USA > New York > Orange County > Monroe > Chronicles of Monroe in the olden time : town and village, Orange County, New York > Part 4
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War of the Revolution.
of resisting such an overwhelming force, the re- mainder escaped and made their way to the camp at New Windsor. Among those who escaped were the governor and his brother James Clinton, the latter wounded by a bayonet. The attacking force lost few men, among whom, however, was Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell.
Another memorable hero of that engagement was Colonel William Allison, ancestor of Monroe fami- lies. He was commander of the Goshen regiment, sharing that honor with Colonel Tusten, and taking command alternately. It was Colonel Tusten's turn when the battle of Minisink was fought, where he fell. But it was Colonel Allison's turn when the English moved to attack Fort Montgomery. His aids were Captains Woodhull, Tuthill, and his own son Lieutenant Micah Allison. When it was known that the British troops were moving up the river, he threw out the signals to summon the yeomanry from the surrounding country, among whom were the minute-men of Monroe. In the fierce conflict that ensued Colonel William Allison was among the hun- dred or more prisoners taken, who were imprisoned some in the old sugar-house, others upon a prison ship, the horrors of which will never be forgotten. Which was the place of the colonel's confinement does not appear, but a letter is in possession of Mrs. C. B. Knight, written from Long Island while he was a prisoner under parole. A commission is also in existence making him brigadier-general, signed by Governor George Clinton, and dated 1782, a facsim- ile of which is in the history of the Allison family. His son Lieutenant Allison was among the killed, and no doubt was cast with the rest in a small
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Chronicles of Monroe in the Olden Time.
pond in the town of Monroe, and close at hand, where their remains presented a most pitiful spectacle and illustration of the horrors of war. We may state in passing that Colonel Allison had two daughters, Mary and Sarah. The former was married to Dr. William Elmer and the latter to Sheriff W. D. Thompson. Dr. Elmer, of Monroe, traces his de- scent from the former, and Mrs. Chauncey B. Knight from the latter. The Allisons of Chester spring from a collateral branch. After the engagement the chain was taken up by the enemy, a garrison was placed in the forts, and the name of Fort Clinton was changed to Fort Vaughan. The British commander then sailed up the river to Kingston, which he burned. But, hearing of the defeat of Burgoyne, he beat a hasty retreat down the river, withdrawing all his forces from the fastnesses of the Highlands.
Soon occurs another incident of interest to the denizens of this old town. We refer to the construc- tion of the second chain. The importance of ob- structing the river became still more apparent now, because of the ease with which the enemy's fleet had passed the former obstructions and the havoc that had been made with mills, towns and forts, so that Albany was the only city lying between them and Canada. It was apparent, also, that more formidable means must be devised. General Hughes first wrote to General Gates, November, 1777, stating that he, with the Clintons and an engineer, had visited the fortifications on the river, and had decided that forts be erected at "the West Point," and that a chain and chevaux de frise be stretched across to Constitution Island. It was followed by a correspondence between Governor Clinton and Generals Gates, Putnam and
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War of the Revolution.
the commander-in-chief. The last so emphasized the necessity as to pronounce it of infinite importance. Accordingly measures were taken to fortify West Point, and that was selected as the place best fitted to stretch a chain and boom, because the river was narrowest at that point and could be swept by artil- lery on the shore. And still further it had the ad- vantage of being situated at a sharp bend of the river where the vessels would lose the wind and their momentum, and be compelled to tack. Radiere was designated to engineer the fortifications and Deputy Quartermaster-General Hugh Hughes to superintend the chain.
General Putnam, who had command, in a letter to General Washington referred to the former chain as made of " bad iron." With this hint, General Hughes repaired to the firm of Noble, Townsend & Co., whose iron-works were situated at Stirling, on a lake of the same name, just over the border of Monroe in the town of Warwick. This extensive plant consisted of 23,000 acres of land, a furnace, forge and anchory. These were established in 1752, before the foundation of the government, and had the honor of making the anchors for the first United States frigate. Deputy Quartermaster-General Hugh Hughes visited Stirling February 2, 1778. The traditions of the Townsend family are that the visit was made on Sunday morn- ing and the visitor arrived in a heavy snow-storm. The order was given and the work instantly started. Articles of agreement were drawn, in which the said Noble, Townsend & Co. agree to furnish, on or before April 1 ensuing, a chain, an iron chain * of the follow-
* The links of the chain, as seen at Glen Island, N. Y., measure 45 inches in length, 12 inches in breadth, the bar iron being 41/2 inches square.
