyal endeavors for His Majesty's service."
About this time the 43d Regiment were encamped near Brooklyn.
This year was a lively one for the troops quartered here, if we may judge from the following advertisements :
"PRO BONO PUBLICO .- Saturday next being the birthday of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Loosely, agreeable to an hon- est old custom, wishes to see his royal and constitutional friends- dinner at 3. The evening to conclude with fireworks and illumina- tions. A good band of music. REBELS approach no nearer than the heights of Brooklyn."-Rivington, Aug. 9, '80.
" Anniversary of the Coronation of our ever good and gracious King, will be celebrated at Loosely's, 22d inst. It is expected that no rebel will approach nearer than Flatbush wood."-Rivington, Sept. 20, 1780.
" BY PERMISSION-THREE DAYS' SPORT ON ASCOT HEATH, FORMERLY FLATLANDS PLAIN .- Monday, 1. The Nobleman's and Gentleman's Purse of £60, free for any horse except Mr. Wortman's and Mr. Allen's Dulcimore, who won the plate at Beaver Pond last season. 2. A saddle, bridle and whip, worth £15, by ponies not exceeding 133 hands : Tuesday, 1. Ladies' subscription purse of £50. 2. To be run for by women, a Holland smock and chintz gown, full- trimmed, to run the best two in 3, quarter-mile heats ; the first to have the smock and gown of 4 guineas value, the second a guinea, the third a half-guinea : Wednesday. County subscription purse, £50. No person will erect a booth or sell liquor, without subscrib- ing two guineas towards the expense of the race. Gentlemen fond of fox-hunting will meet at Loosely's King's Head Tavern at day- break during the races.
"God Save the King played every hour."-Rivington, Nov. 4, 1780.
In the early autumn of this year, Lieutenant-General Riedesel was appointed by Gen. Clinton to the command of Brooklyn, a mark of especial confidence, as Long Island was then the great depot of supplies for the British army in New York, and was occupied by the best English troops ; but few of the German mercenaries being gar- risoned there. And, although the British were usually averse to the authority of any of the foreign generals, yet so great was the repu-
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tation which this amiable and talented soldier had won for himself, that all, and especially the officers, vied with each other in mani- festing their own good-will, as well as their appreciation of his merits. The general's headquarters were in a small house on the shore, where, early in the spring of 1781, he was joined by his wife and family. His domestic comfort, however, was much disturbed by his apprehensions of capture by the Americans, who were always on the alert, and to whom the peculiar nature of the country, with its bays, creeks, and inlets, afforded many chances of success. That his fears were not unfounded, was proved by the fate of one of his officers, Major Maibom, who, having just been exchanged, was one night surprised in his bed and hurried into a second captivity.1 Riedesel knew that he was a prize much coveted by the Americans, and having recently suffered from the inconveniences and hardships of captivity, took especial pains not to be caught "napping." So careful was he, " that he slept only while his wife was awake; the least noise brought him out of his bed." He had sentinels in and about his house, but never trusted entirely to their watchfulness.2 The detail of guard-service had been much neglected by the English officers previously in command, but Riedesel instituted very thor- ough and wholesome reforms in this respect. At a quarter to nine o'clock every morning the guards assembled at the rendezvous, where the parade was formed in four sections. The pickets who had been on duty during the previous night were also obliged to be present at this parade, but were allowed to return to their barracks at its conclusion. At half-past six o'clock in the evening was the
1 Probably the one mentioned by Onderdonk, Kings Co., sec. 189 : "On Sunday night April 15th, Capt. Huyler, of Brunswick, made a descent on Michael Bergen's house, at Gowanus, and captured a Hessian major and ensign, with their waiters. They were in the centre of two picket guards, yet the address of Huyler was such that the guards were not alarmed until he was fairly out of reach."
2 There were at this time (1781) quartered at Flatbush a battalion composed of Ger- man troops, with German officers, and commanded by Major Lucke. The exchanged Brunswick dragoons, who had been made prisoners at Bennington, were also stationed there, under Captain von Schlagenteuffel, sen., to whom, in general orders of April 29th, General Riedesel says, "Captain von Schlagenteuffel, sen., in locating (i. e. quartering) the officers of the regiment of dragoons, will make such arrangements that no officer runs the risk of being captured." And, on the 6th of May, he issued " special instruc- tions regulative for the different guards in and around Brooklyn."
