USA > New York > Warren County > Queensbury > Gazetteer and business directory of Saratoga County, N.Y., and Queensbury, Warren County, for 1871 > Part 10
USA > New York > Saratoga County > Gazetteer and business directory of Saratoga County, N.Y., and Queensbury, Warren County, for 1871 > Part 10
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
The first settlements were made by the Dutch within a few years after the settlement of the country about Albany. The settlements were commenced near Waterford and gradually ex- tended up the valley of the Hudson. Lying in the great tho- roughfare between the English settlements at Albany and the French posts on Lake Champlain, the settlements were retarded by the continued passing of military parties, and the settlers suffered all the dangers and hardships incident to the border warfare. Immediately after the conquest of Canada in 1760, settlements rapidly extended along the river valleys, and to some distance into the interior.
During the Revolution. some of the most important events of the war transpired within the limits of this County. As in- troductory to these events it may not be improper to give & brief statement of the condition of affairs in the spring of 1777. In March of this year Lieutenant General Burgoyne arrived in Quebec, and on the first of June was in command of an army of more than 1,000 British Regulars, Tories and Indians, assem- bled at St. Johns, at the foot of Lake Champlain, with the avowed purpose of passing up the lake, capturing the American posts at various points, then passing to the Hudson River and opening communication with Lord Howe, who was in command in New York. At the same time another army under St. Leger was dispatched up the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario to Os- wego, thence to Fort Schuyler, where Rome now is, to capture that post, and then sweep down the Mohawk and join Burgoyne at Albany. The plan was well laid, and had it been carried out sucessfully, a severe blow would have been given to the strug- gling colonies, which would doubtless have postponed the close
Gid Instruments of all kinds taken in exchange for New, at B. H. Ilid- ley's Javie store, 12 Mansion House Block, Broadway, Troy, N. Y,
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of the fearful struggle. Burgoyne appeared before Crown Point on the 20th of June. The few Americans there abandoned the Fort and retreated to Ticonderoga. The British took pos- session of the works, established a magazine, hospital and stores, and proceeded to Ticonderoga, where they arrived on the 30th. This post was in command of Major General Arthur St. Clair, with a force of about 3,000 men. The stores were so reduced that he was afraid to make any considerable addition to his force from the militia, who were continually coming in, until his stock of provisions could be replenished. Had there been a supply of provisions, six or eight thousand men might have been collected before the arrival of the enemy.
Fort Ticonderoga was situated in the north angle formed by the lake and the outlet of Lake George. The Americans also occupied a fort on Mount Independence, on the east side of Lake Champlain, nearly opposite. St. Clair had neglected to take possession of a high point in the south angle of the outlet of Lake George and Lake Champlain, and this gave Burgoyne his only advantage. As the enemy approached, St. Clair called in his outposts and prepared for a regular siege. The enemy quietly took possession of Mount Hope, which commanded the road leading to Lake George, and on the morning of July 5th the scarlet uniforms were seen upon Mount Defiance, which commanded the American works. St Clair immediately called a council of war and presented to them the alarming facts that the whole effective strength of the garrison was not sufficient to man one half the works ; that as the whole must be con- stantly on duty, they could not long endure the fatigue ; that General Schuyler, then at Fort Edward, had not sufficient troops to reinforce or relieve them ; that the enemy's batteries were nearly ready to open on them and within twenty-four hours the place would be completely invested. It was imme- diately decided to evacuate the place. As the enemy looking down upon them from Mount Defiance could see every more- ment, no visible preparations for leaving could be made before dark, and the purpose of the council was concealed from the troops until the evening order was given. It was arranged to place the baggage and such ammunition as could be carried, on board two hundred bateaux, to be dispatched under a convoy of tive armed galleys, up the lake to Whitehall, the main body to proceed to the same place by way of Castleton. The cannons which could not be moved were to be spiked. Every light was to be extinguished previous to striking their tents, and each soldier was to take several days provisions. A continued can-' Inade was to be kept up until the moment of departure. The arrangements were all completed and the garrison of Ticonder-
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rThe acknowledged unequaled Steck Piano Forte., to be found at B, H. Hidiey's, 12 Mansion House Block, Broadway, Troy, N. Y.