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Chronicles of Monroe in the Olden Time.
ing length and quality : that is, in length five hundred yards, each link to be about two feet long, of the best Stirling iron, two inches and one quarter square, or as near thereto as possible, with a swivel to every hundred feet, and a clevis to every thousand feet, in the same manner as those of the former chain. Twelve tons of anchors of sizes needed were in- cluded. For this work the United States government stipulated, through its agent, to pay at the rate of forty pounds for every ton delivered. In case there should occur some variation in the value of the money, they were to be paid 400 pounds sterling for the chain. For six weeks, night and day, seven fires were kept at forging and ten at welding. Sixty men were granted furlough from the army to assist in the work. The work was completed within the time contracted for. The chain was divided into sections of ten links each, loaded on ox-carts and hauled to New Windsor, where it was delivered to Captain Machin to be put together at his forge, thirty miles from Stirling, but the roads part of the way were doubtless very rough. Besides, the weight of the chain, which was one hundred and thirty-six tons, made the task of transportation a formidable one. From the bill of Captain Machin it consisted of iron "wrought into booms, bolts, chains, swivels and bands." The several parts were put together and floated down the river; the boom on April 7, the chain on the 16th, and all was in place on the 30th. General Heath, who properly belongs to Monroe, wrote a description of the chain and its adjustment ; stating that it was fastened to poles about sixteen feet long, sharpened at the end, with a collar cut in the middle, and secured to the chain by staples. Anchors
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War of the Revolution.
were fastened at proper distances to keep it from swaying, and great bolts held it to the rocks at either end. He says the chain was fixed with great dex- terity by 280 men, without accident. The boom was placed in front, and consisted of logs put together with lighter links and placed horizontally, so as to break the force of a sailing vessel before it could reach the chain. According to this same writer, it is evident that the structure was swung around in the winter, to protect it from injury by the ice. Now this was the chain that General Arnold was said to have weakened, by removing a link, at the time of his at- tempt to betray West Point into the hands of Major André. But how he could have removed it for pre- tended need of repair, without suspicion and without destroying its integrity, no one can divine. Of his treachery, however, there is no question.
Benedict Arnold had been a very brave officer, and for valuable services had received many honors. But some disappointments had soured his temper and un- dermined his patriotism. The temptation was pre- sented and the opportunity came. Sir Henry Clinton wanted West Point, the Gibraltar of America, and conceived the idea of resorting to bribery, the force of arms having failed. The time was favorable. Both sides were weary of the strife. Congress was divided; the treasury empty ; the money depreciated ; the brave men unpaid. A deep cloud rested on the cause, which even the aid of France did but partially alleviate. Then it was Arnold opened a secret cor- respondence with Major André, Adjutant-General of the British army. The former wrote under the name of Gustavus; the latter under that of John Ander- son. It was discovered that Gustavus was no less
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than the distinguished commander of West Point, to which post he managed to secure his appointment in order to carry out his traitorous scheme. Arnold made his headquarters at the Beverly Robinson House, which stands on the east side of the river, about two miles south of West Point. In Arnold's letter of August 30, 1780, the transaction is attempted to be disguised under the guise of a business venture in tobacco to be exchanged for ready money; but some difference in regard to the goods, and delay in obtaining the kind, would postpone the arrangement some days. The money for which this Judas was to betray his country, according to this letter, was 300 pounds sterling. After a number of notes it was ar- ranged that Arnold should meet Anderson at Dobbs Ferry ; but a strange course of Providence frustrated the plan. Nothing daunted, Arnold laid another plan, which came near succeeding. Anderson, or André, with Robinson, sailed up the river in the British ship Vulture, to a point near the house of Joshua Hett Smith, which is still standing, situate two miles from Stony Point. This Smith was son of one of the proprietors of the Cheesecock Pat- ent. He was a man of education and refinement, hospitable, and largely trusted by the officers in the patriot army.
According to his journal, he had a brother in the Clove who lived about three miles from the public road. This brother is supposed to have been the father, Claudius Smith, the famous cowboy. How- ever this may have been, certain it is, both were in sympathy in their opposition to the cause of inde- pendence. Their methods were very diverse, but the animus was the same.