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" appell," at which the troops were present with their muskets and full equipments. The general was always present at these morning and evening parades. During the night, three " officers' rounds" were made, and between each of them two patrols, commanded by subaltern officers, visited all the guards and posts in Brooklyn, the fort and the pickets. They also gave their particular attention to the sailors of the British navy, who were apt, when ashore, to get into pot-house broils.
On the 22d of July, 1781, the general, with his family and at- tendants embarked for Canada, bearing with them the good wishes of the numerous warm friends whose courteous attentions had made their stay in New York and Brooklyn so pleasant.1
During the winter of 1780-81, the East River was frozen solid from the Brooklyn shore half-way across, and on the edge of the ice, near the centre of the river, hundreds of cords of wood were piled for the use of the English army. The Long Island farmers, bringing produce to the city, drove on the ice to the middle of the river, where they placed their loads on board the ferry-boats. The English feared lest the Americans should take advantage of the ice to attack New York. The Americans, however, transported some troops and can- non on the ice from New Jersey to Staten Island .- Furman MSS.
1781. " Pro Bono Publico .- By permission, four days sport, on Easter Monday, on Ascot Heath. Purses of £50, £50, £100, £100." -Rivington, Feb. 12.
"Grand Races at Ascot Heath postponed till June 6, on account of the King's birthday ; on which occasion it is expected every true subject will so strain his nerves in rejoicing, as to prevent this amusement being agreeable before that time. A hurling match on the ground, June 5, when those who have a curiosity to play (or see) that ancient diversion, will get hurls and bats at the Irish Flag."- Gaine, May 30, '81.
" To all who know it not, be it understood,
Pro bono publico means mankind's good.
"This day, being Wednesday, the 20th of June, will be exhibited,
1 Max von Elkin's Life and Acts of Gen. Riedesel, published at Leipsic, 1856, ii. 321, 333, 337, 340, 346, 359 ; for translations of which we are indebted to Dr. R. Barthel- mess, of Brooklyn. Also Mad. de Riedesel's Mem., pp. 249-252.
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at Brooklyn Ferry, A BULL-BAITING after the true English manner. Taurus will be brought to the ring at half-past three o'clock; some good dogs are already provided, but every assistance of that sort will be esteemed a favor. A dinner exactly British will be upon Loosely's table at eleven o'clock, after which there is no doubt but that the song of 'Oh ! the Roast Beef of Old England !' will be sung with harmony and glee.
" This notice gives to all who covet Baiting the bull and dearly love it, To-morrow's very afternoon, At three-or rather not so soon- A bull of magnitude and spirit Will dare the dog's presuming merit.
Taurus is steel to the back-bone, And canine cunning does disown ; True British blood runs thro' his veins,
And barking numbers he disdains. Sooner than knavish dogs shall rule, He'll prove himself a true JOHN BULL."1
At this time (July 8) Brooklyn Fort, although yet imperfect, hav- ing but eighteen cannon mounted, had two bomb-proof magazines and a garrison of two hundred Brunswickers. "Cobble Hill," also in process of repair, was occupied by two companies.2 The Fifty- fourth Regiment were encamped at " Ferry Hill," two miles from Brooklyn, and at Bedford were two hundred grenadiers.
The stationary camp at Bedford was located on broken ground, then on the farm of Barent Lefferts, now crossed by Franklin and Classon avenues, Bergen, Wyckoff, Warren, Baltic, and Butler streets. The huts or barracks were built by throwing out the earth from a trench thirty to fifty feet long SECTIONAL VIEW. and about twelve or fif- teen feet wide, with a board roof resting on the bank formed by the excavated earth. A large stone fireplace or two were arranged in
1 Rivington, June 20, 1781.
2 " Cobble Hill commanded Brooklyn Fort, but was made lower, for fear it might fall into the hands of the Continentals."-Onderdonk, p. 191.
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each one. These huts were irregularly scattered, according to the slope of the ground, so as to have the entrance at the middle of the lower side. A small mound on Bergen street, just west of Franklin avenue, designated, until the ground was levelled in 1852, the position of the flag- staff and the en- trance of the Bed- ford camp. Many relics have been dug VIEW ON LOWER SIDE. up on this camping-ground, and human skeletons are often discov- ered during the progress of grading the land. The site of every hut could still be distinguished in 1852. The officers were located out- side of this camp, in the adjacent woods, and wherever convenient and pleasant spots tempted them to pitch their tents. Headquar- ters were at the Leffert Lefferts house, yet standing on the corner of Fulton avenue and Clove Road, and family tradition states that the lamented Major John André was quartered at this house when he was called to New York on the interview with Gen. Clinton, which resulted in his being sent up the North River on the mission which terminated in his capture and execution as a spy. His personal effects were mostly taken in charge by his fellow-officers; but a camp folding-chair belonging to him was for many years preserved in the Lefferts family, until recently presented to the Long Island Historical Society.