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oga had crossed to Mount Independence without giving the aların to the enemy. But general De Fermay, who commanded on Mount Independence, set fire to the house which he had occupied, and the light revealed to the enemy this whole move- ment. Troops were immediately dispatched in pursuit, and General Burgoyne prepared to pursue the bateaux and convoy by water. The Americans placed great dependence upon the obstructions placed in the lake at this point. These consisted of a bridge supported by twenty-two sunken piers of large tim- ber, at nearly equal distances, the spaces between being made of separate floats, each about fifty feet long and twelve wide, strong- ly fastened together by chains and rivets, and also fastened to the sunken piers. Above this bridge was a boom made of very large timbers, fastened together by riveted bolts and chains of iron an inch and a half square. These obstructions were speedi- ly cut by the enemy, and before noon the gunboats and frigates were crowding all sail to overtake the American bateaux. Un- suspicious of pursuit, they were scarcely moored at Whitehall before the British frigates arrived and made an attack upon them. Unsupported by the feeble garrison at this place, the Americans abandoned their bateaux, set them on fire, together with the Fort, mills, blockhouses &c., and fled to Fort Edward. They were met at Fort Ann by a few other troops sent foward by Gen. Schuyler with provisions and ammunition. Burgoyne continued to press on towards the Hudson, his force increasing by accessions of Tories, while the army of General Schuyler, greatly disheartened, was slowly retreating and placing all pos- sible obstructions in the way of Burgoyne's pursuit. In a letter to the Albany Committee, General Schuyler said: "I mean to dispute every inch of ground with General Burgoyne and retard his descent into the country as long as possible." Bridges were destroyed, trees were felled in the road, and the time required to remove these and rebuild the bridges was of the utmost value to the Americans. Van Schaick's and Hover Islands, at the mouth of the Mohawk, were fortified, being regarded the most eligible position for defence against an attack from the north or the west. Weak as the army was, a detachment was sent to relieve Fort Schuyler and compel St. Leger to raise the siege, thus removing all cause of fear from that direction. The great- est alarm was felt among the inhabitants as Burgoyne approach - ed. and leaving their farms and grain all ready for harvest, they fiel to Albany. While Burgoyne's headquarters were at Fort Edvard the expedition to Bennington was sent out, the result of which greatly encouraged the Americans. Through the in- frigues of his enemies, General Schuyler was removed and General Gates appointed in his place. He took com-
efore purchasing a Plano, Organ or other Musical Instrument, call on E. B. Bidley, 12 Mansion House Block, Broadway, Troy, N. Y.
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mand August 19th, three days after the battle of Bennington, which gave the Americans full assurance of victory in the end.
Though General Schuyler felt most keenly the injustice of being removed when victory appeared almost within his grasp, he rendered all the aid in his power to General Gates. Bur- goyne at this time was greatly in need of supplies, the sur- rounding country not affording sufficient for his necessities. It was to replenish the Commissary Department and obtain horses for his dragoons that the expedition was sent to Ben- nington. He confidently relied upon the success of this ex- pedition to furnish the needed supplies to render his entry into Albany triumphant. He had scarcely recovered from the shock of defeat at Bennington before he received the news of the de- feat of St. Leger at Fort Schuyler, the desertions of the In- dians and the defection of the Loyalists in the Mohawk Valley. The Indians in his own army became vexed that their propen- sity to plunder was not gratified, and many of the timid Loval- ists from Canada deserted his ranks. Perceiving the embar- rassing circumstances that surrounded Burgoyne, General Gates decided to advance up the Hudson to Stillwater and act offensively or defensively as circumstances might require. Un- der the advice of Kosciusko, who was an engineer in the army, he threw up a line of fortifications upon Bemis's Hights, in the town of Stillwater, about three-fourths of a mile in extent, along the brow of the hill, towards the river, with a strong battery at each extremity and one near the middle, in such position as to command the whole valley and the hills upon the east side of the river. From the foot of the hill across the flats to the river, an intrenchment was appended, and a battery erected at the water's edge to protect the floating bridge at that point. The works were completed about the 15th of Septem- ber, and General Gates made arrangements to resist the ap- proaching enemy. Small successes had greatly revived the spirits of the Americans and served to depress in a correspond- ing manner the enemy. _ Detachments were operating in the rear of Burgoyne and threatening to cut off his supplies by way of the lake, and thus render him wholly at the mercy of the Americans. Disaster was frowning upon him whether he advanced or retreated, and constructing a bridge of boats, he passed his whole army across the Hudson and encamped on the hights and plains of Saratoga, where the village of Schuyler- ville now stands, and within five miles of the American camp. On the 15th of September, having succeeded in getting his artil- lery, baggage and stores across the river, he moved down to the present site of Coveville, where he halted until the 17th to repair the roads and bridges, and on the 18th moved down to
TTunica! Goods of all kinds, Wholesale and Retail, at B. H. HID- LEY'S, 12 Mansion House Block, Broadway, Troy, N. Y.