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The house of Joshua Hett Smith was chosen for the trysting-place of the conspirators. Robinson wrote to Arnold, under pretext of anxiety about his property, arranging the meeting. Washington came with his staff to King's Ferry, met Arnold, who talked about the Vulture, which was in sight, and also showed Robinson's letter. The commander frowned on the proposal; yet the traitor took not the warning, but rushed on his fate. After a futile attempt to meet André at Dobbs Ferry, he succeeded in his scheme on the night of September 21, 1779. Smith had sent his family to Fishkill. Then, with two of his ten- ants as boatmen, with muffled oars he was rowed to the Vulture. Meanwhile Arnold, with Smith's negro servant, both on horseback, rode to a clump of fir trees, about two miles distant on the shore. Smith brought André to the spot, and here the two plotted till daybreak. Afraid of detection, the boatmen re- fused to convey the British officer to his ship ; hence he and Arnold were compelled to seek concealment in Smith's house. After breakfast the firing of artil- lery was heard from the shore opposite, and from the window the Vulture was seen to swing out and drop down the river. The plotters remained in conceal- ment and close confinement all day. At evening Arnold returned in his barge to the Robinson House, while Smith and Andre crossed to the east side of the river, to try and reach New York. Smith parted from him on the first night and joined his family at Fishkill. André took the river road, disguised in the clothes of Smith. When about a half-mile from Tarrytown three brave pickets sprang out upon him and ordered him to halt. Upon careful search of his person, they found documents, in Arnold's handwrit-
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Chronicles of Monroe in the Olden Time.
ing, giving full details of the disposition of forces about West Point. Neither persuasion nor money moved his brave captors. The commander of the post was inclined to send the papers and prisoner to Arnold; but by a strange dispensation of Providence the letter failed to reach the hands of Arnold, who was quietly awaiting developments. Meanwhile Wash- ington was on his way from Hartford to meet Rocham- beau. He spent Sunday evening with Joshua Hett Smith's family at Fishkill, and rode in the morning to the Robinson House to breakfast with General Arnold and his family. While seated at table with his host and his family, a messenger arrived with the missing note to Arnold. With coolness he arose with an apology, and repaired to one of the chambers, in- formed his wife of his misfortune, kissed his sleeping infant, and left the house suddenly, as if to cross by his barge to his post ; but instead he was rowed by his boatswain to the Vulture, which was at anchor below. Washington was surprised that he had not been at the Point, and crossed to the Robinson House, where Lafayette and Knox handed him the papers concerning André. Convinced of Arnold's treachery, he exclaimed," Who, then, can we trust ?" That night every garrison and picket was put on the alert. Joshua Hett Smith was arrested, and, together with André, was confined at West Point. Both were sent to Tappan and tried. Smith was handed over to the civil authorities, but André was condemned to be executed as a spy. While his candor and amia- bility commended him to the mercy of the com- mander-in-chief, who would gladly have spared him, yet the condition of the army and the country con- stituted the military necessity that seemed to demand
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the execution of this truly brave officer. He was executed at Tappan, on October 2, 1780.
Smith was sent to Goshen and confined in the jail; but afterward escaped, went to England, returned, and died in New York.
Arnold also fled to England. He was seen after- wards by an American party, to whom an English- man said : "He is the only American who has not a friend in his own native land."
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CHAPTER IX.
THE STORY OF CLAUDIUS SMITH.
N OW while these events were occurring in the Highlands, against the dark background was projected another figure that did not lend one re- lieving tint or line. We refer to Claudius Smith, the notorious cowboy. That title was applied to ma- rauders who robbed farmers and others of their stock and valuables, and drove the former to the British headquarters, at this time at New York. They worked in gangs and robbed the loyal Americans far and near. The valley of the Ramapo was their favor- ite stalking-ground, because of its lonely solitudes and caves. Now Claudius was the Robin Hood of this gang. He was of English parentage, coming into Monroe from Southold, L. I., with his father. It is supposed that he was related to Joshua Hett Smith, of whom we have been writing. His father, David Smith, lived off the village road, on what has been known as the John Goff place. His wife is said to have been Jerusha Rumsey; and whatever may have been her political sympathies, she shows her disapproval of her son's career in his quotation of her words on the gallows, when he kicked off his shoes : "Claudius, you will die some day like the
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The Story of Claudius Smith.