In the Royal Gazette of August 8th, 1781, published at New York, Charles Loosely advertises a lottery of $12,500 to be drawn at " Brooklyn Hall." The same paper contains the following adver- tisement : " PRO BONO PUBLICO .- Gentlemen that are fond of fox- hunting are requested to meet at Loosely's Tavern, on Ascot Heath, on Friday morning next, between the hours of five and six, as a pack of hounds will be there purposely for a trial of their abilities. Breakfasting and Relishes until the Races commence. At eleven o'clock will be run for, an elegant saddle, etc., value at least twenty pounds, for which upwards of twelve gentlemen will ride their own horses. At twelve a match will be rode by two gentlemen, Horse
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for Horse. At one, a match for thirty guineas, by two gentlemen, who will also ride their own horses. Dinner will be ready at two o'clock, after which and suitable regalements, racing and other diversions will be calculated to conclude the day with pleasure and harmony. Brooklyn Hall, 6th August, 1781."
"B. Creed's Jamaica and Brooklyn Hall Stage Machine, 6s. a passage ; not answerable for money, plate, and jewels, unless entered and paid for."-Rivington, March, 1781.
And again : " Brooklyn Hunt .- The hounds will throw off at Denyse Ferry at 9, Thursday morning. A guinea or more will be given for a good strong bag fox by Charles Loosely."-Riv., Nov. 14, '81.
1782. In March of this year we find, in the Tory prints, some bitter complaining, on the part of the inhabitants of the county, against the rebel leaders, on account of heavy debts contracted by their prisoners, from May, '79, to Feb., '81, for board and washing, which, at $2 per week, had accumulated to nearly £20,000, for which their commissary had given notes of hand. Congress, how- ever, afterwards appropriated $30,000 to liquidate these debts.
The Anhault Zerbet Regiment were at this time stationed at Brooklyn.
"A sweepstakes of 300 guineas was won by Jacob Jackson's mare, Slow and Easy, over Mercury and Goldfinder, on Ascot Heath. The two beaten horses are to run for 100 guineas a side, on Wednes- day next, on the same ground."-Rivington, April 27, '82.
"May 3, on Monday se'nnight the enemy (British) began to break ground to cut a canal on L. I., to run from the Wallabout to the Pond, taking in Cobble Hill Fort. The length of the trench is 24 miles. The militia are called out in rotation one day in a week, none above 15 being excused from labor."-Conn. Courant, May 7, '82,
This " canal" is more accurately described by General Jeremiah Johnson as a strong line of intrenchment, extending from the hill of Rem. A. Remsen along the high lands of John Rapelje, crossing Sands street near Jay street, and thence over the highest land in Washington street, between Concord and Nassau streets, across the Jamaica Road (Fulton street) to the large fort, already described, on the corner of Henry and Pierrepont streets.
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" Ascot Heath Races .- Monday next a match for 60 guineas between Mr. Van Mater's Juniper and Mr. Ryerson's Calf-Skin. To run the best of 3 two-mile heats."-Rivington, May 25, '82.
June 3d. " The lines drawn between Brooklyn Church and the Ferry, by Clinton, are not likely to be completed by Carlton. They are carting fascines now. On Long Island are now about 3,500 men." 1
As we have already seen, the enterprising landlord of "The King's Head" tavern was not insensible to the advantages of advertising ; and this summer, by way of tickling the humors of his patrons, and, perhaps, of aiding a lottery enterprise which he had in hand, he issued a newspaper. This, the first paper ever issued in Brooklyn, was printed upon a dingy sheet of about the ordinary "letter size" now in use, and contained three columns of " close matter," printed on one side of the sheet only. It was named (with Loosely's usual preface, " Pro bono Publico)," "THE BROOKLYN-HALL SUPER-EXTRA GAZETTE," dated Saturday, June 8th, 1782, and its contents may be characterized as displaying more loyalty and "heavy wit" than lite- rary merit. A copy of this sheet, the only one known to be in exist- ence, can be seen among the curiosities of the Naval Lyceum, in the U. S. Navy Yard, in this city.2
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