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Wilbur's Basin, within two miles of the American camp, and made preparations for battle. At an early hour on the morn- ing of the 19th, the American pickets observed great activity in the British camp; the glitter of arms and the scarlet uni- forms were seen through the vistas of the forest as the troops marched and countermarched to form the lines of battle. These movements were constantly reported to General Gates, but he issued no orders and evinced no disposition to fight. About ten o'clock the whole of the enemy's force was in motion and separated into three divisions. The battle commenced about noon and continued at different points until about three o'clock, when for a time there was a lull such as precedes a more furious tempest, The British made a second attack, the Amer- icans remaining within their intrenchments until the enemy fired a volley and pressed. on to the charge, when they rushed forward and drove the assailing party back. The battle raged until night, when the Americans retired within their intrench- ments and the enemy occupied the battle field. The loss of the Americans, including officers, was 64 killed, 217 wound- ed and 38 missing. The British loss in killed, wounded and prisoners was about 500. The next morning the British retired to their camp on the river hills, and upon the flat at Wibur's Basin.
This battle has been variously known as the battle of Still- water, Bemis's Hights and Saratoga, as it it occurred in the town of Stillwater, County of Saratoga, and near a tavern kept br a man named Bemis. It was the most noted tavern between Fort Edward and Albany. Burgoyne was greatly dis- appointed at the successful resistance of the Americans, and saw that it would be useless to attempt to carry their works by. storm or in any way push forward towards Albany. Had he known the true condition of the Americans on the morning of the 20th, he might easily have won a victory, as the soldiers of the left wing, which sustained the conflict, had only a single round of cartridges left. - There was at no time more than three days provisions in the camp, and on the day of battle there was no flour. No one but the commander knew the condition un- til after a supply of ammunition arrived from Albany. Both armies strengthened their positions, Burgoyne with the hope of receiving aid from Howe and Clinton in New York, while Gates was being reinforced by troops from New England. Both armies continued to occupy nearly the same position until Oct. "th. each vigilant and expecting the other to make an attack or entangle by strategy. Skirmishes were of daily occurrence, and scarcely a night passed without some daring exploit. The Amer- icans were constantly gaining strength, and their superiority
Id Instruments ofall kinds taken in exchange for New, at B. H. Hid- ley's Music Store, 12 Mansion House Block, Broadway, Troy, N. ..
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of numbers enabled them to form expeditions to harass the British, without weakening their lines or endangering the safety of their camp. At one time about twenty young Americans, not belonging to the camp, and intent on a frolic, resolved to capture an advanced picket guard of the enemy. They selected their officers, and each armed with a fowling piece and plenty of ammunition, marched silently though the woods until they came within a few yards of the picket. The Captain gave a loud blast upon an old trumpet which he carried, and with a loud shont they all rushed forward, giving no time for a sentinel's hail, while the Captain cried out "Ground your arms, or you are all dead men!" Supposing a large force was upon them they obeyed the order, and thirty British soldiers were marched into camp by twenty American farmers on a frolic. This and simi- lar instances kept the camp in a constant state of alarm. Bur- goyne, in speaking of these times, says: " I do not believe either officer or soldier ever slept during that interval without his clothes, or that any general officer or commander of a regiment Passed a single night without being on his legs occasionally, at different hours, and constantly an hour before daylight." Burgoyne's supplies were all cut off, and on the first of October his troops were put upon a short allowance. His force was grad- ually diminishing, and that of Gates constantly increasing. Burgoyne saw the necessity of doing something to free himself from the the perils which surrounded him, and decided to trust the fortune of battle for relief. An attack was made upon the left of the American army on the morning of October 7th, and soon the battle became general. From half past two until dark the contest continued. During a part of the time its result was doubtful, but the fall of General Frazer, the controlling spirit of the British troops, caused a panic in their ranks and turned the tide of battle in favor of the Americans. During the night, Burgoyne retreated with his whole army about a mile north of his first position, whence he contemplated a retreat to Fort Ed- ward. The loss of the Americans in killed and wounded did not exceed 150. General Arnold was the only commissioned oficer who received a wound. The loss of the British in killed, wounded and prisoners was about 700. The loss among the of- fivers was especially severe. the killed were General Fraser, Sir Francis Clarke, Colonel Breyman and Lieutenant Reynell. Major Ackland was severely
wounded, taken prisoner, and, with Major Williams,
Was carried to the American camp. On the night of the 8th, Barroyne continued his retreat to Saratoga, where he arrived in the evening of the 9th, having left his sick and wounded in the hospital to be cared for by the Americans. On the way
The acknowledged unequaled Steck Piano Fortes, to be found at H. 14. Hidley's, 12 Mansion House Block, Broadway, Troy, N. Y.