trooper's horse." His father was buried in the old part of the cemetery on the lane, and on the old red tombstone are inscribed these lines :
" Here lies the body of David Smith
" Esq'r whose alms he
" has Dispersed abroad his
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" works and faith is still before his God his name
"Shall Long on earth remain
" while envies Sinners freat in vain
" My advice is to both Old and Young
" to make their calling and Election
" sure and to work out their own
" Salvation with fear and trembling
"the Deceased composed this
"work some time before his Death " Born in April 15 in the Year of 1701 Died in Year 1787
The above is a facsimile of this quaint epitaph, for the elucidation of which we are indebted to a friend who to the zeal for the "ancient past" in Monroe adds the patience of Old Mortality. He says the capital letters and spelling are exactly the same as on the tombstone. It is interesting as a sample of the learning of the day and the orthodoxy of the old man. The allusion to his "alms Dispersed abroad " savors of the trumpet of the Pharisee. But we for- bear, lest we should be classed with " envies Sinners " who " freat in vain."
As the son of such a father, better things might have been expected of Claudius. But his environ- ment was one of lawlessness. Then he embraced the Tory principle of resistance of the will of the people as expressed in the Declaration of Independence ; adhering like many others to the cause of the so- 8
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called "good King George." While the patriots were fighting for liberty with Briton and his Indian allies, Claudius and his gang were raiding their farms and homes in the Clove. He was a man of stalwart frame, and proud of his stature and strength. On some public occasion, said the late J. Harvey Bull, he boastfully said, " Here I stand like a pillar of old St. Paul's Church, and I defy any man to move me." Whereupon Ben Havens replied, " I will remove the pillar with my sledge-hammer fist," suiting the action to the word. Claudius lived in a cabin made of plank set perpendicular and hidden in the brush that skirted the roads that crossed opposite to Cunning- ham's mill and what afterwards was the late John Knight's garden. Part of the foundation was plowed up by the latter, and bits of crockery were found. It was a suitable den for the laying of his plots and mak- ing his forays upon the neighborhood and hiding his plunder. Other lawless characters joined his gang, and with them those who claimed to be loyalists sympathized and lent their aid. He had three sons who inherited his cruelty and became his confeder- ates in crime. These rough outlaws would rob their neighbors of their cattle and drive them down the Ramapo valley to Suffern, where they would dis- pose of them to the British army whose outposts were established there. Hence they were called cow- boys. But they were not content to rob from the fields, but broke into dwellings at night or while the men were absent on military duty, terrified the women, and stole food or money if they could find it. Some of his apologists have asserted he stole from the rich and gave to the poor. But it is characteristic of that class of villains that they try thus to atone for
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The Story of Claudius Smith.
their Heaven-daring crimes. Even Captain Kidd was "the gentlest man that ever cut a throat or scuttled ship."
The rough nature of the country favored these marauders. The mountains, and specially the Rama- po, were full of caves and dens where they could con- ceal both themselves and their plunder. There was such a cave near Man-of-War Rock; another, near Indian Kill, which the daughters of the late Peter Townsend called Libalcad, composed of the initial syllables of their respective names. Another hiding- place was somewhere between Monroe and Blooming Grove. The flues of the old Elmer Earl House were another place of concealment. Here in later years a mechanic was driven to madness by the cruel joke of companions, who hoisted a pumpkin cut to represent the face of the outlaw and illuminated by a candle, after the young man had retired for sleep.
Claudius displayed great cunning and adroitness in his depredations. Like Ishmael, "his hand was against every man and every man's hand against him." Some- times he would seek to cripple a neighbor, perhaps on some petty pretext, as when he carried off the still- cap from the distillery of Mr. Bell on the Still Brook. Again, he would break in on the slumbers of some family whose head was absent in the trenches, insult the women, and rob the house of food or treasure and carry off poultry or cattle, as his fancy or need dic- tated. When he had gathered a sufficient number of cattle and sheep in one of his hiding-places, in the shadows of evening he would drive them down the Ramapo pass to Suffern, where the British army had its outposts. He and his band would skulk back again and spend the proceeds in some of his dens, the
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caves or cabins of confederates, in revelry and feast- ing. But such a career could not continue long. His very success in crime encouraged him to greater deeds of cruelty. While making a raid in Blooming Grove with his band, he entered the house of Major Nathanael Strong; and when that brave soldier re- sisted the ruffian, Claudius deliberately shot him. This was the culmination of his career. The crime enraged the community, and led Governor Clinton to put a price on his head. He now became an outlaw, and was hunted down like a wolf. His brothers and companions were included in the same ban. He was hunted out of the country, fleeing to Long Island, hiding away where he thought himself unknown. But the feet of an avenging Nemesis were soon on his track. Major Brush, of Orange County, hearing of his hiding-place, raised a band and found him at Oys- ter Bay, where he arrested him, took him over to Con- necticut, from whence, by a requisition from Governor Clinton, he was brought and delivered to the sheriff of Orange County, at Goshen, who ordered him chained to the floor of the jail for safe-keeping. He was afterwards tried at the court-house at Goshen, January 13, 1779, and executed on the 22d, with five of his companions. It is worthy of mention that a sermon was preached at the scaffold by the pastor of the Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Ezra Fisk, D.D., in the presence of 50,000 spectators. His text was Numbers xxxii, 23: "Be sure your sin will find you out."
The sermon was very solemn, and from the unu- sual circumstances was calculated to make an indeli- ble impression. He was buried in the grounds of the Presbyterian Church, in the southwest corner, that
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being regarded as a sort of public property. Within the memory of some living, a citizen of Goshen who was lame and walked with a crutch broke through, his crutch or cane penetrating the neglected grave. This led to the taking up of the bones, which were stowed in a shop near by. My informant relates that a citizen applied to a well-known blacksmith to make him a carving-knife. The knife was made, but he had no buckhorn for a handle. A happy thought struck him. He went to the spot where the bones of the famous marauder lay neglected, and took a thigh bone and worked out a handle for the carving- knife. A startling instance of poetical irony! Vig- orous means were taken to exterminate the gang after Claudius' death. One of his followers was shot on Schunemunk; one left his bones whitening over on the East Mountain, above the Ramapo. His son Richard fled to Nova Scotia.
Efforts were made by the credulous to find the treasure of the robber; but, like that of Captain Kidd, it never materialized. Indeed the people had nothing but Continental money, and but little of that. To illustrate its depreciation, it is related that one of the farmers sold a cosset lamb about this time for 500 Continental dollars to a foraging party.
The disorder and terrorism caused by Tory and cowboy led the commander-in-chief to send detach- ments from the army to guard the roads through the Clove. A cavalry camp was established at Highland Mills, on the Morgan Shuitt farm; another at Monroe, near the bridge, on the D. Knight property. It was on the west side of the stage road, the second lot from the homestead now the residence of Clarence Knight.
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Chronicles of Monroe in the Olden Time.
The following are the epitaphs of two noted Revo- lutionary attachés buried near Ringwood, New Jersey, in the Ramapo Valley :
IN MEMORY OF ROBERT ERSKINE, F. R. S.
GEOGRAPHER AND SURVEYOR-GENERAL TO THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES. SON OF THE REV. RALPH ERSKINE LATE MINISTER AT DUMFERNLINE IN SCOTLAND. BORN SEPTEMBER 7, 1735. DIED OCTOBER 2ND, 1780. AGED 45 YEARS AND 25 DAYS.
IN MEMORY OF ROBERT MONTEITH
CLERK TO ROBERT ERSKINE, ESQ. BORN AT DUMFERNLINE IN SCOTLAND, DIED DECEMBER 2ND, 1778, AGED 33 YEARS.
I am indebted to Mr. Mahlon J. Brooks for these inscriptions. He says that the graves are side by side. The stones are laid flat, on brick-work about two feet high, covering the whole grave. The letter- ing of the two stones is very plain, except the names of the two places in Scotland.
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CHAPTER X.
THE DAWN OF PEACE.
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A FTER such a storm there is always a ground swell. It was some time before the bitter feel- ings engendered by the contest were allayed. We must not forget that the War of the Revolution was really a civil war. It occurred among subjects of the same government, and was a movement to throw off allegiance to a king and set up a new form of govern- ment. Such a radical question not merely separated neighbors, but divided families. It became an inter- necine war, and that is proverbially bitter. The cruelty of it is illustrated by the career of Clau- dius Smith. Now even this had a sequel after he was executed. Some of the gang who had been in hiding determined to avenge on neighbors their leader's death. They selected Henry Reynolds, a Friend, as the object of their vengeance, because he had been active in giving information against him. He lived in the stone house now standing by the brook on the Gignoux place.
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