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several buildings were burned by order of Gen. Burgoyne, among them the mansion of Gen. Schuyler, his mills and other property, amounting in value to 820,000. Owing to the rain, Gates did not start in pursuit until near noon on the tenth, when he advanced to the high ridge, a short distance south of Fish Creek. The British had crossed over the creek and were encamped upon the high grounds on the slope of which Schuylerville is now built. The boats of Burgoyne with his baggage and provisions were at the mouth of the creek. A fatigue party began to carry the stores from the boats to the hights, but receiving the fire of two field pieces planted on the flats beyond the river, they were obliged to desist. Several of the bateaux of the enemy were captured and immediately plundered by the troops. Finding the ford at this place strongly guarded, Burgoyne decided to continue his retreat up the west bank of the river to Fort Edward, force his way across at that point and take possession of the Fort. A party sent ont to repair the roads and bridges, and also a detachment of troops to take possession of the Fort, were driven back by the Americans, who occupied all the hights in the vicinity. The provisions and other stores in the bateaux of Burgoyne were either destroyed or captured by the Americans, and he abandon- ed all idea of saving his artillery and baggage, and saw no means of escape but precipitate retreat. Even this was cut off, and every part of his camp was exposed to the fire of cannon and musketry. The Americans swarmed on every side. No intelligence reached Burgoyne from Clinton; there was not three days rations in camp and none could be obtained. Under these circumstances he called a general council of all officers, including the captains of companies, on the morning of Oc- tober 13th, at which it was unanimously resolved to open a treaty with General Gates for an honorable surrender. Nega- tiations were accordingly opened which resulted in the sur- render of General Burgoyne and his whole army on, the 17th of October, 1:17. The surrender took place upon the flat between the canal and river, at the village of Schuylerville. The whole number of prisoners surrendered was 5,791, of whom 2,412 were Germans and Hessians. The force of the Americans at the time of the surrender was 13,222 .- The arms and ammunition which came into the pos- session of the Americans were 42 cannon, 4,647 mus- kets, and 6,000 dozen cartridges, besides shot, shell, etc. By the terms of the surrender, Burgoyne's' troops were to march out of their camp with all the honors of war, their artil- lery and small arms to be piled at the command of their own officers. A free passage to Great Britain should be granted the
Before purebasing a Plano, Organ or other Musical Instrument, call on B. Il. Hlidley, 12 Mansion House Block, Broadway, Troy, N. Y.
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troops on condition of their not serving again during the war unless exchanged. The army should march to the vicinity of Boston by the most convenient and expeditious route, and not be delayed when transports should arrive to receive them, and every care should be taken for the subsistence of the troops un- til they should be enbarked. In the mean time officers should not be separated from their men and should be allowed their horses, carriages and side arms, and be admitted to parole while in Boston. Canadians, Tories and camp followers should have the same privileges as the rest of the army. Though Congress ratified the treaty made by General Gates, it was not fully car- ried out, owing to the suspicion that Great Britain did not in- tend to fulfill the agreement in good faith, but put the troops again into the field without waiting for an exchange.
In closing this historical sketch of the County, we feel that some tribute should be offered to the memory of those who so gallantly went forth at their Country's call to battle with the hordes of secession and rebellion which sought the overthrow of our Government. One of the first martyrs to the cause was the gallant Col. Ellsworth, a native of this County, who fell by the hand of the assassin as he was removing the emblem of re- bellion from its position, almost in sight of the National Capi- tol. The Census Reports of 1865 give but a very incomplete and imperfect record of the number of volunteers from this County, and as no other data are at hand, we are unable to give such a report as we would like. The various calls of the Coun- try were promptly responded to, and the record of the soldiers of Saratoga County in the field, and of the patriots at home, will not suffer in comparison with that of any other County.
Musical Goods of all kinds, Wholesale and Retail, at B. H. HID- LEY'S, 12 Mansion House Block, Broadway, Troy, N. Y.
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
BALLSTON, named from Rev. Eliphalet Ball, one of the first settlers, was formed from Saratoga as a district, April 1. 1775, and was organized as a town, March 7, 1788. Charlton, Galway and Milton were taken off in 1792, and the line of Charlton was changed March 5, 1795. It lies upon the border of the County, south-west of the center. The surface is gen- tiy rolling. The principal streams are Mourning Kil and Outlet ('reek. Ballston Lake, in the south-east part, is a long, narrow and deep body of water, the outlet of which is the principal in- let of Round Lake. The soil south-east of the lake is generally a light sand, and north-west it is a clayey and gravelly loam.
Ballston (p. v.) is situated on the line of Milton and is chiefly in that town.
Burnt Hills, (p. v.) in the south part, contains three churches, a hotel, several stores and mechanic shops, and about 40 dwellings. It received its name from a tract that had been burnt over by the Indians for a deer pasture, before the country was settled by the whites.
Ballston Center (p. o.) is a hamlet.
East Line, (p. o.) on the border of Malta, is a station on the T. & S. R. R.
South Ballston (p. o.) is a station on the Saratoga & Schenec- tady R. R.
The first settlement was made in 1763 by two brothers named Michael and Nicholas McDonald, natives of Ireland, who had been enticed on board a vessel lying in the Shannon, brought to Philadelphia and sold for a term of years to pay their pas- They settled near the west bank of Ballston Lake. In 1110, Rev. Eliphalet Ball, with his three sons, John, Stephen and Flamen, and several members of his congregation, removed
Old faxtrumentsofall kinds taken in exchange for New, at B. I. Hid- Jej's Music Store, 12 Mansion House Block, Broadway, Troy, N. Y.
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from Bedford in this state and settled in the vicinity of Academy Hill. Mr. Ball received a donation of 500 acres of land from the proprietors of the "Five Mile Square" tract. Soon after their arrival large accessions were made to the settlement from New England, New Jersey, Scotland and the north of Ireland. Among the early settlers were Judge Beriah Palmer, who after- wards became a member of Congress, Judge Epenetus White, Edward A. Watrous, Stephen White, Paul Pierson, Tyrannus Collins, Hezekiah Middlebrook, Elisha Benedict, John Higby, Edmund Jennings, Samuel Nash, and Joseph Bettys and his son Joe, who was afterwards hung as a Tory Spy. These were all from New England. Captain Kenneth Gordon and - Mc- Crea came from New Jersey ; families named Shearer, McDer- mids and Frazer, from Scotland; General James Gordon, George Scott, Francis Hunter, and three brothers named Ken- nedy, came from the north of Ireland. The Scotch families settled at "Scotch Bush" and "Paisley Street." The settlements of this town were twice invaded during the Revolution and several of the inhabitants were carried away prisoners into Canada.
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On the 16th of October 1780 a party of 400 regulars and Indians from Canada, under Major Munro, a Tory from Sche- nectady, arrived in the Ballston settlement. They designed to attack Schenectady, but after remaining encamped several days, they returned without accomplishing their object. They plun- dered and burned several houses in Ballston, killed one man and took twenty-four prisoners. After crossing the Kayader- osseras, Munro addressed his men, telling them that they would probably be followed, and directing in case of an attack, that all the prisoners should be put to death. For this inhuman order he was dismissed from the service on his arrival at Mon- treal. The aged or infirm prisoners were allowed to return .- The rest reached Bulwaggy Bay, below Crown Point, on the Sth day, and passed thence to Canada. In May 1:81 the no- ted Joe Bettys, with about thirty refugees, captured five pris- oners; and at the same time Judge White and four others were taken on the east side of Long Lake, by another party, and all marched off to Canada except one who escaped. Col- onel Gordon and several others afterwards escaped from the Island of Orleans, and with great hardship made their way through the wilderness to the St. John's River, and thence to the settlements in Maine. There they learned of the peace and returned home by way of Halifax and Boston. Colonel Gordon Wwwame a prominent citizen of the town and of the County.
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